* 23 crore children receiving education in schools: Raju
Excelsior Correspondent
GANDERBAL, May 28: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that youth of Jammu and Kashmir are second to none in talent and ability as is evident by their outstanding performance in the national level examinations in which they have proven their mettle and made mark conspicuously.
“Their quest to seek higher education at the reputed institutions in the country makes them move out of the State to other parts of the country”, he said and expressed concern over the difficulties Kashmiri students face in getting accommodation and carrying on their educational activities.
Addressing a largely attended public gathering after laying foundation stone of Central University of Kashmir in Ganderbal with Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr. M. M. Pallam Raju, the Chief Minister said that boys and girls of this place want palatable and conducive environment for them in other parts of the country to seek higher education. He said they do not want to be looked with suspicion.
“They want equal respect and treatment from their fellow countrymen in other parts of the country”, he said and maintained that the State Government would provide them all support and help in this regard. He said the State heads in various States of the country and Central leadership should also play their important role in this direction.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand and Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone were among several Ministers and VCs of Universities were present on the occasion.
Underscoring the need for reserving some quota in the Central University for J&K boys and girls and ensuring appointment of maximum non-teaching staff amongst the locals, the Chief Minister highlighted the role of people of Ganderbal in the establishment of Central University in this area which is otherwise scarce in land availability.
The Chief Minister also asked the educated youth to get best advantage of the Central University and seek higher education for serving the people in the State and the country as fully qualified and learned force. He said present age is the age of competition and youth have to face various challenges in pursuing higher educational goals, as such, they should prepare themselves for tougher competitions and prove their ability.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. M. M. Pallam Raju highlighted the initiatives taken by UPA Government for growth and development of education in the country. He said that the Right to Education initiative of UPA Government has helped the enhancement in the enrolment of children in schools. He said presently 23 crore boys and girls are receiving education from 1st to 12th classes in the schools in the country. He said mid-day meal is being provided to over 11 crore children and the growth of schools across the Country is apace.
Pallam Raju said that 40 Central Universities have been opened in the country of which two are in Jammu and Kashmir raising the number of Universities in Jammu and Kashmir to 11. He said Union Government has focused on developing knowledge economy to make the country globally recognized in this field. He said the Central University in Ganderbal would not only generate educational temperament but help in the growth and development of the area.
Chancellor of the Central University, Dr. Srikumar Banerjee and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdul Wahid also spoke on the occasion.
Later, the Chief Minister and the Union Human Resource Minister laid foundation of Moulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) Satellite Campus at Budgam and addressed a public gathering there.
Omar Abdullah highlighted the importance of Urdu University in Budgam and said that it would give impetus to the efforts of the State Government to nurture the State’s official language (Urdu). He said Urdu University should not be misinterpreted to be the University of a Particular Religion.
Dr. M. M. Pallam Raju in his speech praised the State Government for achieving high performance in realizing educational targets and said that 76 percent of the population of children of the age group of 6 to 14 years are presently enrolled in schools in the State which is an encouraging trend.
The Vice Chancellor of Moulana Azad National Urdu University, Prof. Mohammad Miyan presented the resume of activities of MANUU and its objective and aims to reach out students in the Valley through its satellite campus.
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