Jammu, Feb 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir was facing a severe threat from climate change, particularly in the form of a water crisis, stressing the need for greater awareness and action.
“We are not doing enough to educate our people about what is happening with climate change and the dangers it poses. A lot of that responsibility lies with us as political leaders,” CM Omar said addressing the inaugural session of a three-day workshop on ‘Capacity Building in Innovation Pedagogy for the Implementation of NEP-2020’ at Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium at the University of Jammu (JU).
Addressing the pressing issue of climate change, he highlighted the alarming precipitation deficit in J&K.
“Until this morning, when the rains finally arrived, we faced an 80 to 85 percent precipitation deficit this winter, signalling a major water crisis. Our agricultural patterns rely on the assumption of sufficient water availability. But with current water levels, cultivating paddy, which is water-intensive, would be nearly impossible,” he said.
Speaking on the ‘Design Your Degree’ (DYD) programme under the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), the CM said that the initiative empowers students to shape their education according to their interests, enhancing their skills, and aligning them with evolving job market demands.
“As J&K’s private sector expands – particularly in industry and tourism – and as the region integrates further into the national economy, more job opportunities will emerge. With JU gaining national recognition, students equipped with relevant skills will have a competitive advantage,” he said. Reflecting on the pressure the students face to secure high percentages, CM Omar said, “It’s astonishing how much pressure we put on our children. When you see the cut-off percentages for top colleges like those in Delhi University – some even at 100 percent – it raises the question: what is beyond 100 percent?”
He emphasised that the Design Your Degree programme marks a transformative shift in education by allowing students to study subjects that genuinely interest them.
“This is a significant change from the traditional model, where students were told what to study. Now, they have the freedom to design their degree, enhancing both their academic experience and career prospects,” the CM said.
Discussing prospects in fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), agriculture and tourism, he highlighted AI’s growing impact on education and industry.
“AI is reshaping how we approach learning and work. While it presents challenges, like the ease of using tools like ChatGPT for academic tasks, it also offers immense opportunities for innovation and growth,” he said.
CM Omar acknowledged the role of faculty members from Delhi University, pioneers of the Design Your Degree initiative, in guiding the programme’s implementation.
“This shift requires a change in mindset for both students and teachers. Traditionally, teachers were told what to teach. Now, students are asked, ‘What do you want to learn?’ and teachers must adapt their approach accordingly. The expertise of these eminent professors is invaluable as we navigate this transition,” he said.
The CM expressed his commitment to supporting JU in its academic endeavours, both in his individual capacity and as the Pro-Chancellor of the university.
“I assure you that as long as I am here, I will do whatever I can to help JU grow and thrive,” he said. Congratulating the Vice Chancellor, faculty, and students of JU for achieving the prestigious NAAC A++ accreditation, CM Omar extended his best wishes for the success of the three-day workshop.
On the occasion, he also interacted with students from the Government Women’s College (GWC) Parade and JU under the Design Your Degree programme, who shared their learning experiences.
He described the interactions as inspiring and expressed his eagerness for more such engagements with young and talented minds.
The workshop is being organised by the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Center (MMTTC) in collaboration with the Skill Incubation, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Development Center (SIIEDC), JU.
The event was attended by JU Vice Chancellor Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellors of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), and Cluster University of Jammu (CUJ), along with senior faculty members, principals of various colleges, and students.
