Administration in J&K has started upgrading the education infrastructure in South Kashmir under a project at the government degree college at Bijbehara, Anantnag in South Kashmir. The project is majorly being funded by World Bank. The Project is driving the construction of 12 additional classroom blocks and two common halls at the degree college. It had started off in full swing by R&B Kashmir at a cost of Rs 10.31 crore. It is being funded under the World Bank project of Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project.

The construction work on the ground floor of the block has been completed and shuttering for the laying of slab on the first floor is underway. Earlier due to a shortage of classrooms, students were facing issues, but after the compaction of these additional classrooms, many problems will be solved.

Shahjehan Ahmad Itoo, Assistant Executive Engineer – R&B, told ANI, “JTFRP World bank funded this project for the well-being of Kashmiri students. Two common halls and 12 classrooms are being constructed. The project began in November 2019 and should be completed within the next 18 months. A lot of time was wasted due to lockdown and pandemic as we did not have any standard operating procedure. But now the work is steadily progressing. Students’ difficulties will be minimized.” The step taken by the J-K administration was hailed by the students of the degree college.

Kafeel Bhat, a student, said, “We were facing a lot of problems. Classroom addition will help all the students. We are looking forward to our new and spacious classrooms.” Although the educational institutions are closed across Kashmir valley, construction work has restarted soon after the government eased lockdown restrictions.

The author is a member of Amity centre of Happiness