Jammu: Senior National Conference leaders on Sunday demanded setting up of a medical college in Poonch-Rajouri belt of the Jammu region, saying this is imperative for expanding the reach of higher and professional education in remote parts of the State.
In a statement issued to KNS, while hailing the decision of the Union Government with regard to sanctioning of four additional medical colleges at Kathua, Doda, Anantnag and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, they demanded a medical college in Rajouri-Poonch belt also. They said that the step will go long way in empowering the people of remote and far off areas. They said that enterprising youth of these areas have excelled in academic arena but lack of higher institutes of learning has retreaded their growth. “Therefore, there is urgent need for setting up of a medical college to cater to the needs of vast border belt of Poonch and Rajouri”, they maintained.
The signatories to the joint statement include Deputy Chairman Legislative Council Javed Rana, Vice President and former Minister Peer Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari, legislators, Th Rachpal Singh, R S Sharma, Aijaz Jan, Th Rachpal Singh, R S Sharma, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, ex MP Mirza Abdul Rashid, Ch Talib Hussain, ex-minister Nissar Khan ex legislators Mohammed Aslam Khan, Ikhlaq Khan, Rahim Dad, District Presidents Qazi Mohd Sayeed Beig, Bashir Ahmed Wani, Vipan Pal Sharma, Ch Liaqat Ali, Shafayat Khan , Peer Inayat Ullah Bukhari and others.
The leaders appreciated the endeavours of Chief Minister Mr Omar Abdullah in bringing the remote areas under focus and drawing the attention of the Centre towards extending various services to these areas. “This is necessary to bring these less advantageous areas at par with urban centres and making available opportunities to youth to prosper and progress in different fields”, they said while reiterating their long pending demand of extending railway line to Poonch and Rajouri belt.