Opinion | G and B Scholarships Opening New Educational Pathways for Tribal Students in Remote Regions

Education is often seen as a powerful tool for ensuring inclusivity and egalitarianism in society. However, whether it fully challenges social and economic barriers that push vulnerable communities towards marginalization remains a matter of debatable. Yet, being marginalized for decades does not mean that vulnerable communities have stopped aspiring to defy the odds and accomplish great feats.

In our hills, education was never easy. For many Gujjar and Bakarwal families, school always came after survival. First the cattle, first the fields, first the kitchen fire. Studies could wait. And for girls, it waited the longest. Due to poor road connectivity with main towns, lack of transportation, and little or no internet connectivity, pursuing education remains difficult for many tribal students.

The government of J&K has taken various initiatives over the years to improve the education scenario in the tribal areas. The first scholarship revision was announced in July 2022, with a 125-140% increase in scholarships, making quality education more affordable for tribal students.

Many bright girls left school not because they lacked the desire to study, but because the cost of uniforms, notebooks or bus fare was too much. Sometimes the school was too far. Sometimes the family income was too low. Dreams quietly adjusted themselves. When you sit with these students, you understand what these schemes really mean.

In the Gujjar and Bakarwal Girls’ Hostel in Srinagar, one student told me very plainly, “If the hostel were not there, I would have left school after Class 8.” She said her parents could never afford a rented room in the city. Here she gets a place to stay, meals, books and teachers who guide her. She wants to become a doctor, not for status, but to serve her own community.

There was no big speech in what she said. It was simple. If the hostel were not there, she would be back home by now.

In the Jammu division, a Tribal Post-Matric Scholarship student explained it in his own way. ‘’The scholarship amount may look small to some people, but for us it pays our examination fees and transport costs.” He said that without that money, continuing college would have been very hard. For some families, even arranging bus fare every day is not easy. Exam forms come with deadlines, and colleges do not wait. That scholarship arrives at the right time.

These are big things in reports, many tribal homes, they matter. One payment means one year saved. One hostel seat means one girl continues her studies. People in villages may not use big words like empowerment. They simply say, “Ab padhai rukegi nahi.” That itself says enough. This is how change is happening quietly, and one student at a time.

A seasonal migrant Bakarwal girl said, “We move with our livestock every year. School used to break in between. After getting admission in the tribal hostel, I could study continuously. For the first time, I felt my dreams were not temporary.” For her, studies earlier moved like their seasonal ‘Derah’ migration. Now they no longer do.

Another girl, now doing her graduation under the ST scholarship, said, “People in our area used to say girls will eventually get married, so why spend on education? Now, when they see me going to college with scholarship support, they say times are changing.”

She did not argue with anyone, she simply continued her studies. These are simple stories. But they show what steady support can do.

Scholarships Are More Than Money they Are Motivation

According to recent government data, in the 2024-25 academic year alone, nearly 9,000 students from G&B categories in Bandipora district are receiving scholarships. Across the Union Territory, post-matric scholarships have supported over 15,000 tribal students, representing a notable increase from past years.

These figures show real progress, but behind every number is a story of aspiration, struggle and sometimes triumph.

The tribal hostels have made a real difference, especially for girls from far-off villages. Earlier, distance itself was enough to stop studies. Daily travel was not possible. Private rooms in towns were too costly. Many simply dropped out after middle school.

Now, with hostel facilities, they stay near their schools. They get food, a place to live, and a routine. For families living in areas where roads and transport are still a struggle, this support matters far more than many people realize.

Recently, a tribal student from Jammu told local media, “Before, we felt our dreams were small because opportunities felt far away. Now, with scholarships helping us pay fees and stay in hostels, we feel our future is ours to build.”

This feeling that the future is in their hands is new for many of these children. Pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for ST students are not seen as charity in villages. People see them as support that allows their children to compete on an equal footing with others.

Of course, everything is not perfect. Sometimes scholarships get delayed. In some remote areas, families still do not know how to apply. Infrastructure in many remote regions still needs improvement. There is work to be done. But the change is visible. More students are reaching higher classes. More girls are entering colleges. In hostel rooms at night, you can see lights on for longer hours.

These schemes may look small from the outside. But inside these homes, they are building confidence. Slowly, steadily, lives are moving forward.

For boys, the G&B scholarship reduces pressure to leave studies early and start earning. For girls, it reduces the argument that education is a waste before marriage. The scholarship does not solve everything. But it makes continuation possible. And in many tribal families, continuation itself is a big achievement.

bintez566@gmail.com