Chief Secy reviews expansion of music & fine arts institutes

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the ongoing expansion and augmentation plans for the Institutes of Music and Fine Arts associated with the University of Kashmir and the University of Jammu.

The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department; the Vice Chancellors of both universities; the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; and other senior officers.

The Chief Secretary underlined the crucial role of these institutes in nurturing and refining the artistic and musical talents of J&K’s youth. He said both institutes must be developed along modern lines with robust infrastructure to ensure an enabling academic environment for enrolled students.

A spokesperson said that, calling for a long-term vision, the Chief Secretary directed the Vice Chancellors to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the creation of permanent campuses and future expansion of both institutes. He reviewed the existing bachelor-level programmes and advised the universities to explore the introduction of additional courses, including postgraduate programmes, in line with emerging needs in the fields of music and fine arts.

Emphasising academic excellence, the Chief Secretary urged the universities to undertake necessary faculty upgradation as per UGC norms and ensure that these institutes receive the same level of support, attention and institutional grooming as other departments.

The Vice Chancellors briefed him on existing infrastructure, ongoing courses and current student intake capacities. They also highlighted constraints, particularly the non-availability of adequate land for establishing independent campuses.

To resolve this bottleneck, the Chief Secretary directed the respective Divisional Commissioners to extend full support to the universities in identifying and transferring suitable land parcels at the earliest.