The shocking incident reported from Kishtwar, involving the alleged sexual assault of a minor schoolgirl by a teacher and her subsequent death, has deeply disturbed society. The accused has been arrested and the matter is under investigation. No doubt anger, condemnation and legal action is underway however, the incident should compel us to ask a deeper question: What is happening to the teacher–student relationship, and what can we do to restore the trust and dignity that once defined it? When I recall my school days, I remember a very different relationship between teachers and students. Many of our teachers were considerably older than us, some close to retirement. We looked at them almost as parents, and they often looked upon us as their own children. There was a natural distance between teacher and student, but that distance was accompanied by respect, discipline, affection and responsibility. We were afraid of our teachers—not necessarily because they were harsh, but because we regarded them as figures of authority and guidance. We could hardly imagine talking to them casually, let alone crossing the boundaries of the teacher–student relationship. But today?
The distance has narrowed considerably. Teachers are more accessible, students are more socially confident, and smartphones and social media have created continuous channels of communication. Accessibility itself is not wrong. A friendly teacher can be an excellent teacher, and technology can improve learning. But when accessibility turns into excessive familiarity and professional boundaries become unclear, vulnerabilities can emerge.
There may be no single explanation for such disturbing incidents. Several factors deserve examination. The erosion of professional boundaries is one concern. The traditional distance between teacher and student has weakened. Informal communication and personal interaction can sometimes blur the line between professional guidance and inappropriate involvement.
The digital environment is another factor that deserves attention. Social media cannot be blamed for sexual crimes; responsibility always belongs to the offender. However, private messaging and continuous online access can create opportunities for inappropriate communication, manipulation and grooming. Clear digital boundaries are therefore essential. Children today also encounter sexualised, violent and inappropriate material at an early age. Such exposure may influence attitudes and perceptions, although it can never excuse criminal behaviour. The power imbalance between a teacher and a student is another important consideration. A teacher possesses authority over a student. A child may fear questioning or reporting inappropriate behaviour because of marks, reputation, punishment or disbelief. Changing cultural influences also deserve reflection. Globalisation has brought many positive changes, but it has also exposed younger generations to rapidly changing lifestyles, relationship patterns and social norms. In the process, some traditional values—respect for elders, responsibility, modesty and the moral distance traditionally maintained between teachers and students—may be weakening.

“The ideal teacher balances accessibility with professional boundaries, earning student trust through authority tempered with compassion. In light of the Kishtwar tragedy, society must treat the entrustment of children to schools as sacred, using the incident to overhaul child-protection systems, digital culture, and professional ethics.”

The concern is not Western culture itself, nor should modern values be rejected wholesale. The concern arises when new social behaviours are adopted without an equally strong understanding of responsibility, consent and boundaries. Modernity should broaden our minds, not weaken our moral responsibility. Silence and weak safeguarding can further aggravate the problem. Children may remain silent because of fear, shame or social stigma. If schools lack trusted and confidential reporting mechanisms, warning signs can remain hidden until serious harm occurs. The responsibility cannot be placed on one group alone. Teachers must maintain professional boundaries and understand that a child’s trust is never something to be exploited.
Parents must create an environment in which children can speak freely about uncomfortable experiences without fear of blame. Schools must establish effective child-protection mechanisms, clear rules for teacher–student communication and prompt procedures for handling complaints.Education authorities must ensure proper verification, professional ethics, safeguarding training and accountability. Society must stop treating abuse as a matter of family honour or embarrassment. Silence can protect the wrong person. Students must also receive age-appropriate education about personal boundaries, safe and unsafe behaviour, digital safety and how to seek help. We do not need to bring back the fear-based education of the past. We need to restore the respect, dignity, responsibility and moral boundaries that made the teacher–student relationship special.
Teachers should receive regular training in child protection, professional ethics and responsible digital communication. Schools should establish confidential reporting mechanisms that students can trust. Parents and schools should jointly educate children about personal boundaries, inappropriate behaviour and online safety. Our cultural values should also be strengthened through education that promotes dignity, respect, responsibility, empathy and self-restraint. Most importantly, complaints and warning signs involving children must never be ignored because the accused person is influential, senior or respected.
The purpose should not be to recreate classrooms where children are afraid of teachers. It should be to recover the respect and moral distance that once existed while retaining the positive qualities of today’s education—friendliness, accessibility and technology.
The ideal teacher should be approachable enough for a child to seek help, but professional enough never to misuse that trust. The ideal relationship is therefore neither fear nor excessive familiarity. It is trust with boundaries, affection with responsibility, accessibility with professionalism and authority with compassion. The Kishtwar tragedy should not end with outrage alone. It should become an opportunity to examine our schools, our digital culture, our changing social values, our professional ethics and our child-protection systems. When parents send a child to school, they are not merely sending them to acquire knowledge. They are entrusting a part of their world to the school and its teachers. That trust must remain sacred.
(The author is a teacher and Environmental Science researcher pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)

