Dear Editor,
To meet the requirement of high quality living and education in J and K, the Union Cabinet has approved the establishment and operationalisation of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Jammu with the out campus in Kashmir. It is the project which involves a cost of Rs. 61.90 crore in temporary campus for the initial four years. IIM for Jammu was termed as a part of Prime Minister’s development package for the State. It is the 20th IIM of the country which will function in Jammu.
But after the decision of sanctioning IIM for Jammu, former CM Omar Abdullah termed it as “blatant partisan politics” and IIM became a tug of war among the political leaders of the State. Omar attack on the Coalition Government of BJP-PDP saying that it is against the balanced regional development of J and K. He hit out at Mehbooba saying that she had sold her soul to remain in power. Meanwhile Chaudhary Zulfkar Ali and G. M Saroori started demanding IIM for Rajouri and Doda respectively. Some of the State’s political leaders hailed the centre’s decision and criticised Omar’s remark while others started agitating against this decision.
Therefore, in such scenario, moot questions that arise are; whether the IIM would be established and start functioning in Jammu without unreasonable restriction? Or there would rise a situation like when Kashmir was awarded an AIIMS, Jammu agitated, successfully for its right to be granted one as well? But no one can deny the facts that with sanction of IIM, IIT, AIIMS, IIMC for Jammu region in addition to the existing Central University, Jammu region is going to become hub of educational activities and would provide great opportunities to the local talent and enhance the profile of Jammu region in rest of the country.
Zafar Bhat
Jammu