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Through education, skills, and support, the Army is empowering border communities with self-reliance, opportunity, and a pathway to peace and progress
Alongside its duty of promoting peace and security, the Indian Army also plays a significant role in empowering the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in border areas. In many remote areas, where the Army serves as the only border protection mechanism, it was also the only provider of hope and change. Through establishing vocational centres, providing scholarships, establishing specific programs for backwards classes and establishing Goodwill Schools, the Army has taken the lead in empowering thousands of people through educating, training, and mentoring young people.
A significant aspect of these initiatives is the Army Goodwill Schools (AGS). Initiated in the late 1990s under Operation Sadbhavana, these schools were established to offer quality education to children in insurgency-hit and far-flung regions. Today, there are over forty AGS campuses located throughout the Jammu and Kashmir region. With libraries, science labs, computer labs, and sports complexes, the AGS stores create a safe and stimulating learning environment for young people. The parents are reliant on these schools for access to safety and quality; the children receive organized schooling that gives them the ability to compete with peers across the country. Students in AGS schools in Kupwara,Rajouri, and Baramulla have performed well academically, in sports and culture, and many have gained admission to professional colleges/universities. These success stories demonstrate how the organization of regular education can change lives and provide a better future for young people.
Even special focus is laid on the oppressed classes, such as Gujjar and Bakarwal people, who suffer from the nomadic way of life and limited resources. To assist them, Shepherd’s Schools have been set up in all receiving areas by the Army. The schools provide normal schooling to children who would have been out of school during seasonal migrant work. By establishing centres on migratory routes and settled villages, the Army ensures that such children have access to quality learning environments. The Army’s commitment to an integrated model of learning and local culture is expressed by enabling Gujjar and Bakarwal children to have educational and social development opportunities.
The learning experience through the Army schools is much more than book learning. Young people require developmental guidance, support, and friendships and therefore the Army is guided through counselling and mentorship. In areas with limited opportunities, the general counselling sessions provided students with purpose, orientation, and motivation. Career counselling workshops, inspirational speakers, and general mentor sessions provide hope and a sense of belonging to the youth. Cultural festivals, sports events, and community gatherings conducted by the Army also impart discipline, teamwork, and confidence. Exercise such as playing volleyball or cricket, though straightforward, proves advantageous for students by keeping them involved in constructive and healthy activities.
Skill development programs are yet another major initiative. Operation Sadbhavana vocational centers impart skills to youth’s such as tailoring, embroidery, food processing, carpentry, and computer training. During July 2025, the Women’s Skill Development Centre at Baramulla was upgraded with additional certification courses in computer education, fashion design, production of handmade soap and balm, and dry apple processing. Along the same lines, stitching centers in village clusters such as Gohallan (Uri, Baramulla) enable village girls to work from home, become co-partners in cooperatives, and earn family income, thereby earning them independence and dignity.
Scholarships are also one means through which the Army assists youth. Several students along the border are unable to pursue their studies because of a lack of funds. To counter this issue, the Army awards scholarships to poor students, allowing them to study at higher levels without paying any money. In 2023, 146 students were awarded ₹1.2 lakh more scholarship each through Operation Sadbhavana, with sponsoring universities paying for the remaining costs. Scholarships not just support students economically but also provide confidence and hope to their families and communities.
Recent progress underlines the changing trend of such efforts. The new women’s skill center in Baramulla links young women with contemporary markets, instructing trades that directly connect to local consumers and online trade. Summer sports festivals and cultural events held at Army Goodwill Schools allow students to stages for performing their talents and stay positively engaged. These programs together constitute an enabling framework: schools impart education, vocational centers impart functional skills, and scholarships facilitate higher education and professional advancement.
The Army programs work particularly well because they are designed to address local needs. The families in isolated villages would want schools and centers that are safe, dependable, and close to home. Vocational training is fashioned to fit local economies, whether it is tailored for village markets or IT skills for city jobs. Scholarships bridge the financial gap, so gifted students are not forced to drop out of school. This provides a whole continuum, from a child in primary school through higher studies and into a job.
The effects of these initiatives are seen throughout Jammu and Kashmir. Literacy has improved in areas where Goodwill Schools are operational. Vocational centers have helped develop micro-enterprises and co-operatives, in particular amongst females, so they now make a contribution to the household income. Counselling, sports, and mentorship have given young people more confidence and direction. Scholarships have enabled first-generation students to become graduates and professionals, and in doing so, have inspired others within their communities. Perhaps most importantly, these initiatives bring peace: educated, skilled, and optimistic youth are less likely to be swayed by war or instability.
The Army’s role in Jammu and Kashmir extends beyond security. It has provided opportunities for youth in some of the most difficult areas through Goodwill Schools, Shepherds Schools, vocational centers, and scholarships. Children are educated, youth are skilled, and metriculus students are sent for higher studies. Families become stable and dignified, society is benefited with harmony, and the country gets empowered citizens who are eager to contribute in a positive manner. The Army has demonstrated that, along with safeguarding borders, it can also safeguard the futures of the people, fostering hope, opportunity, and long-term peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
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