TAUSEEF AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Feb 04: In a setback to a key demand repeatedly raised during the recent election campaign in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, the Jammu and Kashmir government has categorically ruled out, for now, the establishment of a separate Government Degree College for women in the district. The government cited concerns over enrolment viability, optimal use of resources and the risk of further fragmenting student strength across institutions.
The disclosure was made on the floor of the Legislative Assembly in a written reply to Starred Question No. 32, tabled by Bandipora MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, who had sought detailed information about the functioning of H.K. Government Degree College, Bandipora, and pressed the need for a dedicated women’s college to address the educational challenges faced by female students in the district.
In its response, the Higher Education Department informed the House that comprehensive details regarding the existing degree college — including infrastructure availability, enrolment figures, faculty strength and other academic parameters — have been provided in an annexure attached to the reply. The department, however, made it clear that there is “no plan at present” to establish a separate women’s degree college in Bandipora.
Explaining the government’s position, the Minister for Higher Education said that the department’s current priority is to enhance overall student enrolment, strengthen academic programmes, and ensure better utilisation of existing institutional infrastructure and human resources. The reply stated that opening a separate women’s college at this stage could lead to further division of enrolment in the district, thereby affecting the academic sustainability of both institutions.
“The establishment of a women’s degree college in Bandipora may not be viable at this stage, as it would further fragment enrolment,” the written reply said, indicating that the government is presently focusing on consolidating, rather than expanding, higher education institutions in the district.
The government’s stance has triggered disappointment among students, parents and civil society groups in Bandipora, particularly because the demand for a women’s degree college had been a prominent electoral issue. During the election campaign, all three legislators representing different constituencies of Bandipora district had publicly assured voters that steps would be taken to improve access to higher education for girls, especially those belonging to remote and far-flung areas.
Local residents argue that the absence of a separate women’s college continues to pose serious hurdles for female students. They point out that long travel distances, high transportation costs, limited public transport, and prevailing social constraints often compel girls to discontinue their education after higher secondary level. According to locals, a dedicated women’s institution would not only boost enrolment but also encourage families to allow their daughters to pursue higher studies.
Civil society members and education activists have urged the government to reconsider the proposal and conduct a needs-based and gender-sensitive assessment of the district, taking into account local realities rather than relying solely on enrolment statistics. They maintain that improved access to women-centric higher education infrastructure is essential for bridging the gender gap in education and ensuring inclusive development in the region.
For now, however, the government’s response signals that the long-standing demand for a women’s degree college in Bandipora remains on hold, despite its prominence in political discourse and electoral promises.
