Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 5: The Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik, today said Government will accord top priority in establishing new colleges in the state to the Constituencies and Tehsils where there are no colleges.
The Minister said that some constituencies and Tehsils are without Degree Colleges and some districts are without women colleges. He said that priority in establishment of the new colleges will be given to these constituencies and Tehsils. He said that erstwhile districts will be given preference in the setting up of new women colleges.
The Minister said that land acquisition is the major problem in setting up of the new colleges. He sought assistance from legislators in this direction.
While referring to the delay in construction of college buildings in Pampore and Magam in Kashmir division, the Minister said that the Government has decided to stop Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) from constructing buildings for colleges in the state and instead opt for e-tendering now.
The Minister was replying to a question of NPP MLA Harshdev Singh about the establishment of colleges at Majalta and Chennani in Jammu.
The Minister informed the House that PIL No. 07/2008 filed by NPP was disposed off by the Court on April 30,2012 with the direction that grievance of the people of Majalta, Chenani and other like areas would be redressed by the Government within a reasonable time frame.
The Minister said that Advocate General of the State while arguing the case had stated that Government has taken initial steps for setting up of the Degree College at Majalta. He said the Government has constituted a Committee to look into the feasibility and other mechanism for establishment of the new degree colleges in the uncovered areas of the State on modern lines. The Committee will visit the identified places including Majalta and Chenani and furnish its report with regard to feasibility of setting up of degree colleges over there, on the basis of which decision will be taken.
He said that an amount of Rs.19.37 crore has been released by the UGC for the establishment of Central University of Jammu. He said that temporary faculty comprising 6 Professors, 25 Assistant Professors and 2 Teaching Assistants have been engaged on short term basis after inviting applications and conducting interviews. He said that against the minimum requirement of 4000 kanals of land for the establishment of the Central University of Jammu, 3000 kanals have been transferred to Higher Education Department so far.
The Minister said that an amount of Rs 23.06 crore has been released by the UGC for the Central University of Kashmir. He said that 35 posts of faculty have been filled on permanent basis and 24 persons have been engaged temporarily on the academic arrangement basis. He said that against required 4000 kanals of land, more than 3321 kanals of land has been transferred to Higher Education department so far.
PDP MLA Mehbooba Mufti in her supplementary said that there are constituencies where there are no colleges while Government is establishing colleges in the Constituencies where there are already Degree Colleges. She said that preference should be given to the constituencies where there are no Degree Colleges while establishing the new colleges.
MLA KC Bhagat urged for the setting up of a Degree College in his constituency in his constituency. He said that his constituency has been neglected so far. MLA Indu Pawar also said a degree college should be set up in Marh area of her constituency.
The other who spoke in favour of colleges in their constituencies are Zahoor Ahmed Mir, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Syed Basharat Bukhari, MY Tarigami, Mohammad Irfan Shah, Vikar Rasool, Choudhary Zulifkar Ali, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Ashok Kumar and Jugal Kishore.
MLA Nizamudin Bhat said that Government should form a road map for setting up of colleges and providing quality education.
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