CM Omar Abdullah launches Vidya Samiksha Kendra, hands over regularisation orders to 863 CPWs
JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today handed over regularisation orders to 863 Contingent Paid Workers (CPWs) of the School Education Department from various districts of Jammu province, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the education workforce.
The event also marked the formal launch of the Vidya Samiksha Kendra under Samagra Shiksha, along with a suite of new ICT and analytics platforms aimed at strengthening the education ecosystem across Jammu and Kashmir.
The ceremony was attended by Minister for Health, Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education & Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo; Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani; MLAs Pyare Lal and Er. Khurshid Ahmed; Secretary, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma; Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Bhawani Rakwal; and Director, School Education Jammu, Naseem Chowdhary.
In his address, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over fulfilling a long-standing demand, lauding the patience and commitment of the CPWs. He appreciated Minister Sakina Itoo, the School Education Department, and the administrative machinery for their coordinated efforts in achieving this milestone.
Highlighting the government’s ongoing focus on educational development, Omar Abdullah announced that nearly one thousand infrastructure projects are underway in the education sector, with around ₹450 crore allocated for civil works. He added that by March 2026, all Higher Secondary and High Schools across Jammu and Kashmir would be equipped with smart classrooms and modern laboratories, ensuring students are on par with their peers nationwide.
Reflecting on the government’s first year, the Chief Minister said the journey had brought challenges as well as significant achievements in reform and service delivery. He urged the newly regularised employees to dedicate themselves to public service, stressing that “the future of the next generation depends on the quality of education we deliver today.”
On the occasion, he also felicitated 25 NEET and JEE achievers from the Jammu region with certificates and tablets, encouraging them to continue their pursuit of academic excellence.
Minister Sakina Itoo described the regularisation as a “moment of relief and recognition for hundreds of families,” crediting the Chief Minister’s resolve for making it possible. She informed that about 400 CPWs in Kashmir have already been regularised, while remaining cases are being processed swiftly.
Reviewing the government’s first-year achievements, the Minister highlighted the accelerated promotion process, faster DPC disposals, recruitment drives in Higher Education, and revival of dormant colleges. Under Samagra Shiksha, she said, around 600 development works are in progress, including smart labs and infrastructure upgrades in line with the National Education Policy.
Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani termed the occasion “historic,” reflecting one year of progressive governance under CM Omar Abdullah. He commended the CPWs’ dedication and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive development and efficient service delivery.
Earlier, Secretary Ram Niwas Sharma welcomed the dignitaries and reaffirmed the department’s focus on institutional reform, technological integration, and equitable access to education. He said the regularisation of CPWs symbolises the administration’s commitment to stability, dignity, and justice for long-serving workers.
During the event, the Chief Minister also unveiled the Vidya Samiksha Kendra — a comprehensive monitoring and analytics platform designed to track learning outcomes, infrastructure development, and teacher performance. The department simultaneously rolled out several ICT initiatives, including J&K DigiLearn, Shikshak Sahayak, JK Edu Insights, JK MIS, JK CRM, and the Teachers Analytics Portal, to enhance digital learning and governance in the education sector.
