‘New Edu Policy eliminates past anomalies’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 19: Maintaining that start up avenues for youth in J&K remained unexplored, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said unlike other States of country the youth of J&K still hanker for Government jobs as they are ignorant of alternative avenues of livelihood created by Narendra Modi Government.
The Minister said this while participating in the interactive session during a programme organised by Cluster University here today on New Education Policy (NEP 2020) held as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Dr Jitendra Singh said as the alternative avenues of livelihood are not known to people, the youth in J&K are going by conventional methods and stressed on orgnising workshops, seminars and public lectures to create awareness among them about various startup schemes launched by Narendra Modi Government to create lucrative employment opportunities for the youth of the country.
He said the Aroma Mission and Lavender Mission have lot of scope for the youth of J&K as they are not only cheap for investment but also fetch a good profit. He, while appealing the youth of the UT to take advantage of these lucrative schemes under startups, said investment in these schemes have a wide range of livelihood opportunities.
Dr Jitendra Singh said there are huge reserves of Bamboo in Kathua, Samba and Reasi districts of Jammu region and the youth taking the advantage of startups can establish their enterprises. He said the youth of Karnataka are availing Bamboo entrepreneurship but not in J&K.
He said there is lot of scope for dairy in Udhampur, Reasi and other hilly districts of Jammu region as there is pure and high quality of milk available. Taking its advantage the youth can set up dairy farms in these areas, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said some well qualified youth having done B Tech and MBA have quit the Government jobs in Corporate Sector and set up their business establishments under Modi Government’s startup schemes.
The Union Minister also urged the political leaders irrespective of their party politics to come forward and motivate the youth in right direction. He said in States like Gujarat the youth are not after Government jobs as it is not their first preference. They know the other avenues of job which are more lucrative, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh made it clear that New Education Policy will be fruitful if we meet up these challenges.”
He said that the two fold objective of the New Education Policy (NEP-2020) is to correct past anomalies persisting for years and to introduce contemporary provisions which are in keeping up with the present global trends.
During the interaction, the Minister said that the greatest anomaly in the previous Education Policy was the nomenclature itself, the Ministry of HRD was a misnomer, misrepresentative in itself having other connotations. He further said that as India has now become a part of the global world, the education parameters have to keep pace with the global parameters if India has to compete globally and excel globally.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that one of the new provisions of NEP-2020 in the form of multiple entry/exit option is something to be cherished as this academic flexibility will have a positive impact on the students related to the availing of different career opportunities at different times, depending upon their intrinsic leaning and inherent aptitude. The Minister also said that this entry/exit option can be opted in future for the teachers as well, giving them career flexibility and upgradation opportunities as is done in some Western countries like the USA.
Saying that one of the objectives of NEP-202 is de-linking degrees from education, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that linking degrees with education has taken a heavy toll on our education system and society as well. One of the fall-outs has been an increasing number of educated unemployed.
Dr. Jitendra Singh maintained that technological interventions in education are a boon for students of this generation and emphasized that teachers should also be able to keep up the pace with the students who are moving ahead too fast owing to accessibility of information, avenues, means and talent.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also said that when the society has become gender neutral, language neutral, it has to become teacher-pupil neutral now so as to make our education system a bilateral phenomenon. He said that besides the education of students, equally important is the education of the teachers, parents and elders as the challenge is not only the optimum education but to prevent dis-education which is never discussed.
During the interaction, Dr Jitendra Singh also emphasized that the demography of education has changed region-wise, gender-wise and profile-wise which can be judged from the fact that women have now a greater representation in civil services, people from other regions are now topping different exams which was earlier the prerogative of a few regions only.
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed that the responsibility of educationists today is not to award a degree but to teach to achieve ease of living which can happen only when the youngster is able to find a sustainable start- up source of living for himself, instead of harping on government job.
Principal Secretary, J&K Higher Education Department, Rohit Kansal during the interaction said that education, ideas lie at the heart of achievement, a society full of ideas, full of vision is ultimately going to progress and lead the others.
Professor Bechan Lal, Vice Chancellor Cluster University Jammu in his welcome address said that NEP-2020 is widely accepted and appreciated for its creative provisions.
Priya Sethi, former J&K Minister, Vice Chancellor Jammu University, Professor Manoj Dhar and Deputy Mayor Purnima Sharma were also present during the session.
Dr Vishal Sharma from MAM College, Dr Shalni from GCW Gandhi Nagar and Dr Rakesh Gupta of GGM Science College talked about NEP 2021, while Dr Ramesh Kumar Bhat of GGM Science College, Dr Varun Prof of Philosophy and Prof Manhas interacted and suggested ways and means for implementing NEP 2020.
Dr Ramesh suggested that new modes and implementing strategies to be taken for implementing the policy for which ground level restructuring is needed and workshops to be organised subject specially in various colleges of UT.
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