Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 26: Up in arms against enhancement of duration for B Ed and M Ed Programmes in Jammu University but giving relaxation of one year to Kashmir University for the same course, the private colleges of Education in Jammu held a strong protest demonstration, here today.
A large number of students, teachers and other stake holders joined the protest demonstration, which was organized under the banner of Forum of Recognized Colleges (FORCE) Jammu.
Carrying placards and shouting slogans against the Government for its alleged discriminatory policies against the institutions of higher education in Jammu, the protesters threatened to further intensify the struggle if grievance of Jammu students is not addressed immediately.
While addressing the gathering, president FORCE, Harbans Singh (Ex- Minister) warned the authorities of dire consequences if equal approach throughout the State is not adopted. “We are not opposing the recommendations of Justice Verma Report and the direction of Supreme Court but why the same was kept at bay in Kashmir?” he asked and added that the students from Jammu region will be left behind because of two years duration of B Ed/M Ed courses and thus will amount to depriving them of job opportunities in time, as compared to the students from Kashmir province for similar jobs.
R S Chib, former minister and patron of the FORCE announced that the FORCE would continue its relentless efforts in order to insure that the institutions in Jammu can have same duration of both B Ed/M Ed at par with the Kashmir province. He also appealed to the Chancellor and Pro- Chancellor of Jammu University, for their personal intervention in this regard otherwise more than 70 affiliated private colleges will be forced to close down thus affecting adversely the career of thousands of students and depriving jobs to a large number of qualified teachers.
Gulchain Singh Charak, former Minister and president of Dogra Sadar Sabha, highlighted the role of colleges of education, which are producing the teachers and creating jobs for hundreds of educated unemployed youth. Describing the Government move of enhancing B Ed/M Ed duration for Jammu students as discriminatory, he appealed to all political and social originations of Jammu province to standby the side of the agitating students and youths who are custodian of Jammu’s future.
Rampaul demanded withdrawal of this draconian order to shun discriminatory attitude.
A number of Chairmen and students of different colleges also spoke on this occasion and said that they were ready for a struggle on the issue. Prominent among those, included Ashok Khajuria, M S Katoch, K K Bakshi, T M Tariq, Pooja Malohtra, Kuldeep Wahi and others.
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