Srinagar, Publish Date: Mar 11 2018
Despite stiff opposition by scientists and faculty of the SKUAST (K), the government has said it will be establishing a university for horticulture.
Minister for horticulture Basharat Bukhari told the horticulture university will be established “come what may”.
Asked about the SKUAST (K)’s opposition to the idea, he said, “We have the mandate to decide whether a separate university needs to be established. They should not overstep their mandate.”
Bukhari said the Union agriculture minister told him at a meeting recently the Centre would provide funds and other relevant support for the new university.
Recently, the SKUAST-K Scientists and Teachers Association (SSTA) said in a statement that the government’s plan undermines SKUAST (K) statutory bodies and infringes on its autonomy. Such a proposal, they believe, is a policy matter to be decided by the University Council headed by the governor.
“The Chancellor in the recently concluded 32nd council meeting had already stressed for the need of a horticulture policy in the state vis-à-vis strengthening the faculty of horticulture and advised against any hurried decision to set up a university of horticulture,” reads the statement of association.
The statement said that the SKUAST (K) houses all main laboratories and all research is being carried out there besides conducting all academic courses.
“Establishing a new university means setting up new infrastructure, creation of new jobs from auxiliary staff to the faculty. But to establish a university in an existing university is just befooling the people and robbing the resources of the parent university,” the statement said.
However, Bukhari said the horticulture university would act as a bridge between farmers and latest technological interventions in horticulture and was needed for increasing horticulture produce from current Rs 8000 to Rs 50,000.
