Sinha takes up New Education Policy, setting up of CIIITs in J&K with Pradhan

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in a meeting with Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Monday.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in a meeting with Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Monday.

LG meets Highway, Education, RDD Ministers

UT to strengthen rural connectivity through PMGSY

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 2: On three-day visit of the Union capital, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today met Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh and is expected to call on couple of more Central Government representatives tomorrow before returning to Jammu and Kashmir.
On August 5, Jammu and Kashmir will complete two years of abrogation of special status of erstwhile State and grant of Union Territory status.
In his meeting with Dharmendra Pradhan, who had taken over as the Education Minister in last month’s Cabinet reshuffle, the Lieutenant Governor discussed various initiatives taken by Jammu and Kashmir Government for implementation of New Education Policy (NEP-2020).
They also reviewed strengthening industry-academic partnership in the Union Territory.
Setting up of two Centres for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CIIIT)–one each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions–also figured in the talks Sinha had with Dharmendra Pradhan.
The CIIITs will provide Skill training to students of Engineering, Polytechnics and ITIs besides unemployed engineers, degree/diploma holders and Graduates.
Sinha and Pradhan also discussed skilling of students at Higher Secondary level and quality academic research in all fields.
This was first meeting of the Lieutenant Governor with Dharmendra Pradhan after the latter took over the Education Ministry from Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, last month.
“We are also giving the much-needed impetus to bridge the social and gender gaps in School Education by ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels for improving the Literacy Rate of the UT of J&K,” Sinha said.
A robust mechanism has been laid down for ensuring that the benefits under Prime Minister’s ‘PM CARES for Children’ and J&K Government’s ‘SASCM’ scheme, reached every child affected due to Covid pandemic, he informed.
Discussions were also held on the inclusion of Foundational literacy and numeracy, Critical life skills, vocational skills development, Basic education and Continuing education in the educational framework.
During meeting with Gadkari, Sinha discussed various development issues related to road and infrastructure projects in J&K and their speedy execution.
Sinha also participated in the launch of eRUPI by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through VC. This intiative will revolutionise the cashless transations and prove to be game changer for digital payment solutions,” the Office of LG J&K tweeted.
In his meeting with Giriraj Singh, the Lieutenant Governor discussed strengthening rural connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir through Prime Minister’s Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Sinha and Giriraj Singh also reviewed empowerment of three-tier Panchayati Raj System in Jammu and Kashmir which has strengthened the governance at grass-root level.
“The meeting was fruitful. The Union Minister assured full support to the Union Territory Government in its endeavours for development and prosperity of rural J&K,” an official statement issued by the Government after the meeting said.
Sinha shared various reformative measures taken by the UT Government to bridge the gap between rural and urban J&K.
“J&K is amongst the top performers in terms of achievements made under PMGSY. We are reaching out to unconnected habitations with road connectivity, besides augmenting the Power & water supply to connect every household in the rural areas,” Sinha said.
The UT Government has already approved a historic Rs. 12,600 crore District Capex Budget 2021-22 for equitable development of J&K with active involvement of Panchayats, BDCs, and DDCs. Moreover, new opportunities are being created for rural employment; digital interventions have been made by establishing Digital Village Centres to bring the working of the PRI institutions close to the Government’s functioning. Panchayat offices are being digitally integrated with higher offices for extension of government services to rural population, Sinha informed.
Recently, an e-Compendium of 2177 projects completed under Back to Village Programme during 2020-21 was released which depicts the success of the ambitious initiative of the J&K Government, he added.
Discussion was also held between Sinha and Giriraj Singh on the UT Government’s action plan for creating more livelihood opportunities for the rural population, besides extending the financial assistance to 50,000 youth as per the target set by the Government for this year’s Back to Village program. Pertinently, during the B2V3, around 20,000 young budding entrepreneurs have been empowered financially to start their own enterprise.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials of Ministry of Rural Development .
The Lieutenant Governor, who reached New Delhi yesterday, is expected to stay in the Union Capital tomorrow and is likely to meet couple of more Central Government representatives before returning to Jammu and Kashmir.