To ensure access to education to the children of Gujjar and Bakarwal communities living in the high altitude areas of Rajouri and Reasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir, Army has started tuition classes for them. A defense spokesman gave this information on Monday.
Members of the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities migrate to the higher reaches of the Pir Panjal range in early summer in search of greener pastures for their livestock and return to the plains before the onset of winter.
The spokesman said that tuition classes have already started in the high and remote villages of Banj and Richa Bagla, Ichni, Makhidhar, Dhakikot, Kalaban, Chakal Havlan, Balmatkot and Shikari in Reasi and Rajouri districts.
He said that a large number of students at every place are getting benefited by this initiative. It ensures that children from these communities have access to education and rekindle their interest in studies. According to the spokesperson, due to the nomadic nature of these families, children remain absent from schools for six to eight months.