‘Mixing politics with history is dangerous’
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today emphasized the need to uplift Government schools to the highest standards.
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While addressing Educational Stakeholders Meet on NEP 2020- Challenges and Prospects in Jammu and Kashmir at SKICC here, Omar said that the standard of Government schools should be such where parents consider enrolling their children in them as the best choice for their future.
“I always say to keep everything else aside. If we do not have education, if we are not healthy, then we have nothing”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Education has the power to transform any society, adding that all the stakeholders associated with the education sector need to work with such dedication so that the Government schools are brought to such a level where parents will feel that getting their children admitted to a Government school is the best decision for their future.
“We build roads, we build bridges, we build factories, we provide electricity, we bring tourists, we do anything. If we do not have education to benefit from these things, if we are weak, if we are infirm, then we will not be able to benefit from these things”.
Omar called upon the education community that serving in far flung areas should be considered as opportunity to contribute something rather than as a punishment.
He called upon all the stakeholders that the more and more Hybrid Learning Centres should be established in remote areas so that the students in these areas can receive education from subject specified teachers from anywhere. Click here to watch video
The Chief Ministers called upon the participants of the meeting that after its conclusion, to bring around 10 actionable points before the Government which will form the roadmap for developing educational sector across Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar said his Government was working to improve infrastructure and fill teacher shortages in remote areas. “We want to provide the best education to our children. There are weaknesses in infrastructure and shortages of teachers, but we are committed to addressing them,” he said.
Asked about the NCERT module that attributes India’s partition to Congress, Jinnah, and Mountbatten, Chief Minister said history should not be politicized.
“Governments will change. If one Government writes against Congress today, another may write against the RSS tomorrow. History should be left as it is so that children learn the truth and decide for themselves,” he said, adding that “mixing politics with history is dangerous.”
Responding to criticism from opposition parties over the Government’s signature campaign for Statehood, Omar said, “The opposition’s job is to oppose. When we stayed indoors, they asked why we were not among the people. Now when we go out and meet people, they ask why we are doing it. Their job is to oppose; our job is to work.”
Chief Minister said that finding survivors among nearly 70 people missing in Kishtwar flash floods is almost impossible. He stressed the need for expert-led measures to mitigate such disasters in the future.
“The situation of Kishtwar is in front of you. Day by day, it is almost impossible to find the people who are missing alive. Now our efforts are to retrieve the bodies and hand them over to their families so that they can perform last rites,” he added.
He said residents in the affected areas had placed three to four key demands before him during his visit. “We are paying attention to them and will do our best at the local level,” he said.
Omar said the Disaster Mitigation Fund announced by his Government was meant to reduce risks of glacial lake bursts but clarified that the Kishtwar tragedy was likely caused by a cloudburst.
“For such situations not to happen again, or even if they do, there should be less loss. For this, we will have to appoint experts and seek their report. A few months ago, Ramban faced a similar disaster with heavy financial loss but fewer casualties. This time, because a yatra was underway when the clouds burst, the loss of life was greater. To ensure such tragedies are avoided or their impact reduced, we need expert reports and recommendations,” he said.
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