: Chief Secretary, AtalDulloo, today chaired a meeting to review the availability of land andinfrastructure for Central Government educational institutions, includingJawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) and Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), that areeither non-functional or presently operating from temporary premises acrossvarious districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attendedby Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department; Secretary, Revenue;Deputy Commissioners representing Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (JNV) andKendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS); Director School Education, Jammu/Kashmir;Regional Officer, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Jammu, besides other seniorofficers.
Divisional Commissionersand Deputy Commissioners from the districts participated through videoconferencing.
During the review, theChief Secretary sought detailed district-wise and institution-wise inputsregarding the current infrastructural status of these schools. He specificallyenquired about the identification and availability of suitable land forconstruction of permanent school buildings and the arrangements made for theirtemporary functioning till such infrastructure is developed.
Emphasizing timely action,the Chief Secretary directed the Revenue Department to expedite the transfer ofidentified land parcels to the School Education Department for further leasingto the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to facilitate early execution of works. Hestressed prioritization of districts where no KV or JNV presently exists andcalled for immediate commencement of academic activities in locations wheretemporary accommodation has already been identified.
Commissioner Secretary,School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, apprised the meeting of thecurrent status of each JNV and KV, highlighting specific requirements of landand infrastructure. He informed that out of 51 Kendriya Vidyalayas sanctionedfor districts of J&K, 37 are already functional, while 14 are in theprocess of establishment. Of these, three schoolsincludingtwo at Ramban andGool in district Ramban, and one at Ramkot in Kathuadistrictare expected tobecome functional shortly.
Moreover, he informed that21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas have been sanctioned for the Union Territory,out of which 20 are already functional from their own buildings. He added thatthe JNV for Srinagar district is proposed to be made functional in a buildingidentified by the district administration, while permanent infrastructure willsubsequently be developed at a suitable site to be identified for theinstitution.
He further informed thatthe remaining 11 KVs are also in advanced stages of establishment, with landidentified and temporary accommodation finalized, and formal transfer processesunderway. The locations include Vijaypur (Samba), Bani and Ramkot (Kathua),Panchari (Udhampur), Mughal Maidan and Nagseni (Kishtwar), Gool and Ramban(Ramban), Kakriyal and Katra (Reasi), Gulpur (Poonch), Drugmulla (Kupwara), andRatnipora and Chandhara in Pulwama district.
The Deputy Commissionersbriefed the meeting on the status of land identification and availability ofbuildings in their respective districts, stating that the process for transferand allotment of land has been initiated after assessing feasibility andcompleting requisite formalities in coordination with the authorities of KVSand JNV.
Representatives ofKendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti also sharedupdates on steps being taken to operationalize these institutions at theearliest. They expressed commitment to commencing academic activitiespreferably from the upcoming academic session.
Reiterating thegovernment’s commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure acrossJammu and Kashmir, the Chief Secretary directed all stakeholders to work inclose coordination to ensure early operationalization of these institutions,thereby providing students with access to quality education throughwell-equipped and fully functional schools.