Doda to have first Cluster University soon
Srinagar: The J&K government is likely to establish a cluster university in Doda district. This will be a major step to boost education in the Chenab valley. For this, the member parliament and minister of State in PMO, Jatinder Singh has also shot a letter to the education minister and demanded establishment of a new Cluster University in the district.
The development comes at a time when the government has already admitted that it is seeking establishment of six new cluster universities in J&K state-three each for Kashmir and Jammu regions. Also, couple of these universities is expected to be sanctioned this year.
The announcement in this regard was made by the education minister Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari while addressing the students and faculty at the inaugural function of maiden sports tournament hosted by Cluster University Jammu at GGM Science College on Monday.
Meanwhile, MoS with independent charges for development of north eastern region, Jatidner Singh has asked the education minister to get the cluster university established in the region to address the genuine demand of the public.
‘I am writing to you about a genuine demand of residents of Doda District which falls in my Parliamentary constituency relating to establishment or a Cluster University in Doda District. Doda, as you know, is a centrally located place and if a Cluster University is established in district Headquarters of Doda, this will serve all the three adjoining Districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban,” read the contents of the letter shot to education minister. It also says that MLA Doda Shakti Raj Parihar has already requested for establishment of a Cluster University in the district.
“I would be grateful it you could kindly have this genuine demand of local people examined positively so that this Cluster University could come up early at Doda,” the letter reads.
The establishment of the cluster university will be the first of its kind in the Chenab region which otherwise is lagging behind from other parts of the state in terms of available educational facilities for the youth.
Notably, none of the state universities including Kashmir University, Jammu University, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) has established any offsite campus in the region till date.
The Cluster University concept, first of its kind in India was introduced by J&K government in year 2016. It is expected to give an impetus to academics and research in the state.
The Cluster University is created by pooling the resources of five existing colleges located within the radius of five to 10 kilometer. These five constituent colleges of the Cluster University should have adequate academic, physical and technical infrastructural facilities besides fulfill other requisite facilities for being included as a constituent of the cluster university.
KV Correspondent
