At present we often find the contest between Jammu and Kashmir Valley dominating the political discourse and news highlights. Regrettably, in the Kashmir valley versus Jammu narrative, lost is the distinct identity of the Chenab valley which is seeking its due share for a long time. The Baat Cheet program in Doda brought to fore the concerns of the inhabitants of the valley and how in the matters of structural change, policy reform, governance among others, Delhi and successive state governments, including the present one, have been consistently oblivious to the issues of the Chenab valley. Out of the numerous issues that were freely spoken about, the following issues deserve special mention.

A Case for a Cluster University

The demand for the establishment of a Cluster University for Chenab valley dominated the discourse regarding education. Around a dozen colleges in Doda that impart higher education are all affiliated with University of Jammu. The administrative centralisation and geographical distance are factors that contribute to squeezed academic calendars, delay in exams and limited faculty engagement. The quality of higher education suffers when semester duration is shortened. These colleges operate with inadequate staff, leaving departments under-resourced. The absence of a local university structure hampers academic autonomy and also weakens research, innovation, and student development. A cluster university would decentralise academic........

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