SKUAST-TAJ MET LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DISCUSS ISSUES

Jammu, January 17, 2021: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology- Teaching Association Jammu (SKUAST-TAJ) President Dr Vikas Sharma along with a delegation called on HE Lieutenant Governor of J&K who is also happened to be the Chancellor of SKUAST-Jammu at Raj Bhavan today.  Dr Vikas Sharma apprised the LG about the various issues concerned with the welfare of teaching fraternity and overall development of varsity. President TAJ Dr Vikas primarily talked about the rechristening of SKUAST-JAMMU as Jammu Agricultural University. He stressed that the common name of two varsities in the same UT is creating a lot of controversies and confusions among the masses as such Jammu Agricultural University is very essential for its separate identity at UT / National level and also this name is easily pronounced and easily identified at global level. He expressed that the people who fought for making this Institution as a separate asset of Jammu still doesn’t emotionally attached with the nomenclature assigned to this agricultural varsity as farming community, civil society and intellectuals of Jammu region have the opinion that they shall be identified by the name that itself represents all the cultures and values prevailing in their Jammu region and their identity can be recognized at International level.

The secondary major issue put forth by SKUAST-TAJ before Hon’ble LG is not to implement UGC 2018 guidelines in toto in Farm Varsities of Jammu and Kashmir as it will damage the interests of the scientists working in the outstations and far off Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) as farm universities have mandate of teaching, research and extension and UGC 2018 guidelines are framed keeping only academic activities in the forefront for evaluation of teachers. Dr Vikas expressed that these UGC guidelines do not take into consideration the mandates of Research Stations and KVKs and moreover our neighbouring universities like PAU, HAU, HPKVV and even ICAR do not implement these guidelines in toto in any of the Institutes and SAUs  neither in past nor will do in future.

The Chancellor assured necessary support to varsity and said that he will try his level best to grant Central Jammu Agricultural University Status to SKUAST-Jammu. He further expressed hope that the association will work for the betterment of teaching fraternity which will help the University to achieve academic, research and extension excellence in near future.  Dr. Vikas Sharma was accompanied by General. Secretary Dr Vivek Arya, Joint Secretary Dr. P. K. Rai, Advisor Professor R K Samnotra and Executive Member Dr Poonam Parihar