Nobody can deny the fact that there has been significant expansion of higher education in the State in past one or two decades. The Government is determined that no villager should be denied the opportunity of availing of the benefit of higher educational. As such more colleges had to be opened especially in rural areas where students are faced with the difficulty of moving to the cities and towns to quench the thirst for higher education. Way back in 2006-7, the State Government announced that it planned to open new degree colleges in far flung areas of the State so that the students desirous of higher education are not denied the opportunity. However, hindsight shows that after this announcement was made, there were many complaints from various MLAs accusing the Government of partiality in identifying the places where new colleges would be opened. The MLAs, obviously, wanted the colleges to be opened in their constituencies which would strengthen their vote bank credits. The Government cannot always go by the diktat of the MLAs though their voice has value and is not ignored. It has to be remembered that a number of considerations are taken care of by the Government before announcing where the new colleges would be opened. At the end of the day it becomes a technical and not a political issue.
This notwithstanding, questions pertaining to different aspects of contemplated colleges have been raised by the members in the assembly. They are genuine and need to be addressed. Foremost is of infrastructure for the new colleges. This means land, structures, faculties, staff, laboratories, library, and administrative culture. To open a new college means doing so many things for which funding is the primary requirement. Institutions of higher education are built over a period of time; these cannot come up overnight. Most important thing for the upcoming institution is the work culture and delivery. Faculties are appointed through Public Service Commission channel and that will take its own time.
The Government should closely look into the demand of various MLAs who have sought new colleges to be opened in their respective constituencies. If there is feasibility, and if the committee constituted by the Higher Education Department recommends, the place should be identified for opening new colleges. The scope of taking more uncovered areas under the umbrella should be the policy of the government. It is good that the Government has identified land for the women college in Srinagar which, at present is housed temporarily in Amar Singh College Srinagar. It should take fast steps to raise the structure and other re-requisites so that the college begins to function properly at Batapora. Likewise the case of raising Degree College in Majalta has to be taken up seriously because of the decision of the High Court. There is demand for opening new colleges in Ramban, Doda and Kargil, all of them being backward regions. Hopefully the Government should be able to start the process of acquiring the land and start the raising of structures now.
In final analysis, one can say that the State is making good progress in bringing education at lower as well as at high level to broad masses of people in the state. Much has been done but much more remains to be done. Raising more secondary schools and colleges in rural areas means that the rural population shall not have to move to towns and cities. Thereby the pressure on towns and cities will be reduced. Better educated population is an asset and an educated person becomes strong enough not to depend on others but to carve out a living for himself. That is the real purpose of education.
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