Rajouri

The Jammu and Kashmir administration is stepping up efforts to improve infrastructure in remote and hilly regions of the Union Territory, with a strong focus on upgrading educational facilities under various flagship schemes.

By investing in school buildings, staff accommodation and essential amenities, the government aims to ensure that students in far-flung areas have access to quality education despite geographical challenges.

A notable example of this initiative is Zone Khawas in the Kotranka sub-division of Rajouri district, situated nearly 75 kilometres from the district headquarters. The region, long affected by difficult terrain and limited facilities, is now witnessing gradual transformation under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.

At Government High School Keri, the only high school serving the surrounding villages, infrastructure upgrades are underway after years of hardship. The school caters to nearly 150–200 students and had been operating under adverse conditions after its old three-room structure collapsed due to heavy rainfall.

Under the Samagra Scheme, approval has been granted for the construction of a new building with six classrooms and staff quarters, and work on the project is currently in progress.

Teachers and residents have welcomed the development, describing it as a major step forward for education in the area. Ashu Devi, a teacher at the school since 2010, said the lack of proper infrastructure earlier often forced classes to be suspended during rains due to flooding and safety concerns.

“With proper classrooms, washrooms and basic facilities, both students and teachers will benefit immensely,” she said, expressing gratitude to the government.

Other staff members, including Mohammad Riaz, Bachan Kumar Sharma and Kulwant Singh, highlighted the region’s remoteness, poor road access and lack of amenities, adding that the new facilities would help improve learning outcomes and retain teaching staff.

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Officials and educators believe the upgraded infrastructure will ease daily hardships for students and teachers alike, while also underlining the need for more schools to reduce long travel distances for children from scattered villages.