Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Dec 11: Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Tourism, Horticulture and Floriculture Priya Sethi today conducted an extensive tour of Ramban and inspected horticulture farm and other tourist services.
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Ramban Neelam Langeh, MLA Banihal Vikar Rasool, DDC Ramban Mohammad Aijaz, Director Education Jammu, Babila Rakwal, Director Horticulture Bhawani Rakwal, DIG DKR Nisar Khan, SSP Ramban Randeep Kumar, Deputy Director Archeology and Museum and other civil and police officers.
Later, the Minister reviewed the functioning of Education Department in a meeting held at HSS Banihal. She asked the officers to upgrade and reform the overall education system in the district in general and improving literacy rate and women education in particular.
Stressing on quality education in the district, the Minister asked the education officers for necessary clubbing of different schools besides starting evening classes in the school premises. She further directed for regular updation of science labs, strengthening of libraries, KGBV schools, construction of girls hostel and model class rooms.
The DDC, while divulging on connectivity in the schools, apprised the Minister that 33 bridges have been built across the district to connect various schools and Anganwadi centres in the hilly belts. Besides, work on 150 foot bridges is in progress, he added.
The Minister asked the DDC to finalize the necessary data of litigations of ReT teachers to get these disposed off from various courts at the earliest.
The Minister asked the Director School Education to prepare detailed report on the vacant posts of masters and lecturers so that necessary steps are taken to fill up the same.
At Ramban, the Minister inspected advanced centre for horticulture development-Indo Italian Project meant for olive production and extraction of oil, propagation and multiplication of exotic varieties of fruit plants. She also visited Mist Propagation Chambers and instructed the Director Horticulture to procure more mist propagation kits wherever required in Ramban. She directed for starting advanced trainings for in-service candidates in modern technologies for horticulture development.
Meanwhile, locals called on the Minister at Ramban and apprised her of their issues.