Leh, June 18: Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said the establishment of a Kashmir University Campus in Leh district would give students living in difficult areas an opportunity to pursue courses of higher education and learning.
 Addressing academics and officials after laying the foundation stone of Leh Campus of the Kashmir University at Taruthang here, the Governor and the Chief Minister said that introduction of courses which have current and future relevance and ready marketability should receive priority so that students passing out from the higher educational institutions are gainfully engaged within the state.
 The Governor, who is Chancellor of the University, reflected on various aspects relating to the development of higher education institutions and production of qualified human resource which can fruitfully serve Ladakh region, the State and the Country. He underlined the high potential of knowledge being transmitted through faculty exchanges, tele-conferencing and use of internet facility. 
 The Governor asked the University to consider a scheme for providing full scholarship to the meritorious students who commit to work as teachers for specified periods after gaining qualifications at the University. He also suggested a survey being conducted to assess the needs and aspirations of students of this region so that the Campus could accordingly come up to their expectations. “The establishment of a University Campus in Leh district would relieve parents from incurring huge costs in sending their wards to distant towns to pursue higher education,” he said.
 In his speech, the Chief Minister said that the idea of establishing KU campuses in Leh and Kargil was conceived in 2009 at a meeting of the Kashmir University Council chaired by the Governor. “We could have announced this important decision three years ago but we wanted to first ensure the availability of land and the required funds to build the infrastructure. It has taken some time but the foundation of the Campus is being laid today only after we have tied up all ends,” he said, thanking the people of Taruthang for providing the required land for the University Campus.
 Omar referred to the State Government’s continuing efforts to provide equal opportunities to the students of all regions of the State to receive quality education at their doorsteps. He said that besides a chain of degree colleges established all across the State, the strengthening of the existing University Campuses and setting up new ones are important measures taken by the Government to ensure univesalisation of higher education.
 Omar said that the areas like Leh and Kargil where accessibility and winter hardships pose serious impediments in the educational system being run satisfactorily.
 Others who were present on the occasion include Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdur Rahim Rather. Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Qamar Ali Aknoon, Vice-Chancellor KU Prof Talat Ahmad and Rigzin Spalbar, Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh.

Construction work shortly: Prof Talat Ahmad
The KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad gave details of various initiatives taken for the development of the satellite campuses of the University and the infrastructure to be built at the Leh Campus.
 He said the Campus will be spread over an area of 819 kanals and the process for finalizing the conceptual drawings and Master Plans has commenced. “The construction work on this Campus would commence shortly,” he said.
 He said that the University Grants Commission has sanctioned over Rs. 27.39 crore for the various development projects of the Leh Campus, which include construction of Administrative Block, Social Science and Science Blocks, Hostel, Residential Quarters, construction of roads, external electrification, water supply and chain link fencing. “Of this sanctioned amount, more than Rs. 13.69 crore have already been released,” he said. 
 Prof. Syed Fayyaz Ahmad, Registrar, Kashmir University, presented a Vote of Thanks.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST