People demand nursing, paramedical college in Kupwara

Kupwara, Jul 15: The residents of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday appealed to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government to establish a nursing and paramedical college at Kupwara district headquarters so that students from this frontier district may avail the facility at their doorsteps.

The residents said that at a time when students prefer to go for medical professional courses, students from this north Kashmir district are forced to move out of the district to seek admission in different medical courses.

“Had there been a nursing and paramedical college at Kupwara district headquarters, students from this district would not be forced to look for alternatives. Since most of the students from this district come from underprivileged families, seeking admission in private colleges in Kashmir or outside Jammu and Kashmir is a herculean task for them,” a local social activist, Showkat Masoodi, said. He said that the government should take the demand seriously so that students from this frontier district can avail of the facility at their doorsteps.

Masoodi said that during their recent meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, he, along with other members of the Civil Society Kupwara, put forth this demand before him. “We are sure that this demand will be fulfilled soon,” he said.

Students undergoing paramedical courses at different colleges outside Kashmir have also echoed their voice to establish nursing and paramedical colleges in Kupwara without further delay, so that others may benefit. “I recently completed BSc Radiology from Punjab and had to pay over Rs 3 lakh by taking a loan from the bank as my father is a labourer who is not in a position to pay my fee,” said Adil from the Hatmulla area of Kupwara.

“Those students who come from towns do receive better education, and as a result, they secure a good percentage in the 12th class. Consequently, they get eligible for the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme and secure admission in different paramedical colleges to pursue different courses. Students like me, who hardly manage 60 percent in 12th class, don’t benefit from PMSSS. So, I request CM Omar to kindly sanction a paramedical college at Kupwara so that students like me can avail the benefit,” said Ashiq Ahmad from Machil, Kupwara.