Rajouri

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has stepped up efforts to upgrade infrastructure in remote and inaccessible parts of the Union Territory, placing special focus on strengthening the education sector through flagship government schemes.

By making sustained investments in school buildings, staff accommodation and essential facilities, the government aims to ensure that students in difficult and hilly regions receive equal access to quality education.

A clear example of this push can be seen in Zone Khawas of the Kotranka sub-division in Rajouri district, located about 75 kilometres from the district headquarters. Known for its rugged terrain and limited facilities, the area has long faced infrastructural challenges.

Recent interventions under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme are now beginning to bring visible improvements, especially at Government High School Keri, which serves nearly 150 to 200 students from nearby villages. The school is the only high school in the region.

The institution had been operating under severe constraints after its earlier three-room structure collapsed due to heavy rainfall, forcing classes to be conducted in unsafe conditions.

To address this, the government has sanctioned the construction of a new school building comprising six classrooms and staff quarters, with work currently in progress under the Samagra Scheme.

The development has brought renewed hope among students, teachers and local residents, who view it as a significant step towards improving education in the region.

Ashu Devi, a teacher associated with the school since 2010, said the new infrastructure would provide a safe and conducive learning environment, noting that earlier classes often had to be suspended during rains due to flooding and safety concerns.

“Once the building is completed, students and teachers will benefit from proper classrooms, washrooms and basic facilities,” she said.

Other teachers, including Mohammad Riaz, Bachan Kumar Sharma and Kulwant Singh, described the area as highly remote with limited road connectivity and amenities, adding that the ongoing construction is being closely monitored by both staff and villagers.

They expressed confidence that improved infrastructure would raise education standards and help retain teachers by offering residential facilities and basic comforts.

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Officials and educators also highlighted the need for more schools in the area to reduce long travel distances for children living in scattered settlements.