JU varsity VC opens national seminar

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22

Prof Manoj Dhar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu (JU), today inaugurated a national seminar on “Understanding the dynamics of rural society in India” being organised by the department of sociology at Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium here.

While appreciating the efforts of the government for the appraisal of development in rural areas through “Back to Village Programme”, Prof Dhar talked about farmers’ suicides and other problems in the rural areas, besides emphasising on the need of techno-centric solutions.

Prof Debal K Singharoy, faculty of social sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, in his keynote address emphasised on the historicity of rural India and also highlighted contemporary issues in the rural society.

He also explained the various dynamics of the rural society and the changes it was witnessing. Prof Debal discussed the various changes that started during the colonial era and their relevance in the present context. He also talked about the land reforms in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, land ceiling and land to the tiller.

The special guest, Sheetal Nanda, Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, shared her field experiences of serving in rural areas. She talked about caste, class, gender disparities and development divide between rural and urban areas. She said these disparities were less visible in J&K in comparison to other states. Nanda emphasised on the lack of infrastructure facilities in the rural areas for e.g. electricity, roads, schools etc., especially in hilly areas. She stated problems of the rural areas could not be solved without the community participation.