Former VC Demands Completion of Building of Primary School Garangan of Border Town Mendhar
Nazim Ali Manhas
Poonch, DD: The Jammu and Kashmir Border Area Development Conference (JK-BADC), a registered organization dedicated to the welfare of the tribal population and border residents of Jammu and Kashmir, has urged the Education Department and the Government of J & K to complete the pending construction work of the Primary School Garangan in the border town of Mendhar, district Poonch.
Recently, at the invitation of local villagers, Dr. Shazad Ahmed Malik, Chairman of JK-BADC, along with other functionaries of the organization, visited various areas of Block Mankote. During his interaction with local prominent people , including senior citizens, retired government officials, and young students, several socio-economic issues of the area were highlighted. These issues require immediate attention from the District Administration Poonch and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
The villagers also raised the issue of the incomplete construction of Primary School Garangan, Kasblari, under the jurisdiction of the Zonal Education Office (ZEO) Mankote. They informed the BADC Chairman that the building has remained unfinished for over a decade. An estimated amount of Rs. 10 lakh was sanctioned for the construction work in 2012, but for unknown reasons, the work was never completed.
During an on-the-spot visit to the school, accompanied by prominent locals, the former Vice-Chancellor (VC) observed that the school’s wall structure stands erected without a rooftop, leaving students and teachers to face significant hardships.
Dr. Shazad Ahmed Malik, the former VC and a native of Kasblari village, has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo to pay special attention to the remote and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir. He has written a formal letter to both leaders, highlighting the urgent need to address the issue of the incomplete school building.DD