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| Sinha visits GB Hostels | | Governor salutes Gujjar Bakerwal’s loyalty to Nation | |
SRINAGAR MAY 24
Saluting the valour of Gujjar and Bakerwals in meeting various challenges with courage and fortitude, Governor Lt General (Retd) S K Sinha today said that loyalty to Nation is the hallmark of these brave communities.
Addressing Gujjar and Bakerwal students during his visit to Boys and Girls hostels here this morning, the Governor said that they have set many examples of bravery during the ongoing militancy by remaining in the forefront in service of the motherland.
General Sinha said that these people deserve special attention with regard to development and education. ‘It has to be a joint effort by all’, he said while enumerating various measures already undertaken by the State Government and the Army for improving their quality of life. Education of boys and girls is a key to their emancipation, prosperity and socio, economic uplift, he said while noting with satisfaction the strides made in this regard. He said the Government under the stewardship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has drawn up various ambitious programmes to ameliorate their lot. Boys and Girls Hostels have been planned for each district including the newly carved out eight districts. The diet allowance is being enhanced and various other schemes are in the pipeline for their betterment. The boys and girls hostels in Srinagar will get three computers each within a month for making the inmates computer literate. He announced a token contribution of Rs 10,000 each for upgrading recreational facilities in these two hostels. He hoped that a new girls’ hostel with enhanced capacity will come up in Srinagar by next year and stressed the need for increasing the intake capacity of all other hostels functioning in the State. He further announced that the minimum educational standards for Gujjar and Bakerwal youth for recruitment to central para military forces. Recruitment on this basis is being conducted both in the Valley and in Jammu province, he added.
On its part the Army is also supplementing facilities for Gujjar and Bakerwals, he said, adding that over 123 boys and girls of these communities have been admitted in the elite Army Public School, Rajouri, which can be compared with the best schools in the country. The Army has also set up Shakhti Sadan for women empowerment and Ankur for children in Reasi while a boys hostel at the new district headquarters will be ready this year. Apart from promoting education in these communities, the Army has also launched several welfare programmes in hilly areas. For treatment of humans and animal 46 medical and veterinary camps have been set up on the routes taken by these communities while going up the mountains for grazing their animals. Three Dhoks have been electrified and 63 villages of these communities provided electricity from micro-hydel projects.
Responding to the demand of children, the Governor said that the Army will organize ‘Watten Ki Seir’ for these students in the near future. He complimented them for the cultural programme presented on the occasion and while commenting on the rendering of Alama Iqbal by the students quoting ‘Unan, Miser o Roma Sab Mit Gaye Jehan Se, Baqi Raha Hai Laikin Nam-o-Nishan Hamara’, he told them that this has happened because of the inherent strength of great Indian civilization, it has survived the vicissitudes of time. It is based on tolerance, amity and brotherhood. He said this unique ethos has flourished in the shape of Kashmiriyat in the Valley and hoped that the younger generation will get inspired by this glorious concept and would not allow misguided elements to undermine this precious heritage. He recalled his association with Gujjar and Bakerwals for nearly six decades, dating back to 1947, during which he remained posted on mountains and lauded their hard work and determination. He also recalled how in 1951 as a young officer he and his soldiers got caught in a severe snow blizzard in Gurez on the mountain in the month of November. Some Bakerwals took them to their animal pen where they took shelter for 24 hours and survived.
The Governor, accompanied by Secretary Social Welfare, Mr N K Verma also went round the hostels and was told that 15 such hostels - 12 boys and 3 girls- were functioning in the State. The inmates numbering 1500 were being provided free boarding and lodging, diet, uniform, books and stationary besides tuition fee by the Government. Boys Hostel at Srinagar, spread over 15 kanals of land in a posh locality, has 39 rooms. The inmates are also being imparted computer education and tuitions after the school hours.
Impressed by the welcome address in fluent English by a girl student, Rubina, the Governor announced a special gift for her.
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