August 5 decision, ensures all benefits to J&K at par with rest of India: EAM

Asserting that the process of change was started three years ago,Union External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are enjoying all benefits of development as well as progress at par with rest of country.

“Three years ago, the process of change started in J&K which was intended to ensure that full benefits of the development and progress that the rest of India had seen for many many years are also now completely available to the people, especially to the youth of J&K” Jaishankar said after inaugurating J&K’s first International Education Fair, a collaborative effort of SKUAST-Kashmir and ICCR.

He added that in that sense people of J&K being in the national mainstream was extremely important.

“It was also by doing so, they would connect up with the rest of India and the International mainstream. For me it is not just an education event, it is a very integral part of ensuring that a very important region of India is connected to what is happening in the world,” Dr. Jaishankar said.

He also observed that Indian universities should focus on inviting more foreign students to their campuses.
“Today, India has projects done or under-delivery in 78 countries of the world. So, if our relationships are so extensive, investments are so deep & networking is so good, we need to see that translated into a greater flow of international students to India,” Dr. Jaishankar said.

“In a globalised world, it’s absolutely essential that young people of India are fully aware of what’s happening in the world and there is no better way to do that than having international students among you,” Dr. Jaishankar added.

Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated the Government of J&K for showcasing the strength and vibrancy of India’s higher education landscape as well as the knowledge legacy of Jammu & Kashmir.

“J&K is witnessing a new dawn of development under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister. With the implementation of National Education Policy, we are internationalising our education sector. The Education Ministry will support, encourage and facilitate the globalisation of SKUAST-Kashmir,” Pradhan said.

He also encouraged all the universities to join efforts to establish India as a global study destination.
Union MoS, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the National Education Policy brought by Prime Minister holds the promise to open career and Start-up opportunities driven by aptitude, skill and flexi options at capacity building.

“Jammu Kashmir has a rich legacy of unexplored agricultural avenues, Aroma Mission and Purple Revolution, which imparts it the potential of being the torchbearer of Agri StartUp movement in India, Dr. Jitendra Singh said.

Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accelerating development of J&K and transforming it into a favourite destination for students, travellers and entrepreneurs.
He said with this initiative J&K has launched a dedicated programme for foreign students.

“Our aim is to invite international students to J&K for short-term and long-term courses in various disciplines & strengthen the international connect. Over the past three years, we have focused on strengthening education sector, developing knowledge workers for sectors like industries, agriculture & health care.

Sincere efforts have been made to convert the knowledge dividends into wealth for process of innovation & growth,” LG said.

He also observed that the initiative of SKUAST-Kashmir will set an example for other universities of the country as well.

“Apart from campuses nestled in nature’s paradise, professional faculties, high standard of living, J&K is also offering variety of courses starting from Artificial Intelligence, Robotics to Agri science, Yoga, Sanskrit & interface with the industries for research & innovation,” LG added.

“With more than 150 higher education institutions, two central universities, seven state universities, two AIIMS, IIM, IIT, NIT, NIFT, IIMC and two Agriculture Science and Technology universities, Jammu Kashmir has emerged as a favourite destination for students in India,” he said.

He also said that paradigm shift towards virtues of life which humanity is witnessing is also an opportunity for enhancing quality of life by exchange programs between the countries and learn from each other and enable each other to achieve greater heights in our journey.

“The whole world is looking at India with admiration and hope. There never was a better time to be in India to witness and comprehend the glorious chapters of ancient civilization and immortal organic composite culture.

The foreign student’s residential and exchange programmes, people-to-people contacts and institutional interactions with different institutions of Jammu Kashmir will enrich and strengthen global cultural synergies,” he added .

“In the last 2.5 years, Jammu and Kashmir has become the champion of the country as far as digital transactions are concerned. We have built a digital society, offering 446 services online, and our entire administration is paperless. J&K is witnessing digital revolution,” said Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.