SRINAGAR: Director Colleges, Dr. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, today released JK_ SIGMA, the mobile application of the Students Integrated Grievance and Messaging Application (SIGMA), developed in-house.

The release extends to smartphones a platform that has, since June 2025, been serving students of Government Degree Colleges across the Union Territory through the Directorate of Colleges website.

SIGMA was launched by the Higher Education Department in June 2025 as part of a set of ICT initiatives centred on the Directorate's policy planning and development portal, www.directorcollegesjk.in. This initiative was necessitated for Higher Education towards student empowerment by giving them a confidential and dependable channel to raise concerns that remain unresolved at the college level, and ensuring that official information reaches every student directly. Since its launch, a substantial number of grievances have been received and resolved on the platform, where around 1.6 Lakh students across 142 colleges are presently registered on the platform.

Speaking on the occasion, Director Colleges said that the move to a mobile application removes the last barrier between a student and the department. The application is  available free of charge on the Google Play Store and can be accessed by visiting https://directorcollegesjk.in/sigma/app.

The application allows a student to receive official bulletins from the Department as well as from his or her own college, to submit a grievance and follow its progress through to resolution, and to rate the quality of the response received—a feedback loop that allows the Directorate to monitor institutional responsiveness rather than merely count complaints. Bulletins remain available on the device even without an active internet connection.

On the administrative side, the application provides role-based access to college and Directorate functionaries, with statistical dashboards and alerts flagging grievances that have remained pending beyond the prescribed period. Access is restricted to students already enrolled on the SIGMA Portal, and the identity of a student raising a grievance is not disclosed to the college except with the student's consent.

These initiatives underscore the Higher Education Department's commitment to a responsive, transparent and student-centric system, in furtherance of its overarching goal of Academic Excellence.

Colleges have been directed to verify student records on the Directorate Portal, conduct awareness campaigns, and ensure that grievances received through the platform are addressed within two days.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). ā€œHis article, ā€˜When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.ā€.  Read the message here
In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

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