‘Liveability, sustainability remain critical challenges for cities like Srinagar’

Srinagar, Oct 16: The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), J&K Regional Branch Wednesday organised a debate competition on the theme “The House Believes that Urban Living Offers Better Prospects for Quality Life and Livelihoods.”

The event was organised in collaboration with the University of Kashmir (KU), which witnessed participation of students from various universities and colleges across the Kashmir division.

As per the official handout, around 54 students registered for the competition, out of which 40 participants participated in the debate.

Students from several KU-affiliated colleges, as well as SSM College of Engineering, SKUAST-K, and several departments of KU, participated in the debate. The debate competition witnessed the representation of around 20 institutions.

The function was presided over by Vice Chairman IIPA J&K regional branch Dr. G N Qasba, while the Vice Chancellor KU Prof. Nilofar Khan was the chief guest at the occasion, while chairman Indian Institute of Engineers (IIE) J&K Chapter Er. Iftikhar Ahmad Hakim was the guest of honour.

The event was also graced by the Registrar and Dean Students Welfare KU, besides eminent guests, including former IGP Farooq Ahma and Prof. M. Qadiri. The debate was inaugurated by Khawaja Bashir Ahmad, Prof. M. Qadiri, G M Andrabi, and Bashir Ahmad Shah.

In his presidential remarks, Dr. G.N. Qasba emphasised the need for informed civic debate on issues shaping urban futures, noting that liveability and sustainability remain critical challenges for cities like Srinagar.

Prof. Nilofar Khan lauded IIPA’s efforts in creating a space for youth voices in public discourse and encouraged students to continue engaging with real-life governance challenges. She said that the IIPA J&K regional branch and KU will sign an MoU for furthering the cause of good governance and extension of knowledge and government programmes for the benefit of the youth and general public.

Er. Iftikhar Ahmad, who former Chief Town Planner emphasised, that such debates and symposia serve as catalysts for critical thinking, a competency whose value is surging as AI and machine learning render conventional white-collar roles obsolete.

After several rounds of articulate and spirited arguments, Gazifah Mohsin from SKUAST-K, Saaquib from the Department of Law, and Syed Alizah from the Department of Anthropology emerged as winners who were felicitated with trophies and cash prizes.

The Department of Law, University of Kashmir, lifted the prestigious IIPA Trophy, with Saaquib and Noha being declared as the Best Team.

The panel of judges included Prof. Javed Ahmad Dar from the Department of Political Science, Prof.Qazi Khursheed from the Department of English, and Dr Mantasha Binti Rashid, who assessed the participants’ performance based on content, articulation, and presentation.

"The future job market will be directly correlated with analytical prowess. The participants must substantiate their arguments with empirical evidence in future debates," he said. The members of IIPA hailed the decision of the VC KU for signing the MoU with IIPA.