Govt mulls new courses in Polytechnic Colleges from current session: Vikar

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 29: A high level officers meeting was held here today under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Technical Education, Vikar Rasool Wani, convened to review the functioning of Technical Education Department.
Commissioner/Secretary Technical Education, Shaleen Kabra, Director Technical Education, Jaipal Singh and other officers of the department were present in the meeting.
A threadbare appraisal on the overall functioning of various wings of the department was taken and Minister called upon the officers to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels to make the functioning of technical institutions more vibrant.  He directed the Director Technical Education to expedite steps for obtaining approval from the AICTE for new streams to be introduced in the Polytechnic Colleges so that the courses are commenced from the current academic session.
The Minister directed for filling up of all vacant posts of Class-IV in the department on fast-track basis to overcome the paucity of staff. He also issued directions for strengthening the Technical Education Board to enhance the efficacy of the Polytechnic Colleges. The directions for undertaking immediate renovation of Polytechnic hostels and Auditoriums were also issued to the concerned, for which the funds have already been earmarked.
In order to ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of various institutions, particularly the private polytechnics in the State, the Minister directed the Director Technical Education to conduct administrative inspections regularly and ensure that funds provided by the Government are utilized as per the norms.
The Minister also directed the concerned for expeditious completion of various hostel buildings in the State. He also stressed the need for strengthening the monitoring mechanism to ensure judicious use of funds and quality control on various on-going construction projects. He also directed for exploring possibilities to set up Solar Power Plants in Polytechnics and it ITIs.