Jammu, June 26
When the Kashmiri pandits bid a tearful adieu to their homeland in 1989, they knew little what the fate of their wards was destined to be. Forced to abandon their homes, the displaced pandits could only hope for a miracle to guard and secure the future of their children. The miracle never happened. Eleven years down the lane the community, once famous for its intellectual skills, is finding itself helpless with regard to the education of its youth, who face a dark future.
The wards of migrants have no place in the mainstream educational system.
Perhaps at the time of the exodus, it was not feasible for the state government to accommodate these children in the regular stream functioning in schools and colleges of Jammu. These children are already running behind the schedule, in that they wasted three to four academic years until the state government made available a separate set of so-called educational institutions for them in the name of camp schools and camp colleges. Today the children of displaced pandits housed in the camps at Nagrota, Mishriwala, Muthi, Purkhoo (in Jammu) and Battal Ballian (in Udhampur) go to these camp schools and colleges. Where the schools accommodate children up to the age of 5 to 17 years, the colleges are meant for those above 17
Most camp schools are run in the migrant camp areas and are reportedly doing “just well.” The problem arises when they have to get admission in colleges. Informed an official, “After passing out of the 10+2 summer schedule, the students have to wait for some months to get admission into colleges, follow the winter schedule on account of their affiliation to Kashmir University.” Talking to The Tribune, Mr Shadi Lal, president, Nagrota camp area, explained, “The schools are doing fairly well. The actual problem arises when these children finish their schooling and are ready for higher education.”
The state government has provided three camp colleges which are run at a separate time in various government colleges. The two camp colleges being run at Jammu are Government Gandhi Memorial Science Camp College and Maulana Azad Memorial Camp College. The third is being run at Udhampur. The timings of these colleges are between 2.30 pm and 5 p.m. Informs Mrs
Usha, who teaches at one of these colleges, “Within this allotted two-and-a-half hours time, we have to teach five subjects. You can well imagine the quality of education being imparted.”
Not just that, all camp colleges are reportedly suffering from a major staff crunch. Informed another instructor, “At the time of migration, there were about 360 teachers working in these colleges. Now the strength has fallen down by more than double. I don’t think these colleges have more than 65 teachers.” Reason being that the state government has still not filled the vacancies created due to the retirement of teachers over the past 10 years.
While students of the arts stream make do somehow, those studying science find themselves helpless. Anil Kumar, a resident of Muthi camp, is studying non-medical at one of these camp colleges. He informed The Tribune that the colleges hardly had any laboratory facilities. “The labs are closed after the regular morning college is over. Also sometimes we have a single teacher for several subjects.” The same concern was voiced by Pooja Tikoo who is studying BA. Fancy Dhar, another science student, feels that there is no future for her. “This is a mere eyewash. What is the use of education which cannot give me a job tomorrow?” she questions.
While children studying in these colleges see no hope in the future, those who have already passed out are a depressed lot. Mr Chaman Lal, president, Muthi migrant camp, shared some concerns with The Tribune. He said, “There is 100 per cent unemployment rate among our children. We have thousands of youth having degrees or diplomas sitting idle. I will not be surprised if one day they also take to arms in a state of depression. They are already being led astray.”
Many students who have passed out of these colleges told The Tribune that they had lost interest in life. One such unemployed youth living in the Mishriwala camp has made three attempts on his life, but has been saved by his family and friends. There is also rising incidence of alcoholism among the wards of Kashmiri pandits. As per a 1999 survey conducted by Young India, a UNICEF-sponsored NGO: More than two youth in every displaced family drink.”
Statistics on migrant wards’ education
(Figures in percentage)
|
School
going children |
| |
Male |
Female |
| (5to17years) |
95.4 |
94.7 |
Number of
school dropouts |
| |
4.3 |
5.3 |
| Unemployed
youth (18to35years) |
|
67 |
33 |
(Source: Young India survey report, 1999. The figures must have increased
by now.)
