SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government will formulate a new media policy within four months, Education Minister Sakina Itoo said on Saturday, stressing the need to ensure accountability in the media sector while protecting professional journalism and the right to criticise the government.
Speaking to reporters, Itoo said the government had informed the Legislative Assembly of its intention to introduce the policy. She said the proposed framework would address concerns over unprofessional practices, particularly on social media platforms, where individuals sometimes make allegations without considering their impact on others.
The minister said criticism of the government and elected representatives was an essential part of democratic discourse and should not be discouraged. However, she maintained that freedom of expression should not be used to spread unsubstantiated allegations or damage an individual’s reputation.
She said Jammu and Kashmir had many qualified and responsible journalists who played an important role in connecting the administration with the public, adding that criticism of irresponsible practices should not be generalised to the entire profession.
On higher education, Itoo said the government was working to align college courses with students’ interests and demands, including by introducing subjects such as agriculture, horticulture, tourism and music.
She acknowledged that several colleges had been established without adequate faculty or a sufficient range of courses. Over the past two years, the government had worked to provide teaching staff according to the subjects offered, although some institutions continued to require additional faculty, she said.
The minister also said the government was working to improve college infrastructure, including buildings and other essential facilities. Some approved colleges remained undeveloped, largely because of land disputes and issues relating to the identification or allocation of sites, she added.
Itoo further said student enrolment in Jammu and Kashmir had increased by 17 per cent in the ongoing academic year. The government was continuing efforts to upgrade infrastructure across colleges, she said.
