Jammu
The Tribal Affairs Department (TAD) of Jammu and Kashmir has approved the modernisation of as many as 120 schools in tribal areas in an endeavour to promote quality education.
This will be in addition to the modernization of more than 100 schools in Phase-1 that was completed in April 2022 at a cost of Rs 20 crore.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had in November 2021 launched the TAD initiative to modernise more than 200 schools in two phases at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore..
Secretary, TAD, Dr Shahi Iqbal Choudhary informed that education of tribal students has been emphasised as a top priority and a special budget has been earmarked under the Tribal Education Plan (TEP), introduced for the first time by the department last year.
It included enhancement in scholarship, establishment of new hostels, resumption of work on languishing hostels which lacked funding and administrative approval, coaching for UPSC Civil Services Examination, NEET & JEE, modern infrastructure, IT equipment and other measures.
The new approval has been accorded under two different categories. In 48 schools, a budget of Rs 20 lakh each has been approved for providing required infrastructure including Teaching-Learning Material (TLM), furniture, uniform, sports equipment, repairs and other basic facilities including toilets. In another 72 schools, one Smart Classroom each has been approved. It includes smart boards, furniture, books and other required material.
The 48 schools approved for modernisation include 4 in Udhampur, 3 in Reasi, 1 in Anantnag, 3 Ganderbal, 2 in Jammu, 3 in Budgam, 9 in Poonch, 3 in Kishtwar, 4 in Kupwara, 3 in Doda, 4 in Bandipora, 1 in Baramulla, 1 in Kathua, 1 in Samba, 2 in Srinagar and 3 in Rajouri.
The Smart Classrooms approved under the initiative for 72 schools include 10 in Poonch, 15 in Rajouri, 5 in Kupwara, 5 in Bandipora, 3 in Ramban, 3 in Reasi, 3 in Kathua, 2 in Samba, 5 in Ganderbal, 2 in Budgam, 5 Anantnag, 3 in Baramulla, 2 in Shopian, 2 in Pulwama and 2 in Kulgam, and 4 in Udhampur.
The Tribal Research Institute (TRI) established in August 2021 as a pioneer in Research and Development for tribal welfare has been entrusted with capacity building programmes for the teachers of model tribal schools in coordination with the School Education Department at the district level.
Proposals have also been sought from Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban and Anantnag districts for coverage of schools in tribal areas. An amount of Rs 12 crore has been released for the purpose, the TAD stated.
