Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank takes charge of HRD ministry

Dehradun: Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank took charge of the HRD ministry on Friday in the presence of senior ministry officials who later briefed him about policies related to higher education.

Among the senior officials who met Nishank included former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan who heads the national education policy committee.

Addressing the media subsequently, Nishank said, “Today, I have taken charge and met senior officials and very soon, I would take department-wise meeting of officials. We want to complete PM Modi’s mission.”

Nishank, who started his career as a teacher in RSS-run Shishu Mandir Vidyalaya, has a PhD from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University. He has also authored over 35 books - both fiction and non-fiction.

The minister added that improving the quality of education starting from primary to higher level would be his main priority. “Greater emphasis on research and development and boosting education infrastructure is my other thrust area,” Nishank also said.

Observers said that as far as Uttarakhand is concerned, the HRD minister’s first challenge would be to address the embarassing episode of shifting of the NIT from Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal to Jaipur.

Reacting to Nishank’s elevation to HRD ministry, former principal of DAV College Dehradun, Devendra Bhasin, who is also the state BJP media cell head, said, “It will be important for Uttarakhand because as the former chief minister, he knows exactly what our state requires in higher education sector. All of us hope that there will be more funds on research and he introduces qualitative change in the education system.”

Political analyst Udit Ghildiyal added, “This is the best time for Uttarakhand to develop itself as a higher education hub. The HRD minister should push for a law university in Uttarakhand and also a hill campus of both IIT Roorkee and IIM Kashipur.”


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