Chandigarh, September 7: Growing by leaps and bounds in Information and Technology era, Haryana Government once again converted COVID-19 Pandemic crisis into an opportunity after Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal today virtually launched an online admission platform for admission in Undergraduate Courses in government aided and self finance colleges for the new academic session. With this platform, now the students will be able to complete their entire admission process while sitting at home.

Besides this, Mr. Manohar Lal also launched first of its kind educational whatsapp chatbot ‘Apka Mitra’ to resolve any admission related queries of the students. Students are required to send a message on whatsapp chatbot number 7419444449 to get any information regarding admissions, scholarship.

A new web portal of Higher Education Department, website of 158 government colleges and online international journals namely Journal of Humanities and Social Science prepared by the department to promote research in the state was also launched by Mr. Manohar Lal.

While, giving a relief to a large number of students taking admission in various graduate courses amid COVID-19 Pandemic, the registration and prospectus fee of all undergraduate Courses has also been waived off. A grievance redressal helpdesk number 18001373735 has been started to help the students to fill their admission forms. While persons with disabilities can get assistance for filling the admission forms by giving a missed call on mobile number 7419444449.

During this virtual launch, Haryana Education Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal and senior officers of Higher Education Department including Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Mr. Ankur Gupta and Director General, Higher Education Department, Mr. Ajit Balaji Joshi were also present.

In his inaugural address, Chief Minister said that in view of the on-going COVID-19 Pandemic and ensuring the safety of the students, online admission platform has been launched so as to facilitate students to get admission while staying at their homes.

Development of any country or state depends upon how educated its citizens are. Education plays a great role in developing country in every field, therefore in Haryana we have to make sure that youth of the state is well educated and cultured so that they can help in taking the Country and State on the path of development,” Mr. Manohar Lal said.

“In higher education we have to make sure that more focus is given on research and for this more and more colleges and Universities have been opened in Haryana. Along with education, skilling is equally important and for this Shri Vishwakarma Skill University has been opened to impart skilled knowledge to the youth,” Chief Minister said.

Mr. Manohar Lal said that efforts should be made to raise the standard of colleges and universities while using Information Technology. Along with this we have to raise the technical skills of the students, he added.

He said that efforts should also be made to attract foreign universities for setting up their campus in Haryana, so that the youth can be benefitted. State Government is prioritizing the interest of students, he added.

Education Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal said that the online system will strengthen the admission process as well as make it transparent. He also lauded the officers and employees of Higher Education department who have given their valuable contributions in developing this online platform and making it a huge success.

“Education has always remained the main focus of the State Government led by Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal. Be it giving a major financial boost to the education sector in the budget 2020-2021 or setting up colleges within a radius of 15 kilometers, various initiatives have been taken by the State Government to promote education and skilling among the youth of the State. Now our focus is to open colleges within a radius of 10 kilometers,” Mr. Kanwar Pal said.

He said that the government has decided to open 1,000 new schools. He said that our focus is to make the youth employable. He said that opening new model Sanskriti schools is another feather added to the cap of Haryana Government.

Meanwhile, earlier, Director General, Higher Education Department, Mr. Ajit Balaji Joshi shared that the online admission portal has been developed by NIC in collaboration with the Higher Education Department. He said that through this platform students will be able to complete the admission process while sitting at home.

He further informed that students will not have to physically come to college for admission as this platform is highly automated. He said that the department has also developed a WhatsApp chatbot to facilitate all information related to universities, colleges and students.