Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the two-day National Level Sports Conference – SRIJAN, organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports in Jammu. The conference aims to identify actionable strategies to strengthen the sports ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, prepare a roadmap for the effective implementation of the National Sports Policy 2025 and J&K Sports Policy 2022, and outline measures to build a resilient and future-ready generation.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the need to integrate sports with education and essential life skills, stating that sports, when embedded in the academic curriculum, can become a powerful instrument for the holistic development of youth.

“Sports is a powerful force that shapes individuals, brings communities together, and plays a vital role in nation-building. For youth, sports serve as a real-life school that teaches discipline, values, and leadership through lived experience. It is a strong medium for empowerment, social awareness, and overall societal progress,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that sports must be kept completely away from politics, observing that talent can only be nurtured in a peaceful and fair environment. “If India is to become a true sporting powerhouse, sports and politics must remain strictly separate. Politics should not interfere in sports, and talented youth should never be deprived of the opportunities they deserve,” he asserted.

He called for a transparent and credible selection system, stating, “We must move forward and create a system where there is no room for doubt in the selection process.”

Reiterating the administration’s commitment, the Lieutenant Governor said that the government will continue to extend full support to sportspersons and develop state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, especially at the grassroots level. He also laid special emphasis on encouraging greater participation of women and youth in sports and removing the barriers that limit their access and opportunities.

“Investing in sports means investing in disciplined citizens and a confident future. To truly build a sports culture, we must bring sports into the heart of daily community life and connect it deeply with education and life skills,” he added.

The Lieutenant Governor commended the Department of Youth Services and Sports, J&K, for its unique initiative to advance the national sports agenda through the exchange of best practices in governance, participation, athlete development, and performance excellence. He urged sports councils, federations, and administrators to prepare strategic development plans aimed at improving India’s performance in international competitions.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Yasha Mudgal, Commissioner/Secretary, Youth Services and Sports; Padma Shri Dr. Karnam Malleswari, Olympian and Vice-Chancellor, Delhi Sports University; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Anuradha Gupta, Director General, Youth Services and Sports; senior officials, representatives of the Sports Authority of India, eminent sports personalities, experts, and a large number of youth.

Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Friday said that education is a powerful weapon capable of transforming the world and asserted that semiconductor technology represents the future, playing a crucial role in shaping modern life and economies.

The Minister was addressing the National Technical Conclave on the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) at the Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Jammu. The conclave is being organised by GCET Jammu in technical collaboration with IIT Kharagpur and in close association with the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Industries and Commerce, J&K Government.

Among those present on the occasion were MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Ram Niwas Sharma, Director School Education Jammu Naseem Javaid Choudhary, Director Technology at ISM Dr Manish Kumar Hooda, Director and Principal GCET Jammu Dr Sameeru Sharma, experts from IIT Jammu, Keynes Technologies, senior faculty members and a large number of students.

Addressing the gathering, Sakeena Itoo said that education has the power to change the course of the world and added that semiconductor technologies now surround every aspect of human life. She highlighted their importance in shaping Jammu and Kashmir’s economic growth, technological self-reliance and future-ready workforce.

The Minister emphasised that institutions of higher technical education have a pivotal role in nurturing skilled talent, promoting research and developing industry-aligned curricula to meet the evolving demands of the semiconductor ecosystem.

She called upon academia, industry and research institutions to work in close collaboration to create a strong pipeline of engineers and technologists equipped with cutting-edge skills, and stressed the need to encourage start-ups within engineering institutions to translate research into scalable solutions.

Commending GCET Jammu for hosting the conclave, the Minister said such platforms facilitate knowledge exchange, policy dialogue and exposure of students and faculty to advanced technologies and national priorities.

On the occasion, Sakeena Itoo also announced that the auditorium of GCET Jammu will be upgraded on modern lines, adding that the institute has a rich legacy in the education sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at the event, MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana said that the youth of J&K are highly talented and have proved their capabilities in every field. She urged students to actively participate in the conclave, stating that chip design and semiconductor technologies will be key drivers of future employment and innovation. She also stressed the importance of internships in emerging technologies to remain competitive in today’s job market.

Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Ram Niwas Sharma highlighted the importance of GCET Jammu and called upon students to become job creators rather than job seekers in the coming years. He also underlined the need for capacity building of faculty in line with emerging technologies.

Director, India Semiconductor Mission, Dr Manish Kumar Hooda, spoke in detail about the objectives and vision of the ISM, while Dr Sameeru Sharma, Director and Principal, GCET Jammu, in her welcome address outlined the broad contours of the national conclave.

The conclave will feature technical sessions, expert talks and interactive discussions with academicians, industry experts and policymakers, focusing on opportunities and challenges under the India Semiconductor Mission.

On the occasion, the Minister also inaugurated the PRISM portal of GCET Jammu, an integrated academic and examination management system for students and faculty.

Earlier, Sakeena Itoo also laid the foundation stone of the college canteen block, to be constructed by the R&B Department at an estimated cost of Rs 2.54 crore.

 Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday said that the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir, which suffered a major setback following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent adverse weather conditions, is gradually showing signs of recovery, with tourist arrivals beginning to pick up as conditions improve.

“In 2025, tourism suffered significant losses after the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent spell of heavy rains and floods. However, we are now seeing a gradual recovery. As the weather improves, tourist arrivals have started increasing again,” Dulloo said in a video interview here.

He said that while the revival process is underway, the government is reassessing its tourism strategy to prepare for rising visitor numbers and ensure sustainable growth.

“As tourism grows, we must also focus on how prepared we are to manage the increasing footfall. This calls for a reassessment of our tourism strategy and capacity,” he added.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need to develop new tourist destinations to reduce pressure on traditional hotspots, which often exceed their carrying capacity during peak seasons.

“By developing new destinations, tourist footfall will be distributed more evenly. This will generate employment for local communities, lead to infrastructure development, attract investment and help mitigate seasonal tourism peaks,” he said.

The tourism sector in Kashmir was severely hit after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack last year, in which 26 civilians, including 25 tourists, were killed. Following the attack, around 50 tourist spots and resorts were closed for security reasons. Several destinations have since been reopened, while more will be thrown open to tourists after the completion of security audits.

Dulloo said a major project has been conceptualised to promote sustainable tourism in emerging destinations, and its implementation is being carefully planned, including transportation and other infrastructure arrangements.

“Our focus will remain on developing new tourist destinations to ensure sustainable growth of the tourism sector,” he said.

Referring to the SPREAD initiative, the Chief Secretary said it aims to decongest overburdened tourist spots by developing eco-sensitive, year-round alternatives while maintaining a balance between economy, ecology and equity.

He said that with support from the Department of Economic Affairs and implementation through the Economic Reconstruction Agency, the SPREAD project will focus on infrastructure development, waste management, ecological conservation and livelihood generation.

“Community engagement and private sector participation are central to this initiative, which envisions holistic development across both Jammu and Kashmir regions in line with global best practices,” he added.

Dulloo also underlined the need for a targeted strategy to convert the rising pilgrim footfall in Jammu into longer tourist stays.

“A focused approach is required to promote the region’s wider leisure, heritage, adventure and spiritual attractions beyond the main pilgrimage routes,” he said.

He stressed the proactive use of digital platforms and social media, including collaboration with influencers, to expand outreach and attract national and international tourists.

“We need a comprehensive strategy to convert the massive influx of pilgrims into multi-day tourists by encouraging them to explore experiences beyond traditional pilgrimage circuits,” he said.

Highlighting Jammu and Kashmir’s potential as a year-round tourism destination, Dulloo said the introduction of adventure activities such as rafting, paragliding, bungee jumping and water sports would transform the region into a major tourism hub while creating significant employment opportunities for local youth.