21,000 Children Of Gaddi, Sippi; Dard; Sheena Communities To Get Scholarships
Jammu- The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday announced an ambitious project of transforming 200 schools into smart schools in the tribal areas across the Union Territory.
The announcement in this regard was made by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here on Thursday, an official spokesperson said.
He said that the modernization of smart schools will be executed in two phases. In the first phase, works related to 100 schools will be completed by March 2022 and another 100 schools by December 2022.
“Our priority is to secure the future of tribal children. Smart schools in tribal & remote areas equipped with modern facilities will develop scientific temper in children and make them future ready, besides arresting the drop-out rate,” Sinha said.
On the occasion, the official spokesperson said that Sinha also announced another major decision of the government to provide scholarships to 21,000 children of Gaddi, Sippi, Dard, Sheena communities who were “deprived” of the same for the last 3 decades.
“In 1991, the Gaddi, Sippi community was declared tribal but their children were denied scholarship. For three decades they kept approaching governments but no decision was taken. This issue was brought to my notice just a few days back and we immediately decided that scholarships will be provided to the 21,000 children of Gaddi, Sippi, Dard, Sheena communities,” the LG said, as per the official spokesperson.
Sinha, he said, congratulated the Tribal communities and the concerned administrative departments for the historic beginning of the new era of educational empowerment of Tribals in J&K.
“Our priority is to secure the future of tribal children. Smart schools in tribal & remote areas equipped with modern facilities will develop scientific temper in children and make them future ready, besides arresting the drop-out rate,” the LG said.
According to the official spokesperson, the LG said that his government has formulated a visionary framework for the functioning of the Smart Schools.
“Members of the Tribal communities, PRI representatives, and the people associated with voluntary organizations will be involved in the management so that these schools could perform the role of ‘changemakers’ in our society,” Sinha said.
“Lives are changed when people connect. Life is changed when everything is connected. Tribal Education Plan, Scholarships, Smart Schools will do justice to tribal communities in J&K who were neglected for decades,” he added.
The LG, as per the official spokesperson said that these groundbreaking initiatives will also ensure that the members of the tribal communities can keep pace with the revolutionary and rapid changes happening around them and connect themselves to the world.
Sinha, he said, also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for awakening the self-confidence of the tribal community. He said the LG also highlighted that J&K administration is collectively spending around Rs 104 crore to strengthen school infrastructure in tribal areas and establish a strong educational eco-system for the tribal community.
“Besides Smart schools, we are also spending Rs 8.50 crore on the modernization of hostels of the Tribal Department and Rs 04 crore will be given for the new hostels being built. In July, the UT administration had decided that two Eklavya model schools would be opened in Rajouri, one each in Anantnag, Poonch, Kulgam and Bandipora and Rs 21.25 crore is being given for this. Apart from this, Rs 30 crore is being given for scholarship,” the LG said.
According to the official spokesperson, the LG observed that educational reforms catering to the needs of the future have the power to change the socio-economic situation.
“By developing a better infrastructure, and through training and capacity building programs for teachers and students especially in tribal areas, I am certain that we will address the issues of Gross Enrollment Ratio and Drop-out rate,” Sinha said.
On the occasion, the official spokesperson said that the LG also appealed to the parents to make it a priority to send their children to school.
“It is our moral responsibility to provide the best opportunities and means to make our children educated and skilled,” he added.
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