Why Himachal girls are queuing up to come to Valley of violence

The easiest job to find in a state which is showing amazing progress and efforts in literacy is that of a teacher. And a degree in education is a must. In Himachal Pradesh, there is only one college which has the course and there is an entrance test for admissions. The procedure for selection in J&K is relatively easy. Unlike in their state, they don’t have to qualify for the entrance test but are admitted on merit.

There are girls from Punjab and Haryana too but the Himachal girls outnumber them by far. “When four years ago my sister was to be married, no one asked whether she was working or not. But now the matchmakers first enquire whether the girl is employed or not,” says Akanksha of Bilaspur, who has joined Adarsh College of Education in Jammu.

The Director, College for Education, Prof Dewinder Singh, says that unlike other states, the J&K B.Ed colleges do not come under the purview of the National Council of Teachers Education (NTCE) Act and, therefore, they do not have an entrance test on the pattern of NTCE.

In Jammu, many of them have already joined courses and applications have also piled up in various Srinagar colleges for fresh batches. A majority of them have got themselves registered well in advance at various hostels in Srinagar. “I cannot take the risk of staying alone in rented accommodation. So I have already registered myself in a hostel. In a group you feel more secure,” says Aradhana, who is packing her bags to go home. She would be back once the session starts.

They all wait for the advertisements issued by Kashmir University and Jammu University inviting applications. “God has provided them with an opportunity, and by preventing them from coming here, we would have ruined their career and future,” says Ram Dass who has brought his daughter for admission to Jammu.

The courses cost Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. “My parents forced me to come here. They were worried that I would cross the marriageable age before I could qualify for the exams,” says Nirupama who hails from Shimla.

“As I failed to get admission in Jammu, I applied for a seat in the Valley. The night before I went there, I could not sleep. The fear of militancy was too overwhelming but I was also worried about the plight of my parents,” remembers Chandan of Solan.

Vinodhi, in charge of the management at Caset College of Education, Karan Nagar, Srinagar, said there were more applications from boys in the past. “But now the number of girls from other states applying for this course has gone up,” she adds.

As a result, most of the private B.Ed colleges in the Valley are now advertising for Punjabi and Hindi lecturers in the Valley. “There is a dearth of trained teachers in these subjects. Many had left when militancy was at its peak. So, for these private colleges, there was no option but toemploy retired teachers,” said Nasib, a staff member at the Sarfaraz College of Education, Baghat Barzulla, Srinagar.