J-K: Community classes being held for tribal students on higher reaches of Pir Panjal

Amid uneven terrain and hard climatic conditions, community classes are being held on the higher reaches of the Pirpanjal range in the Pir Marg area of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district for children of tribal nomadic communities which undertake seasonal migration towards upper reaches for six months.

Seven such seasonal community centres are operational on the higher reaches of the Pirpanjal range to ensure that the education of these children is not affected due to migration.

Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary to Government Tribal Affairs Department, Jammu and Kashmir said that the administration of the union territory has recently conducted a survey to identify hamlets in the region where schools need to be built.

The administration has also planned various schemes for the tribal communities of Jammu and Kashmir to connect them with various facilities, informed Choudhary.

Choudhary told ANI, "These people live in the most difficult circumstances. They stay away from home with their herds of livestock for six months for a livelihood. A lot of focus needs to be given to their development on which the Jammu and Kashmir administration is already working. We are planning all possible facilities for them. We have also received feedback and suggestions from them which will be included in the plan. We have conducted a survey where we have got to know about the number of hamlets where schools are needed. This information has been provided to the Education department and the work plan has been chalked out, work will start soon."

He further said, "The LG Manoj Sinha has also instructed to build residential schools for the children of the tribal communities. Whenever these tribal communities go uphills for six months, they can leave their children in these residential schools where all their needs shall be taken care of."