The HRD Ministry is interested in providing financial assistance as well as guidelines for promotion of higher education in the State. The purpose is to cultivate the talent and put it to better use in service to the nation. It will be reminded that for some time, there have been complaints about dwindling standards of higher education and apathy towards research and innovation. The President has spoken about his disappointment several times and the former Prime Minister also lamented that our educational system was lagging behind in turning up researchers with innovative urges. Actually, they have been speaking in the context of advancement and progress of the nation through science and technology. As we know the western advanced world has made amazing progress in all fields only by exploiting the talent at college and university levels and putting it to productive use.
We know that the new Government at the Centre is committed to making progress through science and technology. As is known to all, western countries are ready to export commercial goods that help a people raise the standard of living but they are loath to export the technology. Let us recall the story of cryogenic engine needed for test firing our missiles and space craft. Ultimately, the scientists at the ISRO accepted the challenge and finally succeeded in producing the cryogenic engine.
Project Approval Board or PAB is a formal body of the HRD Ministry which is authorized to consider for approval, both technical and financial purposes, the projects submitted by the states in the areas of improving, expanding and upgrading higher education in the country. Recently, the Board has considered the proposals of the J&K State and has finally delivered its decision which though not meeting full requirements of the State Government yet conveys very encouraging news in this respect. The Ministry has approved Rs 114.105 crore grants for the Higher Education Sector of Jammu and Kashmir under six components for the current financial year. This grant includes Rs 102.694 crore Central Share and Rs 11.411 crore State share. Two cluster universities have been sanctioned; one with Government Science College Jammu as the Lead College and the other with Amar Singh Degree College Srinagar as the Lead College. Out of a total outlay of 110 crore rupees for the higher education in the State during 2014-5, 35.60 crore rupees have been sanctioned for the two cluster universities. Actually this is part of the national project for higher education called Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).Three Government Degree Colleges will be raised to Model Degree Colleges by providing them adequate infrastructure. These are the colleges at Gandarbal, Samba and Shopian. Allocation of 2 crore rupees in each case has been announced. Two Engineering and Technology Colleges, one in Ganderbal and the other at Kathua have also been sanctioned at an initial cost of 36 crore rupees. Out of 44 Colleges of the State for which the Government had sought structural grant, the PAB has approved grants for only 22 Colleges.
We said that the PAB of the Ministry of HRD may not have met full demand of the State Government in regard to assistance towards improvement of higher education, but whatever has been sanctioned is highly encouraging. However while making sanctions the PAB has categorically desired that the State Government should follow the guidelines provided by the HRD Ministry in this behalf. We have seen that the Higher Education authorities have at many times deviated from the instructions, which causes embarrassment to both, the state and the Central Government. Further, it needs to be emphasized that the quality of education, quality of faculty and the quality of output shall have to be improved drastically and much focus is to be mounted on research work. Research has to be innovative and result oriented that would help the people in improving their standard of living. M. Phil and Ph. D degrees are not to be given in a throw-away manner. While encouraging research the quality of research has to be given importance. Selection of faculties is of paramount importance. The faculty has to be academically sound and impressive but apart from that it must have the leadership quality also to influence the student community and prepare them for the greater task of nation building. Younger generations have to be infused with nationalist and patriotic spirit and they must develop the sense of responsibility towards the nation and the country. This is the time when our student community can enjoy exposure of their personality and make best use of the opportunities provided by the State.
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