Pulwama: Government Degree College (GDC) Tral in this south Kashmir district grapples with infrastructure shortfall, hampering the academic interests of the students.
Established in 1988, the Degree College was functioning in uptown area before shifted to new building in Bajwani area in outskirts of Tral in 2005.
A number of students spoke to INS and said that lack of classrooms was severely affecting their education.
There are nearly a dozen classrooms and a total of 145 classes are scheduled daily for all the streams including Arts, Science and Commerce. The available space, they said, enables colleges to conduct 109 classes in main building of the college during the day. The remaining classes are either conducted in open or free space in Library. Some students said that they are not sure where class is being conducted. Land for a new building for science students has been earmarked and construction of building behind the main campus is being constructed but work is going on at a snail’s pace.
The students said that new subjects were also introduced but they are not getting chance to opt these subjects due to reasons best known to college authorities.
“On papers, the college is competent to offer Biochemistry course but it hasn’t been added to any stream, thereby forcing students to opt for other subjects,” said a student who was desirous of pursuing the advanced course and had to opt for general science.
There are other problems facing the students and includes parking of bikes and other vehicles despite availability of vast land inside the campus. The students said that they have been strictly instructed not to bring the two or four-wheelers inside. 
“During a protest rally recently in the area, damage was caused to our bikes and other vehicles as government forces and stone pelting protesters engaged in ding-dong battle.”
Many other students complained that college was not organising co-curricular activities. “Even leading newspapers and magazines are not available in the library which is forcing students to use internet facilities more rather than reading informative books, magazines and newspapers,” they students said, underling that it could prove detrimental in nurturing reading habits. They said that scholarships are also pending since long time which was against interests of the deserving candidates.
College’s Principal, Abdul Majeed Sofi said: “We are aware about paucity of space for classrooms and have already planned construction of new blocks to mitigate the student problems.”
Asked about parking and other issues, he said that issue has been discussed with experts and “in coming time, parking facilities for students will be available inside the college behind Principal’s office.”
About newly introduced Biochemistry admissions, he said that there should be minimum of 16 students to get admission in the particular subject but the number of students was minimal. Regarding co-curricular activities, he said the college is organizing them and there is availability of reading material available to the students.