aqibiqbal192@gmail.com

Naik Mansoor, a dedicated journalist known for his commitment to authentic, ethical and responsible journalism, has been elected President of the Breng Journalist Association, Kokernag, following the election held on 27 June 2026. His election marks an important milestone not only in his professional career but also in the journey of journalism in the Breng-Kokernag area. Naik Mansoor holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and has completed a one-year Diploma in Journalism. He entered the field of journalism in 2021 and, over the years, has established himself as a committed media professional through his field reporting, public interaction and focus on authentic news. Since the beginning of his journalistic career, Mr. Naik has worked with dedication to highlight genuine public issues, local developments, social concerns and achievements. His approach to journalism has been guided by the principles of truth, verification, fairness, responsibility and public interest. His professional contribution has earned him recognition at various levels. He has received district and tehsil-level recognition, along with national-level awards, for his work in journalism. He has also received an international award for ethical journalism, a recognition that highlights the importance of integrity and professional ethics in his journalistic journey.
A Journey Built On Credibility: Journalism is not merely the transmission of information. It is a responsibility to society. A responsible journalist must verify facts, avoid misinformation, respect the dignity of individuals and communities, and ensure that public-interest issues receive appropriate attention. Mr. Naik’s professional journey since 2021 reflects an effort to uphold these fundamental principles. His recognition for ethical journalism is particularly significant at a time when the media landscape is changing rapidly and information reaches the public within seconds. In such an environment, accuracy, credibility and responsible reporting remain the foundations of meaningful journalism.
New Responsibility As President: The election of Mansoor Ahmad Naik as President of the Breng Journalist Association, Kokernag, on 27 June 2026, has placed a new responsibility on his shoulders. As President, he is expected to contribute towards strengthening professional cooperation among journalists, encouraging ethical reporting, promoting authentic journalism and creating opportunities for professional development within the local media fraternity. The Breng Journalist Association can play an important role in bringing journalists together on a common platform and promoting responsible journalism in the region. Leadership of a journalists’ association is not merely a position. It is a responsibility to represent the interests of fellow journalists while maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct. Naik’s experience in the field, together with the recognition he has received during his journalistic career, provides him with a strong foundation to undertake this responsibility.
Giving Voice To The Local Community: Local journalism has a unique role in a democratic society. Journalists working at the grassroots level are often the first to witness the challenges faced by ordinary people and the first to document developments taking place in their communities. The Breng-Kokernag region has a rich social, cultural and natural heritage, along with diverse developmental and public-interest issues. Responsible local journalism can bring these issues to the attention of the concerned authorities and the wider public while also highlighting the achievements, talent and positive initiatives emerging from the area. Through his continued work in journalism, Mr. Naik has contributed to this important role of connecting communities with the wider information ecosystem.
“The true power of the press isn’t just delivering a play-by-play of yesterday’s news—it’s cutting through the noise to answer the one question that truly matters: Why should society care?”
Association With News Nation 81: At present Mansoor Ahmad Naik is working with News Nation 81, continuing his professional responsibilities as a journalist. His association with the media platform provides him with an opportunity to further expand his journalistic work and bring important local developments and public-interest stories before a wider audience. In the modern media environment, journalists are required to combine traditional journalistic values with new technologies, faster communication and evolving methods of news gathering. For a journalist who began his professional journey in 2021, continued learning, professional development and adaptation to the changing media landscape will remain essential.
A Message For Young Journalists: Naik’s journey also carries an important message for young and aspiring journalists. Professional success in journalism cannot be built merely on publicity. It is built through credibility, consistency, courage, discipline and ethical conduct. A journalist may report hundreds of stories, but the real achievement is to earn the trust of readers, viewers and the community. The recognition received by Naik at different levels demonstrates that dedication to the profession can eventually bring meaningful recognition. His journey from entering journalism in 2021 to becoming President of the Breng Journalist Association in 2026 is therefore an example of professional growth through perseverance and commitment.
Looking Ahead: With his election as President Mansoor Ahmad Naik enters a new phase of professional responsibility. The expectations from him will be higher, and the challenges before the association will also require collective effort. Strengthening unity among journalists, encouraging factual reporting, promoting professional ethics and giving appropriate space to genuine public concerns can become important priorities. The true strength of journalism lies not merely in its ability to report what has happened, but in its ability to help society understand what matters. As President of the Breng Journalist Association, Naik has an opportunity to contribute towards building a stronger, more credible and professionally responsible journalistic community in Kokernag. His journey so far reflects commitment, recognition and perseverance. The new responsibility entrusted to him now calls for leadership, integrity and service. It is hoped that his tenure will contribute positively towards strengthening journalism in the Breng-Kokernag area and encouraging a culture where truth is respected, facts are verified, public interest is protected and journalism remains accountable to society.
About Mansoor Ahmad Naik:
Name: Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Naik
Qualification: BA; One-Year Diploma in Journalism
Journalism Career: Since 2021
Current Media Association: News Nation 81
Professional Recognition: International Award for Ethical Journalism; National-Level Awards; District and Tehsil-Level Recognition
Current Position: President, Breng Journalist Association, Kokernag, Elected On: 27 June 2026.
(The author is a freelancer. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
@malikmj111@gmail.com

