Nearly After 7 Months, Schools In Kashmir To Reopen Today

Schools in Kashmir are scheduled to reopen today after remaining shut for nearly seven months following the abrogation of Article 370. Officials of the Jammu and Kashmir education department said all arrangements had been put in place for the students to attend schools. Kashmir School Education Director Mohammad Younis Malik said all arrangements had been put in place and the timing for the schools falling within Srinagar's municipal limits will be 10am-3pm, while in the rest of Kashmir division, the timing will be 10.30am-3.30pm.

The director urged the teachers to work with dedication for building capacities of the students for their better future.

"It's our responsibility to extend our support to them and redouble efforts to get their syllabus completed well in time," the director said.

Meanwhile, the Army launched a special operation called "Mission Reach Out" to provide assistance to the people and ensure peace in the newly created Union Territory.

The mission, thus, became an addition to the multifarious activities carried out by the Army in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three decades to win over the hearts and minds of the residents and wean away from the youth from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, an army officer said.

Jammu-based Army PRO Lt Col Devender Anand said the Army has continued with its pro-people activities under operation 'Sadbhavana' (goodwill) despite the challenging situation. He said the activities were intensified when "Mission Reach Out" was launched after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.

New Delhi on August 5 announced abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and decided to bifurcate the state into Union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - hours after Kashmir was placed under a total clampdown. The two Union territories came into existence on October 31.

(With Agency Inputs)