The Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha said that administration is working on plans to make the UT the country’s skill capital.
He called on technical institutions to focus on strengthening academia-industry collaboration. The LG laid the foundation stone for the 700- bed Mega Boys’ Hostel of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar through virtual mode. The project will enhance the sustainable campus infrastructure of one of the premier Technical Institutes in Northern India.
Technical institutes must also experiment with new technologies for the benefit of society, he further said.
He said Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan also shared his views on the occasion through a video message.
Taking note of fast-changing market dynamics and new innovations taking place globally, Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Sinha pointed out the efforts being taken by the administration to amplify the exponential technology ecosystem to meet modern-day requirements.
“With our technical education infrastructure, rigorous career programmes for high-demand technology in the post-Covid world, we are working on an ambitious plan to make Jammu and Kashmir the skill capital of the country,” he said.
“Jammu and Kashmir was deprived of industrial development for decades. Now, the Rs 28,400 cr new Industrial Development Scheme is transforming the industrial sector of the UT and attracting huge investments. Recently, J&K has received investment proposals worth Rs 23,500 cr and if we go by the recent scenario, the figure will reach Rs 50,000 cr by March next year,” said the Lt Governor.
Terming youth power as the biggest asset for any region, Sinha said that the potential of the young generation needs to be properly channelised for development.
Union Minsiter Pradhan, in his video message, said that the “mega” boys hostel, once completed, will equip NIT-Srinagar with modern facilities enabling the institution to accommodate the increasing number of student intake.
“I always believe that Jammu and Kashmir has a fundamental role to play in the development of the nation. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are filled with energy and aspirations. Higher education institutions such as NIT-Srinagar must channelise their talent, knowledge, and skill for the transformation of the Union Territory and the entire country,” he said.
Professor Rakesh Sehgal, Director, NIT-Srinagar, gave a detailed overview of the project and informed that the hostel is being constructed as a green building through a loan amount of Rs 85 crore approved by Higher Education Financing Agency on the recommendations of the Ministry of Education.
It will provide a host of facilities to the students for their comfortable stay on the campus, he added.