Zulfkar demands Rs 50 cr annual grant for BGSBU

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, July 7: Vice President, JKUT BJP and former Education Minister, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has strongly urged the Union Territory Government to enhance the annual Grant-in-Aid to Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) from the existing Rs 37 crore to Rs 50 crore, stating that the University can no longer be expected to deliver quality education while being forced to function under severe financial constraints.

Describing BGSBU as the premier institution of higher education in the Pir Panjal region, Zulfkar Ali said the University has transformed the educational landscape of Rajouri and Poonch by providing quality education to thousands of students, particularly those from remote, border and economically weaker backgrounds. However, he regretted that despite its immense contribution, the University has not received the financial support commensurate with its growing responsibilities and expanding academic needs.

He said that inflation, rising operational expenditure, faculty shortage, infrastructural requirements, technological advancement and the introduction of new academic programmes have significantly increased the University's financial burden. Continuing with the existing grant, he said, would only hamper its growth and compromise the quality of higher education.

Zulfkar Ali demanded that the UT Government should increase the annual Grant-in-Aid to Rs 50 crore in the larger interest of students, faculty and the future of higher education in the Pir Panjal region. He asserted that strengthening educational institutions is not an expenditure but an investment in the future of Jammu and Kashmir.

Expressing serious concern over the non-release of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board grant pending since 2019, Zulfkar Ali termed the prolonged delay both unfortunate and unjustified. He demanded the immediate release of the pending grant, stating that funds meant for educational development must never become victims of bureaucratic delay or administrative indifference.

Zulfkar Ali appealed to the Lt Governor, UT Government and the concerned authorities to act without further delay and ensure that both the enhanced Grant-in-Aid and the long-pending Waqf Board grant are released at the earliest.