Students shiver as Kashmir colleges lack heating facility

Srinagar, Nov 29: The students across the Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) in Kashmir shiver daily in the classrooms due to lack of heating facilities.

An official said while the mercury has witnessed a dip and most of the areas reel in sub-zero temperatures, the Higher Education Department (HED) has not made any heating arrangements for the students. "There are no heating arrangements available for the college students in the classrooms despite the cold weather prevailing inside the classrooms," a college professor told Greater Kashmir, wishing not to be named.

He said that all the colleges were without heating facilities which has resulted in thin attendance in most of the colleges.

"There are no heating gadgets available in colleges and due to this most of the students do not attend the classes and prefer to stay home," the college professor said.

Another official said that while there was a provision to put in place heating facilities in colleges post-November 15, the students, who remain present in the classrooms, continue to shiver for the whole day.

"Even when the college principals are told about making heating arrangements, they ignore the grievance citing low enrollment of students in classrooms," the official said.

The college professor said that the classes were supposed to continue till December and the colleges were supposed to ensure that proper heating facilities are put in place for the students.

"Earlier, the classes would close in mid-November and students used to appear in exams in January or February months for which the colleges would arrange heating gadgets for the examination halls. But no such step is being taken for the regular classes," the official said.

A senior college professor told Greater Kashmir that the heating arrangements are managed out of examination funds paid by the students.

"But the students also pay a good amount for their UG courses as well. The colleges can utilise some amount and arrange heating facilities," the professor said.

While the students continue to shiver in the cold, the faculty of the colleges have different heating gadgets in the staff rooms or in their rooms (for Heads of the Departments). Amid this, the academics have voiced their concern saying that the HED should ensure that all the college principals must provide heating facilities to the students.

"It does not cost in crores but the college authorities can manage it out of some (Local) funds which always remain available for the students," another college professor said.

Besides colleges, there are no heating arrangements available in government schools as well. Even during the Term II summative assessment, the students were seen writing exams on the floor with no heating arrangements while students in some schools wrote their exams under the open sky. There were no heating arrangements in schools despite the claims made by the Director of School Education Kashmir that heating facilities would be provided to the students wherever needed.

Director Colleges J&K, Prof Sheikh Aijaz Bashir acknowledged the concern of students and said the college principals have been instructed to ensure heating facilities are put in place in classrooms for the students.

"It is a major concern. Classrooms are ideally large and students must be facing problems due to the prevailing cold. But the college principals have been asked to address the issue," he told Greater Kashmir.

The director of colleges has officially communicated to the college principals regarding the matter. "On the onset of winter, recognizing the challenges posed by the cold climatic conditions in the Kashmir Division and the winter zone of Jammu Division, it becomes essential to address the comfort and well-being of students," reads an official communication addressed to all the college principals of Kashmir division and winter zone Jammu. "Harsh winter conditions can significantly impact student health, attendance, and academic performance. It is imperative to provide a conducive learning environment that facilitates optimal academic performance," it reads. As per the communication, the college principals have been asked to ensure that "adequate heating arrangements are in place for student comfort and well-being."