New initiatives transforming education sector in J&K: Dy CM

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said the PDP-BJP government was according top priority to the education sector and various initiatives have already been undertaken to improve the quality of education in the state.
Singh was addressing a gathering after inaugurating additional classrooms and other related infrastructure at Girl School Dharmkote in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district.
He said the education facilities are being augmented on cluster basis by involving various schools in far-flung areas of the state so that the students do not have to come to the district headquarter for getting quality education.
The Deputy Chief Minister said special attention would also be given to starting evening classes to increase the intake capacity of the institutions and academic performance of the students living in remote areas of the state.

Referring to various initiatives undertaken by the government, Singh said the schools of the district would be provided sports infrastructure and an indoor stadium would be constructed at Billawar.
The Chief Education Officer, Kathua, informed the Deputy Chief Minister that the Kathua district has been divided into 37 clusters to check punctuality, academic standards, teaching practices and the progress is being monitored on monthly basis.

He also took a detailed review of the arrangements being made for the procurement system and directed for making it more efficient so that the problems being faced by the farmers are redressed within the shortest possible time.

He said that agriculture and related activities constitute the mainstay of the state's economy and necessary steps should be taken to ensure that people related with it get the requisite facilities.
While interacting with the people, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Kissan Mela would soon be organized to create necessary awareness among farmers about the various welfare schemes being launched by the government.
He said necessary instructions have already been given to the officers of the PDD department to undertake the augmentation of electric infra so that the electricity problem, if any, is resolved.
Singh said steps have already been initiated to bring the Billawar and its adjoining areas on the tourist map so that the tourism related activities get a fillip resulting in the uplift of socio-economic profile of the people living in the area.