Minister for Information Technology (IT), Technical Education & Youth Services and Sports (YSS), Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari chaired a meeting in his office chambers to review the functioning of the Youth Services and Sports, Sports Council and the Technical Education Department.The Minister reviewed the progress of the special package approved for the development of sports infrastructure in J&K. He reviewed the progress of works for construction of Indoor halls in eleven districts for which such halls already stand sanctioned. He urged the officers to expeditiously settle all outstanding issues including transfer of land so that construction work can begin in right earnest. He also impressed upon the officers initiate process of identification of suitable land for indoor halls to be constructed in other districts for which an amount of Rs 88 Crores stands earmarked. The Minister while reviewing the activities plan of the department emphasized the need to involve the youth in a big way so that their energies could be better harnessed for constructive engagement. He also enquired about the action plan under KHELO INDIA, a flagship scheme of the Government of India which has components of both activities for youth engagement as well as infrastructure development.
While reviewing the Polytechnic Sector, the Minister was informed that as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court of India, the admissions for new batches had to be finished by 15 August 2016. Admissions in Jammu division have almost been completed while in the Kashmir division, provisional admissions have been made.The Minister also reviewed the preparedness of the department for implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Koushal Vikas Yojana which is a major initiative of the government towards skilling of youth. The Minister underscored the importance of Skill Development Programmes which are being taken up in a mission mode by the department. He stressed upon the need to converge the efforts of various departments like Horticulture, Agriculture, Tourism, Labour, Rural Development etc. under the umbrella of the J&K Skill Development Mission for better and coherent results.The Minister while reviewing the progress of works was informed that Polytechnics have been shifted to new departmental buildings at Kulgam and Anantnag while work is at various stages of completion at other locations.
The Minister also reviewed the progress of the Heritage Craft courses underway at various Polytechnics and ITIs. The Minister expressed concern over the unfinished workshop building which had to be handed over to Central Institute of Plastic Technology to be established at Zainakote. He directed the officers to ensure time-bound completion of the complex so that classes could get underway at the earliest.The meeting was attended by Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Secretary, Technical Education, Director, Youth Services and Sports and Secretary, Sports Council among others.