Fresh hopes have emerged for the reopening of the Government College at Multhan in Kangra district after the issue was taken up with the state government by Rajya Sabha MP Anurag Sharma.
The matter has reached the higher authorities of the Education Department following the MP’s meeting with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Sharma urged the CM to reconsider the closure of the college, citing its importance for students from remote and educationally underserved areas of Kangra and Mandi districts.
According to sources, the CM responded positively to the request, raising expectations among locals and students that the institution could be reopened in the near future.
Established in 2016, the college was set up to provide higher education opportunities to students from the remote Chhota Bhanghal region and the adjoining areas, where access to colleges remains limited. However, a steady decline in admissions led to its closure under government norms relating to minimum student enrolment.
The college had enrolled around 183 students in its first academic session, but the number reportedly dropped to nearly 55 last year, prompting the authorities to shut it down.
Local residents have contested the decision, arguing that the fall in enrolment was largely due to a shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff rather than a lack of demand for higher education. They maintain that adequate faculty, infrastructure and academic facilities would help attract more students in the coming years.
The institution caters to students from seven panchayats in the Chhota Bhanghal region of Kangra district as well as the Chauhar valley in Mandi district. Residents say its closure has created significant difficulties, particularly for girl students, many of whom now have to travel long distances to pursue higher education or abandon their studies altogether.
Adding to the optimism surrounding the college’s future, a proposal for the construction of a new campus has already received financial approval. An amount of approximately Rs 5 crore has reportedly been sanctioned for the project. The old building has been demolished and plans for a modern educational facility are under consideration.
The region is home to six senior secondary schools, with nearly 200 students passing Class XII examinations each year. Educationists and local leaders believe the college can easily achieve the required enrolment levels if quality infrastructure and sufficient teaching staff are provided.
MP Anurag Sharma expressed confidence that the state government would review the closure order and permit admissions from the forthcoming academic session, restoring access to higher education for students in the region.
