SRINAGAR: To provide the proper educational facilities to children of the migratory nomadic population across the highland land pastures of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the summer season, the Directorate of the Samagra Shiksha of Jammu and Kashmir is presently running 1,723 Seasonal Centres in the highland pastures of Jammu and Kashmir, where 33,819 children of the nomadic families are pursuing their education during the migration period from plan areas to the highland pastures of the J&K UT.

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has a huge chunk of migratory population that migrates from one division to another division during the onset of the summer season along with their school-going children to the highest mountain peaks or pastures for a maximum period of six months, which usually begins from April to September every year.

Keeping in view the diversity in topography of Jammu and Kashmir and the importance of the schooling facility, the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha, Jammu and Kashmir, is facilitating the education of these children of nomadic or migratory populations by enabling the districts to establish the seasonal centres every year, where these communities live during the migratory period along with their families and cattle heads.

These centres are established to provide basic educational facilities to these children who fall within the age group of 6–14 years during the migration period for a maximum of six months. It includes the children who are either on the rolls of the school at their original or native places (catchment area or habitation) or out of school.

Deepa Raja, Project director Samgra Shikha J&K, told Rising Kashmir that to provide proper education facilities to the nomadic children during the migration period, the Samgra Shikha Jammu and Kashmir is presently running 1,723 seasonal centres, in which 3,3819 nomadic children are presently pursuing their education in the 16 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Ministry of Education Government of India sanction the funds, which include the TLE, TLM, honorarium of seasonal educational volunteers, cost of tents, and contingency amount," Deepa Raja said.

The project director said that a seasonal centre is open for a maximum of six months in the highest mountain pastures. Under Samagra Shiksha, seasonal educational volunteers (EVs) are engaged for a maximum period of six months.

"After returning from the Dhoks (Migration Centre), the children of the migratory nomadic population return to their homes, where they are enrolled in the schools of their catchment area and avail themselves of all benefits available under the scheme," Deepa Raj said.

As per the official figures of the Samgra Shikha Jammu and Kashmir, available with the Rising Kashmir, the Samgra Shikha Jammu and Kashmir is presently running 1,723 seasonal schools in the 16 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

In Kashmir division, 162 seasonal schools are functional in the Anantnag district, where 2, 806 students are pursuing their education; in Ganderbal district, 68 centres are functional, where 1,022 are enrolled; in Budgam district, 66 centres are functional, where 1628 students are getting their education; and in Kulgam district, 97 centres are functional, where 3,625 students are enrolled.

Similarly, in the Shopian district, 74 centres are functional, where 1,442 students are enrolled; in Baramulla district, 69 seasonal schools are functional, where 946 students are enrolled; in Pulwama district, 69 centres are functional, where 1,619 students are enrolled; in Bandipora district, 41 centres are presently functional, where 680 students are enrolled; and in Kupwara district, 43 seasonal schools are functional, where 1,250 students are enrolled.

In Jammu division, Reasi is one of the districts where 314 seasonal centres are presently functional in which 5,420 students are enrolled; in Doda district, 158 seasonal schools are functional where 2,242 students are enrolled; in Poonch district, 256 seasonal schools are functional where 4,769 students are enrolled; 123 seasonal centres are functional in the Kishtwar district where 2,583 students are enrolled; and one season school is functional in the Samba district where 14 students are enrolled.

Similarly, in the Rajouri district, 118 seasonal schools are functional, where 2,354 students are presently pursuing their education, and 64 seasonal centres are functional in the Ramban district, where 1,420 students are enrolled in these seasonal schools.