“True administrative leadership is defined not by official titles, but by serving ordinary citizens and students so that they feel heard, valued, and genuinely cared for by those in authority.”

Perhaps this is what makes her achievement more meaningful. The IAS recognition is not merely a new designation. It represents the continuation of a professional journey and the beginning of a larger responsibility. The higher the position, the greater the expectations. The wider the authority, the greater the responsibility toward people. An officer may have the power to sign an order, but the true measure of that officer is what happens to the people affected by that order. This is where the human side of administration matters most. People do not approach an officer simply with papers. They approach with expectations. A teacher may bring a service concern after years of work. A parent may come with the future of a child in mind.
An athlete may come with years of sacrifice behind a simple request. An employee may approach after spending a significant part of life waiting for stability. These stories rarely fit into the language of official documents, but they are the realities that make public service meaningful. A good administrator understands that behind every file there may be a human being, behind every application there may be a family and behind every request there may be a story that has taken years to reach the office. This understanding does not weaken administration. It strengthens it. It makes decisions more thoughtful, institutions more humane and public service more trustworthy.
Respect cannot be created by designation alone. A designation provides authority, but conduct creates credibility. An officer may command attention because of a position, but people remember an officer because of how they were treated. They remember whether someone listened without making them feel insignificant. They remember whether a genuine concern was examined seriously. They remember whether an officer remained professional when the matter was difficult. They remember whether words were followed by action. These memories form the real legacy of an administrator.
Ms. Anuradha Gupta’s professional journey deserves recognition precisely because it represents this larger understanding of leadership. Her movement toward the Indian Administrative Service is a proud moment for her, but it is also a moment of pride for those who have worked alongside her and witnessed her responsibilities. It represents the culmination of years of professional experience and the beginning of an even greater chapter of public service.
Ma’am, your achievement deserves heartfelt congratulations, but it also deserves sincere respect for the journey behind it. The responsibilities you have carried have required professionalism, patience and courage. Your new responsibility will demand even more. May the experience you have gained continue to guide you, may your integrity remain your greatest strength and may your commitment to public service continue to define your work.
As you enter this new chapter, may you always remain connected with the realities of the people you serve. May you remember the teacher on the school playground, the coach working quietly behind the scenes, the athlete training despite limited resources, the student searching for an opportunity and the ordinary citizen who approaches administration with nothing except hope. The most powerful legacy an officer can leave is not a title. It is the feeling among ordinary people that their concerns mattered and that someone in authority genuinely cared about doing the right thing.
Your journey from JKAS to the Indian Administrative Service is a remarkable achievement. It deserves to be celebrated with pride, gratitude and sincere good wishes. May your new role bring greater opportunities to serve Jammu and Kashmir, greater strength to carry greater responsibilities and greater satisfaction from knowing that your work can influence lives in ways that may never appear in an official record. Heartiest congratulations, Ma’am, on this proud and well-deserved milestone. May you continue to lead with integrity, work with commitment, listen with patience and serve with humanity? May you rise to even greater responsibilities while remaining grounded in the values that brought you here? And may you always be remembered not simply as an accomplished officer who reached a higher position, but as a leader whose professionalism earned respect, whose conduct inspired confidence and whose service left a lasting mark on the people and institutions she was entrusted to serve.
(The author a teacher by profession is a freelancer. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
jaanaftaab5@gmail.com

