Pulwama, Dec 07: The approval for the establishment of two Kendriya Vidyalayas in Pampore constituency of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district has brought joy to local residents.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved three Kendriya Vidyalayas for Kashmir. Of these, two will be set up in Pampore—one in Ratnipora and another in Galander (Chandhara). The third school will be established in Drugmullah, Kupwara district.
Ten Kendriya Vidyalayas have also been sanctioned for the Jammu division.
The announcement has particularly delighted the residents of Ratnipora, a village approximately six kilometers from Pulwama’s district headquarters and situated along the Srinagar-Pulwama highway.
Bashir Ahmad, a senior resident of Ratnipora, expressed his gratitude, calling it the fulfillment of a long-standing demand.
“The Kendriya Vidyalayas are known for providing quality education. Setting one up in Ratnipora will address the educational needs of the surrounding areas. Children will now have access to top-notch education without having to travel far,” he said.
The residents of Ratnipora collectively conveyed their appreciation to the Prime Minister and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration for prioritizing their village for the establishment of a Kendriya Vidyalaya.
MLA Pampore, Hasnain Masoodi, hailed the decision as a significant step towards improving education infrastructure in the constituency.
“Of the 13 Kendriya Vidyalayas sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir, three are in Kashmir. Two of these will come up in Pampore constituency and one in Kupwara. This is a commendable initiative to increase access to quality education,” he said while talking to the media in Pampore.
He also thanked the Prime Minister for approving the two schools and expressed optimism that land allocation and construction work would begin without delays.
However, the announcement has also raised concerns in other parts of the district.
Dr Harbaksh Singh, a DDC member, told the media that while the decision is commendable, the hilly area of Tral has been neglected.
“Tral is home to many students who face significant challenges in accessing quality education. There is no CBSE-affiliated school in the region. While we welcome the new schools, we urge the administration to ensure that Tral is not left behind,” he said.
