Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed college complex of Government Degree College (GDC) Purmandal in Samba district and said “we will not stop until our goals for the youth are fully implemented”.
In his address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the occasion as a proud and fortunate moment, marking a significant milestone for higher education in the region. The Chief Minister lauded Minister Sakeena Itoo for her consistent efforts and commitment in both the health and education sectors, particularly in the appointment of new doctors and assistant professors, and in the upgradation of schools, as per an official press release.Responding to the memorandum of demands presented by the students, the Chief Minister assured appropriate action, especially regarding the introduction of new academic courses. He emphasised the critical importance of health and higher education in the sustained development of any society.
“We want Jammu region to evolve into a hub for tourism—especially religious tourism—which will transform the lives of local communities,” he said.
He also assured that demands related to road development in the area would be prioritized. “I will not consider my mission fulfilled until the day students from outside J&K come here to pursue their education. Today, many of our students are compelled to study outside the state, and during global crises, they face great difficulties,” he said.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister for facilitating the safe return of students from J&K who were studying in Iran, and assured parents of continued efforts to ensure student safety abroad. He further committed to upgrading government schools in Jammu J&K to improved standards, underlining the government’s dedication to strengthening the education sector. “Government jobs alone cannot eliminate unemployment. Real change will come when our students are trained in world-class skills. And we will not stop until our goals for the youth are fully implemented” he asserted. The Chief Minister also expressed hope that on his next visit, the college will offer more streams and will rank among the top educational institutions of J&K.
On the occasion, CM Omar Abdullah also handed over keys of five buses—donated by J&K Bank under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative—to five Government Degree Colleges in Jammu division. Commending J&K bank for the initiative, he said J&K Bank plays a vital role in J&K’s economy, and he is glad it’s also supporting educational infrastructure—initiatives like these will surely benefit students.
Deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary expressed gratitude to CM Omar Abdullah and Minister Sakina Itoo for ensuring the establishment of a GDC in a remote area like Purmandal, calling it a transformative step for the local population. Itoo congratulated the local community on the completion of the college building, recalling that the foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister in 2013.