The Government Degree College (GDC) in Banihal, located in the rural district of Ramban in Jammu, continues to face severe infrastructural challenges, which have left students and staff in dire straits. Despite being established in 2008, the college remains largely incomplete, plagued by a lack of basic amenities like road connectivity, playgrounds, and hostel facilities.
Situated in Bankoot village, 2.5 km from Banihal town along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the college was expected to be a beacon of higher education for the region. However, its growth has been stunted by continuous delays in construction since 2014, with only one building—housing both academic and administrative offices—having been completed in the past decade. A three-storey building under construction has been left unfinished for two years, primarily due to financial issues at the government construction agency, JKPCC (now merged with PWD). One of the most pressing concerns is the absence of road connectivity. Students, especially girls, face daily hardships as they walk along hazardous, unmarked paths to reach the college. “Our college bus has been out of service for years, and we are forced to walk on dangerous routes,” said a first-semester student. The lack of road access forces approximately 300 students and staff to endure a gruelling pedestrian journey, often encountering wild animals like bears and leopards, as well as threats from antisocial elements lurking in the area.
The safety and well-being of students, particularly female students, have become a major concern. “We fear for our lives,” said a fifth-semester student, “The paths to college are unsafe, and there is no proper security in place.” Despite repeated appeals to local authorities, the issue remains unresolved, leading many to question the government’s commitment to education in remote areas. The lack of proper infrastructure has not only affected student safety but also hampers the overall educational experience. Students are forced to compromise on academic engagement, as the limited facilities fail to meet the growing demand of the institution. The situation raises critical concerns about the sustainability of educational development in rural areas like Banihal. Without addressing these basic infrastructural gaps, the future of education in such regions remains uncertain. The ongoing struggles of GDC Banihal underscore a systemic issue that affects thousands of students in rural India. While there is significant promise in the establishment of such colleges, the lack of proper road connectivity and incomplete infrastructure severely limits their impact, leaving students in limbo. Sustainable solutions are urgently needed to bridge the gap and provide these students with the opportunities they rightfully deserve.
