Asif Iqbal Naik
KISHTWAR
In an emergency meeting held at Dak Banglow Kishtwar on Sunday, the members of Kishtwar civil society under the leadership of Raiz Ahmed Zargar resolved to fight for establishment of permanent University of Jammu Campus at Kishtwar so that over two lakh students from three districts of Chenab Valley get benefit from the establishment of permanent University at Kishtwar.
The meeting in which several political and non-political activists along with social activists participated reaffirmed its commitment of full support to Zagar – chairperson of Voice of Kishtwar – till the desired results are achieved.
They also condemned the Jammu University authorities for blocking the funds to Kishtwar University Campus and other Campuses under the control of Jammu University as a result of which majority of Campuses are at the verge of collapse.
The meeting said that the members will approach Chief Minister, Ministers, Political representatives and University Authority for permanent establishment of University at Kishtwar on the pattern of Islamic University of Sceince and Technology (IUST) Awantipora, Mata Vaishno Devi University and BGSBU Rajouri.
They said that three districts of Chenab Valley had nine government colleges and over 50 Higher Secondary Schools having student strength of more than 50000.
Thousands of students every year go outside J&K for seeking admission in various courses as a result of which there is huge financial burden on their families, the meeting observed.
They said that there is immediate need for starting of job-oriented courses in Kishtwar University campus, besides they also laid stress on starting of Masters of Arts programs in English, Urdu, Persian, Hindi, Sanskrit, Sociology, Education, History, Economics, MSc in Zoology, Botany, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, BBA, BCA, MCA, MBA, BSc IT, five year law courses and the subjects being taught at School and college levels.
They said that political parties instead of issuing misleading statements should concentrate as how to help the front in seeking out the issue rather than becoming the part of the problem.
While talking to Kashmir Life Raiz Ahmed Zargar said that Kishtwar district is hilly and backward area of J&K with poor education infrastructure.
“Majority of the people in Kishtwar district are very poor and cannot effort the studies outside home,” he said, “in present era when education has become the need of every house hold across world, Kishtwar district is lacking behind in education sector and only upper class and middle class families are making fortunes in education sector while poor students have been neglected in this field.”
“We are looking forward beyond Kishtwar University Campus by taking all stakeholders including local politicians on board so that Kishtwar district could flourish in developmental and education sector,” he added.
Zargar observed, “there is immediate need for creation of posts for Kishtwar University Campus, disbursement of land compensation to the farmers whose land has been acquired for Kishtwar University Campus, release of grants to Kishtwar campus so that salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff of the university could be released.”
He urged upon people of Kishtwar to continue their support to the newly founded front so that desired results could be achieved
“If any decision with regard to closure of the University campus is taken by the Jammu University authorities, we will launch indefinite strike and agitation,” he warned.
