College Science Block awaits completion as tussle between R&B, contractor affects construction
Umaisar Gull Ganie
Dooru, Feb 24: The lack of staff and infrastructure at Government Degree College (GDC), Dooru, Anantnag is painting a grim picture of the education sector as the students continue to suffer while the authorities concerned are acting as mute spectators as they have failed to take any action in this regard.
The students and the staff told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they are facing immense hardships due to lack of proper infrastructure and teaching staff.
“The educational institution was established in 2005 during the Congress-PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 1300 boys and girls are currently enrolled in this College,” they said.
Muzamil Deva, a 3rd Semester student said that six teachers were transferred two months back but new teachers have not yet been deputed in the college.
“The college lacks teachers for many subjects including Chemistry, Biochemistry, English and Economics. The college also lacks Physics and Psychology subjects’ lecturers for the past one year,” he said, adding that there is only one political science lecturer at the College, which is inadequate for a large number of students enrolled there.
Both the students and the staff rue poor infrastructure including lack of space for holding classes. “Five years after the college was established, the College infrastructure is yet to be enhanced,” the employees in the college said.
They said that the construction of the Science block for the College has been approved two years ago and an allocation of Rs 8.85 Crore was made, but the construction work is still on hold due to some issues between the contractor and the public works department.
The department has so far de-notified tenders five times for the construction of the block and the matter is currently pending in court, they added.
The IGNOU study centre was introduced in the college three years ago, but for unknown reasons, the centre has also been closed, they informed.
Javed Ahmed, President of Shahabad Citizen Forum said that the students from Dooru, Verinag, Kaparan, Qazigund and Banihal are studying at the College but are facing inconvenience due to the lack of adequate facilities.
He appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the matter and resolve the issues at an earliest.
Executive Engineer R&B, Qazigund Riyaz Ahmad told KNO that keeping in view the scarcity of space in the college, the department had invited tenders for construction of two-storey Science block for which funds were also allocated but the papers of the contractor, in whose favour the work was allotted, were not found in the Circle Office as per the rules due to which the tender had to be cancelled.
However, the contractor has now taken the matter to the court and he is expected to get a decision from the Court soon.
An official in the education department said that the government had decided to engage guest faculties in the Colleges instead of academic arrangements.
“The guest faculty will attend the colleges on a need basis. This is being done to overcome the deficiency of teaching staff in the colleges,” he said—(KNO)
