New education scheme for artisans’ children
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, today approved the departmental proposals for creation of new posts in various sectors.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K and Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.
The Administrative Council approved the proposal of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department to create 15 and 50 posts under various categories in the UT and District Consumer Commissions, respectively. These posts include Registrars, Joint Registrars, Accounts Officers, Private Secretaries, Readers, Section Officers, Senior Stenographers, Junior Stenographers, Senior Assistants and Junior Assistants.
In view of the Constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir, the UT and District Consumer Commissions were established as per the provisions of the Central Consumer Protection Act, 2019. With the provisioning of adequate man power, these forums will be made effectively functional to address various consumer grievances.
The Administrative Council further approved the proposal of Health & Medical Education Department for creation of 1612 posts of various categories, 806 posts each for Government Medical College, Udhampur and Government Medical College, Handwara (Kupwara).
The decision will enable the Health & Medical Education Department to start the course curriculum in these new Government Medical Colleges from the academic session 2022-23.
Moreover, the Administrative Council also approved the proposal of Higher Education Department to transfer 171 vacant posts from Higher Education to the Cluster Universities of Jammu/Srinagar. The identified 171 vacant posts (lien-free) of faculty (Gazetted) were transferred to Cluster Universities Jammu and Srinagar for filling up through respective direct recruitment drives.
Earlier, under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the Government of Jammu and Kashmir established two Cluster Universities, one each at Srinagar and Jammu by clubbing together 10 prestigious colleges of the regions. To make these Cluster Universities functional, the Higher Education Department has previously sanctioned 132 posts of different categories in teaching and non-teaching segments in favour of these Cluster Universities.
Meanwhile, the Administrative Council revised the education scheme for children of weavers/artisans of Handicrafts and Handloom departments.
The revised education scheme for the children of Handicraft/Handloom weavers aims at providing scholarship in tune with present education scenario to provide much needed financial support to the weavers with regard to the education of their children.
Under the revised scheme, scholarships will be provided to eligible children at the rate of Rs. 1500 per year (on completion of 1st primary), Rs. 2000 per year (on completion of 2nd primary), and actual fee fixed by the Government (for class 11th onwards including technical/professional education).
Earlier, the benefits were available only to the girl child, but the revised scheme has extended the scope of financial assistance to male children as well.
The eligible students can apply for scholarship to the concerned Assistant Director, who shall conduct proper verification before disbursal of the scholarship amount as per the laid down norms. The scholarship will be disbursed among the eligible students directly in their bank accounts though Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Originally, the scholarship by the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms was provided to the girl child of handloom weavers up to the primary level at the rates of Rs.100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 per annum for class I, II, III, IV, V, and VI respectively.
Moreover, the Administrative Council also asked the Department to consider extension of such financial benefits to the children belonging to similarly situated sections of society.