Jammu, December 27 : Governor Satya Pal Malik chaired a high level meeting of all the Vice Chancellors to discuss issues pertaining to all the State Universities at the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday. Governor emphasized upon all the Universities to enhance their research capabilities and to update the syllabus regularly so as to keep abreast with rapidly changing global developments.

He observed that there should be a State level Advanced Research facility with latest equipment for promoting research in the new and innovative areas.

Governor laid stress on promoting entrepreneurship among the youth and suggested that Universities may introduce suitable courses in this area. He emphasized focus towards introducing vocational and entrepreneurial courses for the skill development of the students. He further stated that stringent quality control measures should be introduced in the B.Ed colleges affiliated with the Universities.

Malik advised the Farm Universities to undertake innovative research in improving seed varieties particularly oilseeds and pulses and suggested that measures be taken for reducing the yield gap between the farmers’ field and the experimental plots of the Universities by deputing a team of researchers for finding out reasons for such variations and addressing them suitably.

He also stressed strengthening of extension services and rapid transfer of technologies to equip the farmers with latest know-how.

Governor noted that J&K is largely dependent on imports of mutton and poultry products from outside the State and in this context stressed the need for a well coordinated approach to gain self-sufficiency in regard to these areas.

He stressed that the Academic Calendar for Academic Session should be issued well in advance and all the backlogs if any must be cleared; biometric attendance should be a compulsory feature of the Universities; teacher- student ratio must be further improved; selection procedure for the teaching positions must comply with the UGC norms and gainful benefits under RUSA must be maximized.

Governor emphasized that all higher Education Institutions must ensure NAAC Accreditation, emphasis to be laid on provision of common room and toilet facilities for girls, sports and extracurricular activities be encouraged as an integral component of University education and in this regard he advised that the annual Inter University Sports meet be made a regular feature.

He lauded the good work being done by the Universities in promotion of research, innovation and academic discipline and urged the Vice Chancellors for excelling in every arena of University Education. Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Advisor to Governor, urged the Vice-Chancellors to set bench marks for their performances in varied aspects of University Education and introduce measurable criteria to regularly check their standings in this regard.

Sarita Chouhan, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education gave an overview about the functioning of the Higher Education Institutions in the State and he progress made in achieving the objectives. Vice-Chancellors of all the Universities briefed Governor about the overall functioning, achievements and pressing issues of their respective Universities.

Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to Governor; Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Secretary to Government, Agriculture Production Department; Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Prof. (Dr.) Nazeer Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir; Prof. Javed Musarrat, Vice Chancellor, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri; Prof. Sheikh Javid Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar; Prof. Anju Bhasin, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu; Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University; Prof. Mushtaq A. Siddiqi, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University of Science & Technology, Awantipora; and M.R. Andrabi, Director General Finance Department were present in the meeting.

Srinagar: Asserting that the main aim and objective of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was to guarantee peace and stability in the state, senior PDP leader Abdul Rehman Veeri said their government in the state empowered youth and was successful in withdrawing more than twelve thousand FIRs registered against the youngsters.

“The party accorded a dignified life to these youth who were bundled in jails and PDP gave them a reason to put their lives back on track and prosper. The fact is that PDP is the only platform that gave voice to the people by providing the only viable and credible alternative to the people of Jammu & Kashmir,” said Veeri while taking stock of the party activities in a high-level meeting in south Kashmir on Thursday.

He added that despite the medley of the internal troubles within the coalition, the PDP led government always stood at the forefront to ensure that the state’s interests aren’t bartered against the petty power.

Veeri said that the remonstrance by the PDP against any injustice perpetrated against the people of the state is known to all and the guiding principle set by party’s founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will act as a torch bearer for the PDP’s future course of action as well.

The leaders present in the meeting also resolved to make PDP vibrant force in the state once again and democratize its mission so that Kashmir could be saved from the present apocalyptic situation.

The meeting held at Dak Bungalow Anantnag was chaired by PDP Vice President Abdul Rahman Veeri who in his address asked the leaders to focus on their respective constituencies and remain connected with people, party activists, and workers on the ground.

The party also held a meeting of its functionaries from Srinagar at the party’s head office here in which measures needed party’s overall growth in Srinagar were discussed at threadbare.

Chaired by PDP’s Srinagar’s District President Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the meeting deliberated over the present political scenario of the state’s summer capital and resolved to further strengthen the party at the grassroots.

Alam while addressing the party functionaries termed the PDP as the only political force in the state that has remained in the forefront to pitch for the resolution of Kashmir issue through dialogue and reconciliation.