KL Report
SRINAGAR
With growing ambition among students in sports field the Physical Education Department, University of Kashmir is nowhere to help them fulfill their aims. The Department has become a “no man’s land” with no adequate equipments to fulfill even the prerequisite demands of students.
A top official in the University Administration, wishing anonymity, while talking to Srinagar based news gathering agency Global News Service (GNS) said the University of Kashmir’s Physical Education Department is void of any remarkable achievement till date. “The Department is suffering in so many ways, from head to toe, it may be better not to call it sports department at all.”
According to reports gathered by this agency, the department is without its own director since 2009 and is facing immense budgetary problem. The lack of sports equipments and allocation of funds to separate sports fields also adds to the mess in the department.
Ironically in 2011, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) conferred the varsity with the highest Grade ‘A’ which is rated on quality education, physical education and research programmes.
Director issue
Since the retirement of Khursheed Ahmad Tarzan, who served the department for almost 22 years, the department is without its own Director. Reason: There is no one qualified for the post as the prescribed qualification for the post is PHD in Physical Education with 10 years’ experience in the same field. “University had advertized the vacant post but no one came up with the same as no one holds such qualification,” the official said.
Experts Say
There is not any individual from this State of Jammu and Kashmir whose qualifications match with the prescribed one. The only option is to bring a deserving person from some national university who can boost the sports enthusiasm in the players.
No big achievement
The Physical Education Department, in its record, has not a even a single big credit to its name. It has not even qualified for any semi-final since it won North Zone Inter-University in 2005. Prior to that, it had qualified for semifinal in 2003 after 35 years.
“It is a genuine concern that we have not qualified even into semifinals since 2005. The reason is that earlier sports board was defunct at the university campus. Now, we have reorganized it and it will take all necessary steps to overcome the shortcomings,” In charge-Director, Department of Physical Education, Prof. Bashir Ahmad while commenting on the issue said.
Experts Say
There is neither coaching camps held in the department nor is any kind of counseling or guidance done in this regard. Besides, the department lacks better equipment as compared to even small varsities across country. The prize distribution, in order to encourage students to excel in the field is also not held which obviously discourages students. The playing fields are, most of the time, allotted to private parties, which obviously goes against the favor of its own students and makes them suffer severely.
Sports Certificate Issue
According to sources, the Inter-University sports certificate is not beneficial to students at all as it is not entertained by General Administration Department (GAD) Srinagar under SRO case. Therefore students can’t claim sports category in Service Selection Board in the valley.
Experts Say
Universities authorities must take concrete steps in getting the matter resolved with the General Administration Department (GAD) in the better interest of students with immediate priority.
Budget issue
According to details, Physical Education Department gets nearly rupees 8 lac budget annually in which Skiing gets maximum share of rupees 3 lacs with rupees 1 lac is for Aquatic sports. Rest is meant for cricket, football and hockey.
Experts Say
Majority of the students prefer cricket and football over other mountaineering and aquatic sports. Authorities should revise the budget policy so that cricket and football passionate may not suffer due to lack of proper equipments.
When contacted Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Talat Ahmad, said: “You should give me all these issues in writing and I will answer them accordingly and dropped the phone.” (GNS)
