Tribal Affairs Deptt to initiate “Hostel Modernisation” plan
Shahid Choudhary, Secretary unveils roadmap, strict timelines for infrastructure up-gradation and facilities
Mandatory Skill Development Courses, concurrent evaluation.
Srinagar, April 20: The Tribal Affairs Department has initiated the process for time-bound modernisation of all residential hostels in districts to provide best facilities and competitive platform to students which will include infrastructure upgradation, technology interventions, management revamp and decentralised functioning.
Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department and Chief Executive Officer, Mission Youth, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary laid out the roadmap with strict timelines for modernisation of all hostels managed by the department, in a meeting of officers convened to finalise the project. He asked for associating stakeholders and domain experts for ensuring best outcomes.
Dr Shahid while unveiling the modernisation plan for hostels asked for outcome based concurrent evaluation and assessment. The department will switch to a competitive selection process for admissions and put in place best educational facilities.
Every hostel will get a Career Counselling Centre for mentoring the students right from their admission. CCCs shall organise 4-5 interactive sessions every month with qualifiers of competitive examinations, innovators, entrepreneurs, educationists and domain experts. Separate budget will be provided to hostels for CCCs. Skill Development Courses shall be mandatory for all students. J&K Skill Development Mission will sign an MoU with Tribal Affairs Department (TAD) for approved courses , certification and assured placement upon completion of education in hostel.
The modernisation plan includes a major revamp of infrastructure including furniture , bedding , sanitary fittings , sanitation components and other facilities. Establishment of Gymnasiums and sports clubs with all required sports equipment will be ensured as a model intervention to be augmented by regular deployment of physical fitness trainers through District Administration.
Emphasising on quality education the department will be establishing Libraries with all required books , Digital Library having offline and online repository of books, journals, references and documents. The department will replace the tuition system with online classes modules for which Smart Classrooms will be established in each hostel and one state-of-the-art studio each at Jammu and Srinagar for resource persons to connect with hostels.
Dr Shahid said that there will be parallel process to digitise the entire J&K Board syllabus of Class VI-XII to be provided to students in tablet computers to do away with school bags. Deptt will also formulate Audio-Visual lectures for convenience of understanding. These facilities shall be provided from current educational year.
He asked for revising food menus and uniform which has Rs 100/day and Rs 2200/ annum allocation for each student presently and will be enhanced for ensuring better quality. Committee headed by Director, Tribal Affairs , will finalise revised menu based on standard nutritional requirement and also annual requirement of summer and winter uniform / clothing which shall be provided on priority.
Installation of CCTV cameras, biometric attendance for students and staff , RO Water purifiers, power backup facility, heating equipment and other amenities are a part of modernisation plan. Department will be investing more than Rs 15 Cr on modernisation of hostels, education support including scholarships and providing improved standard facilities in these hostels.
Hostel wardens were directed for regular health check up of students and mandatory enrolment Inder PMJAY-SEHAT scheme providing Rs 5 Lakh health cover. A platform for students’ feedback about services and management is also being introduced in the plan which also includes regular parent-teacher meetings and more administrative and functional powers to Wardens. All the hostels shall be managed by Tribal Affairs Department w.e.f April 2021 upon transfer of hostels from Advisory Board for which Director TAD was asked for comprehensive audit , asset -liabilities assessment and working out augmentation measures.
All the hostels have been asked for formulate a detailed professional Hostel Management Plan taking into account the proposed initiatives and targeted achievements. Performance linked incentives for students and Annual Innovation Grant shall be a component of modernisation plan which also include exposure tours and study courses for both students and management staff. The newly recruited wardens and Asstt wardens shall also undergo refresher courses for best management of hostels. A third party evaluation for hostel management and functioning shall be done for ensuring best performance and quality services.
Director Tribal Affairs, Musheer Ahmed, Secretary Advisory Board, Mukhtar Choudhary, Jt Director Planning , Financial Advisor, OSD Mission Youth, OSD Skill Development Mission, Deputy Directors attended the meeting. Wardens of all the hostels in districts and field officers attended the meeting through videoconference
