Kargil(Ladakh),June 19 (Scoop News) –Equating enhanced access to higher education with ensuring its universalization, N. N. Vohra, Governor Jammu and Kashmir, and Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, underlined the importance of satellite Campuses, particularly those located in the remote areas, to give a fillip to the attainment of educational goals.
“This will also provide opportunity to young talent to pursue higher educational goals without having to incur large expenditures and other difficulties in having to move away from their native places”, the Governor and the Chief Minister said, adding that students from less advantaged families face considerable challenges and may not succeed in securing opportunities for higher education.
The Chief Minister said that the decision of the Government to establish Satellite Campuses in the remote areas is aimed at reaching out to the talent all across the State and giving them a break to prove their ability, expressing hope that the efforts of the Government in this direction will prove fruitful.
Addressing a function after laying Foundation Stone of Satellite Campus of Kashmir University at Khumbathang, Saliskote near here, the Governor and the Chief Minister emphasized the need of developing the Campus as an unique knowledge centre where the identification of courses and curricula are based on current and future relevance.
The Governor, who is Chancellor of the Kashmir University, spoke about the opening of opportunities for the Kargil district students with the projected functioning of the Satellite Campus. The emerging human resource would competently serve the region, State and the country, he observed.
Underscoring the importance of education in the holistic development of the society, the Governor said that expansion of education and creation of avenues for youth to receive higher education in a remote and economically backward area like Kargil is of great importance.
Referring to the peace-loving, progressive and positive characteristics of the people of Kargil, the Governor lauded the spirit of amity and brotherhood exhibited and nurtured by the people of this area since centuries. “You have witnessed the hard days of war. You have suffered due to the fire from across during Kargil conflict but you stood firmly to uphold the high traditions of harmony and peace”, he observed, adding that the days of peace and prosperity are returning and congratulated the people of Kargil and their leaders. He observed that various development schemes have already been initiated in the district by the Government which are showing positive results on the ground and hoped that the district would achieve remarkable progress on all fronts within the next few years.
The Chief Minister, while unveiling the Foundation Stone of the Kargil Campus of Kashmir University, reaffirmed his Government’s keen desire to universalize education and give sustained impetus to make higher education accessible to students in far-flung and remote areas.
Omar Abdullah said that besides creating a chain of new degree colleges all across the State, he had taken personal interest to see that new Campuses were established at identified places in the State. “My Government has flagged the education sector as one of the most important elements of the State’s development policy”, he said, adding that the focus is on introducing subjects of high market value in the Colleges and Universities to increase the ambit of employment and economic activities for the educated youth.
Omar Abdullah asked the youth of Kargil district to take the best advantage of the opportunity and prove their mettle in the field of higher education. “A modern educational centre is coming up in your area. It is now up to you to get best education and come out as capable and qualified persons to serve your area, the State and the country as a whole”, he said, laying stress on creating best educational environment in the Campus.
“Make Kargil Campus attractive not only for the students of the State but also of the country. Make it a reputed educational centre where students even from other parts of the country would desire to study”, he told the management of the Kashmir University.
The Chief Minister also directed the management to involve locals in the construction and other economic activities to be generated by the setting up of University Campus here.
A. R. Rather, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, said that with the establishment of a University Campus at Kargil the students will get a valuable opportunity of receiving higher education nearer to their doorsteps. He added that this facility will go a long way in speedy educational and economic development of the area.
Qamar Ali Akhoon, Minister for CAPD, thanked the Governor and the Chief Minister for taking keen interest in the development of the area. He said that with the setting up of a University Campus at Kargil a long cherished desire of the people of Kargil district has been realized.
Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan, Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, described establishment of University Campus at Kargil as a historic decision.
Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, in his welcome address, gave details of the initiatives being taken by the University for enhancing the reach and quality of education.
The Kargil Campus will be spread over an area of 600 kanals of land. The process for finalizing the conceptual drawings and Master Plans has commenced and the construction work on this Campus would commence shortly. Prof. S. Fayyaz Ahmad, Registrar, Kashmir University, presented a Vote of Thanks.
Among those present on the occasion were Feroz Ahmad Khan and Syed Ahmad Rizvi, Legislators, Executive Councillors and Councillors of the Hill Development Council, M. Raju, Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Javed Iqbal Mattoo, SP Kargil, district officers, Sarpanchs, Panchs and people of the area.