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JAMMU: In connection with the celebration of the ‘World Theatre Day’ which is commemorated on 27^th of March every Year, the Department of Students Welfare in collaboration with Skill Innovation Incubation & Entrepreneurship Development Centre, University of Jammu organized an interactive orientation lecture on the subject ‘Supplementary role of Theatre in Education’ in the Seminar Hall of Brig. Rajinder Singh Auditorium. The lecture was delivered by Sumeet Sharma, Drama Instructor, SW and National Awardee theatre director.

Since 1962 World Theatre Day has been celebrated by International Theatre Institute Centres, theatre professionals, theatre organizations, theatre universities and theatre lovers all over the world on the 27th of March. As the University of Jammu, in synch with NEP-2020 puts thrust on the use of arts, culture and aesthetics in dissolving boundaries and evolving education; such programmes play an important role.

Dean Students Welfare, Prof. Prakash Antahal informed that there are a lot of opportunities/activities in the University of Jammu related to theatre. Last Year, the University of Jammu started a 30 Days Certificate Course in theatre, first of its kind in Jammu which received encouraging response. The Department of Students Welfare organizes regular theatre workshops for the students under its Training Outreach Programme which has been very successful in imparting professional training to the students of far-flung areas. Moreover, theatre events also get due importance in Display Your Talent and Goonj, mega Youth festivals of the University.

Director SIIEDC, Prof. Alka Sharma asserted that to impart experiential knowledge to the students of Design Your Degree, a number of innovative programmes are conducted and theatre proves very effective in this series. ‘Kabira’, a theatre production was prepared with the students last session which received appreciation from all quarters and a new theatre production is also under process which will yield beneficial results for the students.

Prof. Monika Chadha, Chairperson Campus Culture Committee also addressed the students on the occasion and cited practical examples where theatre, art and literature plays a crucial role in shaping our personalities and strengthens our emotional intelligence.  

In his lecture, Sumeet Sharma made students aware about the remarkable utility of theatre in inculcating confidence and kindling creativity which proves very effective in the overall personality development of students. He conducted informative and enthralling theatre activities which received active participation from the students. Students also enacted a few characters from their upcoming theatre production.

Those who attended the programme included Rohan Sharma, Dhwani, Mehak, Vishali, Harshita, Nitin, Manan, Nishkarsh, Krishna, Sayam, Lovish, Himanshi, Kaashvi, Sanchi, Bhaviya, Meenali, Fatima, Shailja, Saaket, Saksham, Muneeb, Peehar and Lavanya.

The events of DSW are conceived, planned and organised by the team consisting of Prof. Prakash Antahal (Dean Students Welfare), Prof. Monika Chadha (Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee), Prof. Sarika Manhas (Co-Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee), Dr. Pritam Singh (Associate Dean SW), Dr. Shallu Sharma & Dr. A.R. Manhas (Deputy Chief Proctors), Dr. Harleen Kaur & Dr. Ripudaman Parihar (Assistant Dean, SW), members of Campus Cultural Committee, Ms Mansi Mantoo (Media Officer), Ms. Supriya Sharma, AR, Sumeet Sharma (Drama Instructor) and Ifra Kak (Cultural Officer)

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AWANTIPORA: Under the University’s Outreach Program, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DataLEADS, under the Google News Initiative’s FactShala University Network Programme, to establish a dedicated Media Literacy Hub on its campus. This partnership marks a significant step in IUST’s mission to empower students with essential media and information literacy skills to navigate today’s digital landscape responsibly and effectively.

As part of this initiative, the first in a series of workshops took place today at IUST. The session was conducted with the DYOD students of IUST. The workshop aimed at equipping students with critical thinking skills to combat misinformation and develop a nuanced understanding of digital media. The session covered key areas such as: Identifying misinformation and disinformation, Understanding the impact of deepfakes and manipulated content, Enhancing fact-checking and verification skills, and Utilizing advanced search tools through Google’s Super Searchers curriculum. Dr. Heeba Din, Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (DJMC) and a certified FactShala Trainer conducted this training.

This initiative aligns with IUST’s broader community engagement vision by extending media literacy awareness beyond the university. The program will facilitate workshops and outreach events involving students, faculty, and community members, positioning IUST as a regional leader in digital literacy and misinformation countermeasures. By joining FactShala’s exclusive network, IUST becomes one of only 50 institutions across India with access to this pioneering initiative, further reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence and societal impact.

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JAMMU: The Department of Economics, Central University of Jammu, successfully concluded its week-long Faculty Development Programme (FDP) with a grand Valedictory Session held today. The programme  was revolved around the highly pertinent theme: “Sustainable Development in India: Charting the Pathways for Viksit Bharat @2047.”The remarkable success of the event was possible due to the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Jammu, Prof. Sanjeev Jain, whose steadfast support, strategic guidance, and academic foresight played a pivotal role in shaping and executing the programme effectively.

The Valedictory Session was graced by the Registrar, Central University of Jammu, Prof. Yashwant Singh, who presided over the proceedings and appreciated the department’s efforts in bringing together eminent scholars, policymakers, and participants from across the country to deliberate on India’s sustainable development roadmap. He also encouraged the participants to take forward the insights and learning from the FDP into their teaching and research practices.

