Leh, September 2, 2023: Lieutenant Governor Brigadier (Retd) B D Mishra has announced the establishment of an agriculture department within the University of Ladakh and the transfer of various units from SKUAST, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
The decision was made during a meeting held at Raj Niwas in Leh to discuss the transfer of assets from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), as per an official spokesperson.
Lt. Governor Mishra has directed the creation of a comprehensive agriculture department affiliated with SKUAST Kashmir under the University of Ladakh. Furthermore, various units of SKUAST located in Ladakh will be relocated to the newly established agriculture department within the University of Ladakh.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ladakh, Prof. S K Mehta, has been instructed by Lt. Governor Mishra to expedite the process of setting up the agriculture department.
Padma Angmo, Commissioner Secretary of Higher Education in Ladakh, recommended that SKUAST transfer both assets and positions to the Ladakh administration.
During the meeting, SKUAST Kashmir Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai provided an overview of the university and its presence in the Union Territory. He highlighted the establishment of two research institutes, two Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and six SKUAST units in Ladakh during the previous state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ladakh attained Union Territory status in August 2019 after being separated from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. Simultaneously, Jammu and Kashmir also transitioned into a Union Territory with the revocation of its special status under Article 370.
Ganai noted that there are currently 45 non-technical positions vacant in six units of the university, which are designated for residents of Ladakh.
The spokesperson clarified that the assets of SKUAST-Kashmir will be transferred to the Agriculture Department of Ladakh University once it becomes fully operational.
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