Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 12: In order to streamline the process of issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) relating to the functioning of private educational institutions in the State, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today directed for bringing various such tasks under the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) so that their deliverance is time bound and smooth.
The issue was raised by J&K Unaided Private Schools Coordination Committee during a meeting here this morning with the Chief Minister requesting his intervention in making the system of granting affiliation, recognition and other related issues by the Education Department hassle free and time bound.
The Chief Minister while directing for taking fresh look on the guidelines and bringing various services in this regard under the ambit of Public Service Guarantee Act, said that no compromise whatsoever will be made in ensuring safety, security and education of students besides basic facilities in the private educational institutions.
“All of us should be concerned about the education to the students in a conducive and palatable atmosphere as also safeguarding the interests of the teachers and other staff working in private schools and colleges”, he said and impressed upon the private educational institution owners to rationalize their fee structure and upgrade facilities in the educational institutions.
“We are more than ready to address all your genuine issues meticulously and sympathetically but you have to meet us at the halfway so far as the charging of fee to the students, providing salaries to the staff and making befitting infrastructure for ensuring quality education is concerned”, he told the Private Schools Coordination Committee.
The Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Vice Chancellors of Universities of Jammu and Kashmir, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and various Administrative Secretaries were present in the meeting.
In another meeting with Kashmir Hoteliers Association, the Chief Minister took stock of various issues and problems confronting the hoteliers in Jammu and Kashmir and directed the Tourism, Transport and Urban Development Departments to look into the genuine problems of this industry in a holistic manner and come up with a feasible solution.
The Minister for Tourism, G. A. Mir was also present in the meeting besides Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and various Administrative Secretaries.
It was stated that in Srinagar city one Sewerage Scheme with 60 MLD STP is under execution at an estimated cost of Rs.132.92 crore which is likely to be completed by March 2015. It was stated that by the completion of this scheme the hotel industry in the State would get amply benefited on account of sewerage disposal and STP facility.
The Chief Minister discussed the issues of Transporters in yet another meeting in which Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Transport, Ch. Mohammad Ramzan and Advocate General, Mohammad Ishaq Qadri were also present besides various Administrative Secretaries and Heads of the Departments.
The Chief Minister directed the Vice Chairman, SDA to take required measures for upgrading facilities in the Transport Nagar in Bemina area and finalize the allotment of plots to the transporters through the set procedure and norms as early as possible.
The transporters brought various other issues including the checking of load carriers at various places into the notice of the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister gave on spot directions to the Department of Commercial Taxes, IG Police and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to sort out these and other issues with the representatives of transporters as soon as possible.
The Chief Minister in a meeting with ICTA representatives discussed the issues pertaining to Information Technology Industry with the concerned officers and directed for taking early action in addressing the matters and points raised by ICTA in the meeting.
Among other things, ICTA highlighted the issue of establishment of IT Park, provision of 1.5% funds for this sector in the plan allocations, extension of a cable termination station/internet exchange link from Chandigarh to Srinagar etc.
The Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo was present in the meeting.
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