Minister for Tribal Affairs, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Legal Metrology, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today announced that the Government is going to construct a Tribal Girls’ Hostel adjacent to Amar Singh College here.The Minister said this after inaugurating the repaired and renovated Gujjar and Bakerwal Boy Hostel at Tulsi Bagh, which was damaged during the flood of September 2014. The hostel building, inaugurated in presence of Vice Chairman State Advisory Board for Development of Gujjar and Bakerwals, Gulzar Ahmad Khatana and MLA Batamaloo, Noor Mohammed Sheikh, was renovated in less than six months at a cost of Rs 77 lakh. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said parallel works on multiple fronts are being undertaken to develop sound education infra for tribal students.‘While we have renovated the Boys’ Hostel, in its vicinity construction work is also being undertaken for multi-storied building for Post Graduate Boys. However, equal efforts are also required to make quality education accessible to women by way of providing them all possible support for their empowerment’ the Minister said.Dedicating Rs 3.25 crore for the construction of the Girls’ Hostel, the Minister said that girls coming from Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, who are keen to receive higher education in the city, should have a proper accommodation facilities so that they can focus on their intended goal of learning.
Zulfkar Ali elaborated that the hostel would provide tribal girls ample avenues to avail all opportunities and facilities available in the city for their growth and development. He said the hostel would give them access to facilities like studying at premier colleges and universities and seeking knowledge from city libraries which have extensive collection of books.Invoking slogan of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” he said that the slogan would only serve its purpose when a feasible atmosphere and requisite facilities are provided to girls who strive to receive a quality education.The Minister directed the executing agency Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board, which is presently constructing PG Gujjar, Bakerwal Hostel at an estimated cost of Rs 3.25 crore, to immediately make a proposal for Girls’ Hostel. The Minister directed that the hostel would be constructed in the adjoining area of Amar Singh College. Commissioner Secretary Salma Hamid, Secretary Administrative Board for Development of Gujjar and Bakerwal, Mukhtar Ahmad Choudhary, Director Tribal Affairs, Mohammad Rafi, Managing Director J&K Housing Board, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Joint Controller Legal Meteorology Kashmir, Amar Singh, Deputy Controller LMD Kashmir Tanveer Ahmad and other concerned were present on the occasion.Later, the Minister also inspected ongoing construction work on Tribal Research Institute at Khimber being executed by Public Works Department at an estimated cost of Rs 7.82 crore.