The State government Tuesday said the erstwhile residence of Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, one of Kashmir's leading educationists, will be preserved as a "Heritage Building".The announcement was made by the Education Minister, Naeem Akhtar, while interacting with the staff and students of Government Girls High School in Fateh Kadal locality of Srinagar."Our society lacks role models and it is a small effort by the education department to recognize the immense work of Ashai saheb towards the Kashmiri society," the Education Minister said, while recalling the contribution of Mr Ashai towards the popularization of education in J&K.He said the state government will formulate a proposal for renovation of "Ashai Kocha" which is part of Government Girls High School in Fateh Kadal. The building was donated by Mr Ashai to the education department.
The Minister also interacted with the locals of Arwat who complained of water shortage in their area and also demanded adequate compensation for loss of land and buildings which will be acquired by the state government to pave way for a circular road in the area near Zaina Kadal.Mr Akhtar assured them that all their genuine grievances will be addressed by the government. Earlier, the Minister visited MP School in Bagh-e-Dilawar Khan area of downtown Srinagar where a college, sanctioned by the previous government with nine students and 15 teachers presently on its rolls, is being constructed on which the state government has so far spent Rs 2.95 crore.The Minister ordered that there will be no new admissions in the college till the construction of new building is not completed. He also directed the school authorities to set up a "Language Lab" and use English language as a medium of teaching in subjects where students are expected to write their papers in the "universal language."