Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 8: There is no headway over the Central Government’s plan to open two more Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Doda district after proposal of Union Government was turned down by the previous coalition Government in the State last year on the pretext that there was no need of opening more KVs in Doda as there were sufficient schools in the district and one KV was already existing at Bhaderwah.
According to highly placed sources, the NDA Government led by Narendra Modi after assuming office in May last year had floated a proposal for establishment of two KVs in Doda district on the persistent demand of the local people during the Lok Sabha elections.
Sources said the proposal was floated to open two KVs-one at Gandoh and another at Jodhpur in Doda and soon after the BJP led Government came to power last year, the Union Minister in PMO, with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh who represents the Doda -Kathua Lok Sabha Constituency announced the opening of two KVs in Doda district as he had also promised to establish the same to ease the problems of students of this hilly district.
Sources said soon after that Dr Singh took up the issue with Union HRD Minister, Smriti Irani who in principle agreed to the proposal provided, the State Government acquires the land for the same.
The people of Doda district had offered 25 kanals of land free of cost for each KV at Gandoh and Jodhpur in Doda respectively through MLA Bhaderwah Dilip Singh Parihar, sources said.
However, when the Union HRD Ministry wrote a letter to State Government regarding the acquisition of land it turned down the same and dispatched a letter to HRD Ministry saying that there was no need of opening more KVs in Doda district because one KV already exists in Bhaderwah as per norms, sources said. This slowed down the exercise on opening of KVs in Doda, sources added.
Parihar said the issue was raised by the people of the district during last year Lok Sabha poll and they also showed readiness to donate 50 kanals of land for two schools free of cost but the then State Government sabotaged the same.
Sources said the then coalition did not pay any heed to the demand of the people who have made umpteen pleas to Union Government for the establishment of two more KVs in Doda district to ease the problems of the students and parents as well.
However, when contacted, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the proposal is still alive and he will take up the issue with the State Government for acquisition of land at an earliest so that the two KVs can be established in the Doda district.
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