(#Jammukashmir/Srinagar/TRP Desk Report)
“We don’t understand why we have to shift to other colleges at this juncture? We won’t go to other colleges”
The students of New Women College Srinagar on Wednesday staged a protest against the government’s decision to shift them to other colleges in the city.
Scores of students assembled at Press Enclave and staged a protest against the government decision.
The students said they were enrolled in New Women’s College Srinagar but were now asked to shift to Amar Singh College and Government Degree College Nawakadal.
“We don’t understand why we have to shift to other colleges at this juncture? We won’t go to other colleges,” said a student.
The protesting students said they are being asked to shift to other two colleges as the department was mulling to make the newly established new women’s College functional at Zakura. Till now, the college was functioning from a make shift library block of the Amar Singh College.
“We have directions from the department to shift these students to Nawa Kadal College and Amar Singh College because most of the students enrolled in the college are from Budgam district. And Zakura doesn’t fall in catchment area for these students,” said Principal new Women’s college Maheen Mustafa. She said 80 percent students enrolled in the college are from Chadura area of Budgam district.
Mustafa said some students from Batamaloo and other areas are insisting to come to Zakura for which they are holding a meeting with their parents in the college campus.
“We have called parents of these students and we will allow students to join Zakura campus on their consent,” she said.
She said it won’t be possible for students of Budgam district to cover a journey of 40 kilometres on daily basis to reach their college in Zakura. “For them, the government has given us two options of Amar Singh College and Nawa Kadal College,” the college principal said.
Recently, the secretary higher education department convened a review meeting with college principals of Kashmir division wherein it was informed that the infrastructure and other necessary facilities of New Women’s College Srinagar, Batpora were accomplished.
In wake of this it was decided that the college shall be entirely shifted from Amar Singh College campus to its new building at Batpora.
“However, the students who are presently enrolled in this college shall be adjusted in the nearby colleges-Amar Singh College or Women’s College Nawakadal Srinagar as per their convenience,” read the minutes of the meeting.