Jammu: On the directions of *Project Director, SAMAGRA SHIKSHA Rakesh Magotra, JKAS* and under his overall supervision, *Deputy Director Planning, SAMAGRA SHIKSHA, Bilal Rashid* visited the DIET Rajouri, Govt. Boys Hr. Sec. School Rajouri and High School Thandikassi, to sort out the long pending Land issues and monitoring the progress of work.
*Deputy Director Planning Bilal Rashid informed that, 02 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hostels (100 bedded)* have been sanctioned by MoE, GoI at a Cost of Rs. 3.50 crores each, for Rajouri District (01 in 2022-23 and 01 in 2023-24), but the construction of the same could not be started due to non-availability of land. He said that, the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Hostels act as an inspiration to the children and also motivate the teachers, staff and administration to enable them to achieve high standards of excellence. He further informed that, during the recently held *review meeting chaired by the Administrative Secretary, School Education Dr. Piyush Singla, IAS, directions were issued to make all the constructed Girls Hostels across the UT functional and also to expedite the construction of Newly sanctioned Neta Ji Hostels, so that Quality Education at the door step may be ensured for the children across the UT*. He informed that, it’s the instructions of Adm. Secretary, to assess the feasibility first before the projection of Project, so that while execution, land availability issues could be avoided and Infrastructure could be developed for schools where the same is actually required.
It is pertinent to mention that, these 02 Hotels were sanctioned for Boys HSS Rajouri and HS Thandikassi, so that students belonging to the disadvantaged groups of the society & far-flung areas, may have the provision to get the admission at popular Schools of the District, where they shall get good exposure & quality Education as well.
*During the visit, Engineers from PW(R&B) Department and Engineers from Samagra Shiksha* also accompanied him and accordingly land was identified, for the Hostel to be constructed at HQ Rajouri, with the intervention of *Mushtaq Ahmed, Chief Education Officer, Rajouri and Rakesh Sharma, Principal Boys HSS School Rajouri*. The School has itself enrolment of more than 600, besides enrolment of Schools of peripheral areas, informed the Principal of said School. Students of the Schools due to non-availability of Hostel facility at HQ, suffer a lot as they come from vary far off places, informed the Principal of School.
Dy. Director Planning, further reiterated that, *Samagra Shiksha wing of the School Education Department under headship of Rakesh Magotra, is very keen to provide good & eminence infrastructure* to the Schools and due to which PD Samagra Shiksha deputed him to visit the sites along with concerned officers and Technical Staff, so that issues may be resolved and Construction may be taken up after floating of Tenders, immediately with the culmination of MCC.
DD Planning, also visited the HS Thandikassi, where a piece of state Land is identified in the periphery, for which request shall be made to Revenue authorities for transfer of land. He also inspected the Civil work being executed at DIET complex Rajouri, where innovation Labs, Training Halls and Office accommodation with allotted cost of Rs. 1.43 crores is being constructed to expand the DIET complex. He asked the executing agency to expedite the pace of work, so that the same could be put in use at the earliest. The Land for the construction of already approved Auditorium at DIET Complex Rajouri with a cost of Rs. 1.03 Crores, was also identified in presence of DIET Staff, as the same was sanctioned in 2019-20 but due to various constraints, could not be constructed. He asked the Executing Agency, that there is no shortage of funds and more than 50% funds stand already released for these projects and now it is up to the Executing agency, to show the progress and dedicate the Infrastructure to Children and Teaching community. .
*A piece of research on 8th Class examination & Assessments was also presented to DD Planning, carried out by Mr. Mohd Riaz Lecturer and Ms. Nahida Lone*, Lecturer working in DIET Rajouri under Research Activities of Samagra Shiksha, for which DD Planning also conveyed appreciation to the team, who remained associated with the research Project.
Er. Yousaf Lodhi, Er. Maroof Ahmed, Er. Ashish Sharma, Academic officers Samina Mir, Farooq Ahmed, Fazal Hussain Sr. lect, Mr. Sharma, among others remained present.CNI