Govt names place for new colleges, most local concerns addressed; 20 distts in list

SAC

OTHER DECISIONS:

- Two J&K Police Women Battalions with 2014 posts approved

- Rs 6 Crore grant for Real Kashmir Football Club over 3 years

JAMMU: The State Administrative Council (SAC), equivalent to Cabinet in popular government, on Monday named the final locations for the establishments of 40 new Government Degree Colleges to be set up during 2019-20 & 2020-21, even as it has addressed most of the concerns raised by various quarters as 20 out of 22 districts of state have got at least one college.

With Governor Satya Pal Malik in chair, and his Advisors K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, KK Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam in attendance, the SAC in a significant decision, also approved the grant of Hardship Allowance @ 8% of basic pay in the revised pay levels in favour of all Gazetted and Non Gazetted Police Personnel and @ 10% of basic pay for classified category personnel thus meeting the long pending demand of the cops, even as it granted Rs 6 Crore as financial assistance to the Real Kashmir Football Club over the 3 years, while approval was also given to raising of two women battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police along with creation of 2014 posts of various ranks for these battalions announced earlier by MHA.

In a major decision, the SAC on Monday approved locations for the establishments of 40 new Government Degree Colleges to be set up during 2019-20 & 2020-21.

The locations approved for these 40 colleges include Chadoora in Budgam, Qazigund in Kulgam, Rajpora in Pulwama, Zainapora & Wachi in Shopian, Villgam in Kupwara, Drass in Kargil, Vijaypur in Samba, Chenani in Udhampur, Mandi in Poonch, Paddar in Kishtwar, Thindim Kreeri in Baramulla, Frisal, Home Shalibugh in Kulgam, Langate in Kupwara, Marh in Jammu, Doongi in Rajouri, Ramkote in Kathua, Dudu Basantgarh in Udhampur, Siligam/Aishmuquam in Anantnag, Kotranka/Peeri in Rajouri, Ajas and Hajin in Bandipora, Hyderpora and Allochibagh in Srinagar, Khalsi in Leh, Kunjwani/Sainik Colony, Nagrota, Sidhra in Jammu, Khakryal/Katra, Neeli Nallah in Udhampur, Ukhral, Batote in Ramban, Awantipora in Pulwama, Verinag & Chitti Singhpora in Anantnag, Ramgarh, Purmandal in Samba, Pouni in Reasi, Marheen in Kathua, and Dangiwacha, Bomai in Baramulla district.

The only two districts left out of the list are Doda in Jammu region and Ganderbal in Kashmir.

Pertinently, the government had constituted a High Level Committee to identify and examine the locations for these colleges approved by SAC in December 2018, following which the Committee after taking note of various parameters like enrolment, catchment, distance, increasing number of students, feasibility etc. recommended 40 locations spread across the State for establishment of the new Degree Colleges.

The Committee has recommended that 40 Degree Colleges should be made operational during 2020-21 by which time reasonable infrastructure and staff will be in place. However, at some places, classes can be started during 2019-20, an official readout said.

The SAC decided that 20 Colleges to be opened in 2019-20 be prioritized to meet the felt requirements in such areas where land is available.

The SAC further directed that the Committee constituted vide Government Order No. 1462-GAD of 2018 dated 25.09.2018 shall continue as a Standing Committee to examine future requirement of new Colleges.

With the establishment of 40 new colleges in the State, students will have easy access to higher education facilities at their door steps. This would add capacity of approximately 40,000 students in graduate education by the start of the academic year 2020.

Meanwhile, the SAC also accorded sanction to the raising of two women battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police along with creation of 2014 posts of various ranks for these battalions.

The posts include 2 posts of Commandants, 6 posts of Deputy Commandant, 14 posts of Dy.SP, 14 posts of Inspector, 4 posts of Inspector (M)/ Tel, 46 posts of Sub-Inspector, 4 posts of Sub-Inspector (M)/Tel, 46 posts of Assistant Sub-Inspector, 10 posts of Assistant Sub-Inspector (M), 320 posts of Head Constable, 8 posts of Constable (Tel), 1402 posts of Constables/Tel, 138 posts of Followers, 2 posts of Medical Officer, 4 posts of Medical Assistant and 2 posts of Nursing Assistant.

The two battalions will be raised exclusively for women on the pattern of Border Battalions. The move is aimed at equipping the J&K Police to effectively deal with crimes against the women and give due representation to the Women in the Police force.

Due to inadequate representation/availability of women police personnel at various levels and to address the issues of gender based violence faced by women, State Government had taken up the issue of raising of Women Police battalions with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The recruitment to these two women battalions will be completed within one year from the date of sanction. The raising of a women battalion will involve financial implications of Rs 235.86 Crore of which Rs 105.11 Crore will be provided by Government of India and Rs 129.94 Crore will be State share.
Finally, the SAC accorded sanction to the grant of Rs 2 crore as financial assistance to the Real Kashmir Football Club annually for a period of three years, beginning 2018-19.

“Within two years of the formation of “Real Football Club ", the team has performed exceptionally well at the national level including the National Football League, where the Club successfully defeated or drew with top teams including Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers, FC Goa etc,” a release from Raj Bhavan said.

“Through its prolific performance, Real Kashmir has been gaining popularity among the youth of the State. In matches played in Kashmir Valley, more than 25000 people were in attendance to cheer for their favourite football teams.

“However, presently the Real Kashmir Football Club is financially not in a position to meet the expenditure on players including expenses on training, travelling, boarding & lodging.

“Taking note of financial constraints of the Club, its future prospects and to bring more and more youth in its fold, the SAC approved grant of assured financial assistance for a period three years to the Club to begin with,” it said.

The SAC further directed the Department of Youth Services & Sports to formulate a proposal in consultation with the Finance Department for providing grant to sports teams of J&K which qualify for top level national leagues in Cricket, Hockey, Kabaddi and Badminton.