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| NIT Srinagar suspends class work due to re-emergence of COVID-19; carries out field trip | | SOPs violated with majority not wearing masks, social distancing norms flouted | |  JEHANGIR RASHID
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 11: The Srinagar centre of National Institute of Technology (NIT) wasted no time in suspending the class work at the campus in the first week of April following the re-emergence of Corona Virus in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir especially Kashmir valley.
However, things on ground suggest that the NIT Srinagar is very much busy in carrying out activities with the students as well as faculty both teaching and non-teaching taking active part in the different activities. It got proved today again today at least from the press note sent by the Public Relations Office of NIT Srinagar.
The statement issued by Public Relations Officer, NIT Srinagar said that the Department of Chemistry organized a day-long academic field trip for students and faculty today adding that the same was aimed to get a first-hand learning experience on the ground beyond their classrooms.
It said the trip was flagged off by Director NIT, Prof. Rakesh Sehgal who said that field trips are undoubtedly the best ways to promote team spirit over knowledgeable activities. It is very important to learn things practically by conducting educational trips, he said.
It is an established fact that field trips are important for the students and the same help them to get exposed to the outside world more so in their own field of activity. However, since the class work has been suspended at NIT Srinagar how come students could take part in such an activity more so when the COVID-19 cases are increasing on daily basis?
The statement while quoting Registrar NIT, Prof. Kaiser Bukhari said that clear instructions have been issued to all the departments to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines in view of surge in cases in the valley. However, couple of photos mailed by the Public Relations Officer present a totally different picture.
In the photographs majority of the teachers, students and other non-teaching staff of the institute can be seen not wearing a mask while having the field trip. Just a handful can be spotted wearing masks in the photographs mailed. This goes on to show clear violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid down while managing the COVID-19 across the length and breadth of the country.
The statement claimed that COVID-19 guidelines including wearing of masks and social distancing were ensured by the department on priority during the whole trip and students visited the Tulip garden and Botanical garden. But the claim seems to be a blatant lie given the fact that 90 percent of visitors were not wearing masks and no concept of social distancing was followed as well.
Apart from faculty members around 72 students and scholars participated in the trip and appreciated the department for conducting field trips. They also expressed their gratitude to Director NIT for his positive support in such initiatives. The department intends to organize more such academic trips in the future.
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