The Valedictory Session commenced with a warm welcome address by Prof. A. K. Nanda, Head, Department of Economics and also the Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who set the tone for the concluding ceremony by reflecting on the academic journey of the FDP and its broader significance in the context of India’s sustainable development agenda.This was followed by an engaging feedback session, where participants wholeheartedly applauded the Department for organizing an intellectually enriching and well-structured programme. Several attendees expressed that the FDP provided them with valuable perspectives, high-quality content, and practical insights on sustainable development, commending both the academic rigour and the diversity of themes covered.

A comprehensive report of the week-long deliberations was then presented by the FDP Coordinator, Mr. Anil Kumar Bharti, Assistant Professor, who outlined the key takeaways from sessions led by distinguished speakers representing esteemed institutions such as JNU, BHU, DU, TISS, IIPS, AIIMS, Panjab University, Central University of Punjab, MNIT Jaipur, IIT Ropar, University of Jammu, and Central University of Jammu.

The programme witnessed enthusiastic enrolment from 138 registered participants hailing from across the country, including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and several other states. Participants came from a broad array of academic disciplines, including Economics, Commerce, Management, Sociology, Psychology, Zoology, Political Science, Education, and Chemistry, demonstrating the national relevance and interdisciplinary appeal of the FDP’s theme.

The sessions in the whole FDP were conducted under the able academic leadership of Prof. A. K. Nanda, Head, Department of Economics and Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Central University of Jammu. The coordination of the entire programme was managed efficiently by the faculty members of the Department of Economics Dr. Shaveta Kohli, Dr. Susanta Nag, Ms. Preeti Gupta, Mr. Anil Kumar Bharti, Dr. Vishal, and Dr. Anooj Bhadu, whose dedicated efforts ensured the smooth conduct of the event.

The final day of the programme was observed as a National Seminar, further amplifying the scope and outreach of the event. Eminent speakers shared expert insights aligned with India’s sustainable development roadmap. The seminar facilitated robust discussion, peer learning, and effective knowledge dissemination.

The Valedictory Session was gracefully anchored by Ms. Preeti Gupta, while the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Dr. Anooj Bhadu, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, all the esteemed resource persons, and the participants for their invaluable contributions in making the FDP a truly enriching and successful academic endeavour.

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• Says reading bureaucratic scripts undermines sanctity of Assembly

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association’s National Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, on Wednesday, has written to the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, raising concerns over the adherence to established parliamentary norms within the Assembly. In its formal communication to the Speaker, he emphasized the need for ministers to independently prepare their responses and articulate them in a manner comprehensible to the common public, rather than merely reading out answers prepared by bureaucrats from the concerned departments.

Khuehami stated that, as per the rules and principles governing legislative proceedings, ministers and legislative members are required to demonstrate their understanding of policy matters and governance issues. The rules further emphasize that ministers should refrain from excessively relying on papers, as doing so reflects a lack of seriousness and a casual approach toward the pressing concerns raised by MLAs.He cited recent remarks by Rajya Sabha Speaker Panel member Ghanshyam Tiwari, who reiterated that members are not allowed to read their entire speech from a paper.

He reinforced the notion that parliamentary debates should be engaging, substantive, and reflective of a minister’s own understanding of the subject matter. As per established laws and parliamentary proceedings, members are permitted only to quote from their notes to support their arguments or provide factual references.Highlighting constitutional provisions, the Association referred to Article 118 of the Constitution of India, which empowers each House of Parliament to make rules for regulating its procedure and the conduct of its business.

This provision underscores the autonomy of legislative bodies in ensuring that their proceedings adhere to democratic norms and established parliamentary practices.The Association also referred to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, specifically Section 352, which states that a member, while speaking, shall not read a written speech except with the prior permission of the Chair. This rule clearly emphasizes that members, including ministers, should not read out written speeches verbatim unless they have obtained prior permission from the Speaker.

The intent behind this provision is to encourage spontaneous and genuine discourse, ensuring that debates are engaging and reflective of the members' own understanding.Similarly, Rule 261 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) states that a member shall not read his speech but may refresh his memory by referring to notes. This reinforces the expectation that members, including ministers, should not merely read out bureaucratic notes but should instead engage in informed and meaningful discussions.Khuehami noted that while the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly largely mirror parliamentary norms, it is imperative that they be implemented in spirit to uphold the sanctity of legislative debates.

He emphasized that the House is a forum for deliberation and accountability, not merely a platform for bureaucratic announcements.He asserted that the essence of legislative proceedings lies in meaningful deliberation, where ministers demonstrate their grasp of policy matters and governance issues. He stated that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, being the highest law-making body of the Union Territory, must uphold these parliamentary standards with the utmost sincerity.He further emphasized that a minister who simply parrots bureaucratic notes not only undermines the sanctity of the Assembly but also disrespects the spirit of parliamentary democracy.

The House is a forum for accountability, not a bureaucratic rubber stamp. Ministers must engage actively, respond effectively, and ensure that their answers resonate with the people they serve. He pointed out that parliamentary democracy thrives on informed debate, not dictated scripts, and any deviation from these principles should be seen as a disregard for legislative propriety and a disservice to the democratic mandate.He urged the Assembly Speaker to ensure strict compliance with these parliamentary conventions in the proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. He called for immediate intervention to reinforce these essential standards among ministers and members of the House. He added that the deliberative nature of the Assembly must be upheld in both letter and spirit to preserve its credibility and effectiveness.