Govt focused on infra, faculty: Itoo
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Opposition BJP MLAs including RS Pathania, Shakti Parihar, Daleep Parihar and Dr Sunil Bhardwaj today voiced concern over non-operational of offsite campuses of Jammu University while Education Minister Sakina Itoo said the Government is focused on augmentation of infrastructure and faculty in operational campuses.
Raising supplementary to a question of Dr Bhardwaj during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Pathania said out of a total of 11 campuses announced by the Government, only seven have been opened while rest four including the one at Patnitop have not been opened.
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In her reply, Sakeena Itoo said that the Government is focusing on augmentation of infrastructure and faculty in operational offsite campuses of Jammu University (JU) at Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramnagar, Kathua and Poonch.
She said that the Higher Education Department is committed to adopt innovative pedagogical practices and strengthening of culture of research and innovation within the universities, while placing emphasis on strict adherence by the University of Jammu to the approved Academic Calendar. She added that measures like periodic monitoring of teaching-learning process; promotion of faculty development and student-centric academic activities; phased adoption of Smart Classrooms and effective and timely utilization of e-resources; streamlining of office procedures through digitization of records; prudent financial planning in conformity with prescribed financial norms along with time-bound maintenance and up-gradation of classrooms, laboratories, libraries and other facilities are being implemented for the benefit of students.
The Minister further said that the University of Jammu presently has eleven off-site campuses approved by the University Council, of which, currently seven campuses are operational at Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramnagar, Kathua, and Poonch.
She informed that for the Financial Year 2025-2026, the Higher Education Department has allocated consolidated Grant-in-Aid amounting Rs. 260 crore to the University of Jammu for meeting its duly approved expenditure requirements. She added that the Grant-in-Aid is released in lump sum and is not earmarked campus-wise or academic programmes-wise at the level of Higher Education Department.
“The internal apportionment and utilization of funds, including allocation towards academic programmes at functional off-site campuses, is undertaken by the University of Jammu,” she added.
The Education Minister further said that measures are being undertaken in coordination with the University of Jammu to strengthen and consolidate the academic, administrative and infrastructural functioning of the functional off-site campuses including Ramnagar Campus.
The objective behind the initiatives is to ensure a balanced academic growth, optimal utilization of resources and equitable expansion of higher education infrastructure across Jammu & Kashmir.
She said that the proposal concerning creation of the posts of Rector/Director and other Teaching Faculty positions in respect of the functional Off-site Campuses is under examination in Higher Education Department.
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