In a world where information is available instantly at the tap of a screen and artificial intelligence can answer almost any factual question within seconds the traditional role of a teacher as a mere dispenser of knowledge has become outdated Today’s hyperconnected fast paced, and often overwhelming world exposes students to unprecedented levels of psychological pressure social isolation and uncertainty about the future. Consequently, what students need is not simply an instructor who imparts information but a trusted mentor compassionate guide and steady human anchor. The modern educational landscape demands that every educator embody the following dimensions.
1. Responding To The Mental Health And Isolation Crisis: Modern students live under constant pressure from social media comparisons and academic competition to loneliness and anxiety. Traditional support systems have weakened leaving many young people to navigate these challenges alone.
When students feel overwhelmed meaningful learning becomes difficult. The brain prioritizes survival over curiosity. A teacher who offers emotional security believes in every student’s potential and creates an environment where questions are welcomed provides more than education he provides refuge. In a world quick to judge the classroom must become a place where vulnerability is met with understanding and curiosity is rewarded rather than feared.
2. From Delivering Information to Cultivating Character: Knowledge has become abundant wisdom remains scarce. The defining challenge of our age is no longer acquiring information but using it responsibly ethically and compassionately. Algorithms can retrieve facts but they cannot cultivate integrity empathy resilience or moral judgment. A true educator moves beyond the syllabus to prepare students for life itself. By nurturing intellectual emotional social and ethical growth teachers help shape not only capable professionals but responsible citizens and compassionate human beings.

“While AI can deliver information, it cannot replicate human empathy, character development, or personal inspiration. Consequently, modern teachers serve as mentors, protectors, and guides who instill confidence and wisdom rather than merely imparting facts.”

3. Preparing Students For An Unpredictable Future: The careers technologies,and challenges of tomorrow are evolving faster than educational curricula can adapt. Many of the professions today’s students will enter do not yet exist. Success in such a world depends less on memorized knowledge than on adaptability creativity resilience and self belief. Great educators teach students how to learn unlearn and relearn. They encourage them to dream boldly discover their unique strengths embrace failure as a stepping stone and develop the confidence to navigate uncertainty with courage and purpose.
4. The Generational Mirror| Teaching Through Empathy: The widening gap between generations often leads adults to dismiss young people’s struggles as exaggeration or weakness. Exceptional teachers resist that temptation. They remember their own fears insecurities and aspirations allowing empathy to replace judgment. At the same time they see beyond the student’s present circumstances to the person they may one day become. They nurture potential long before it becomes visible offering encouragement until confidence takes root.
Conclusion: The future of education will not be defined by those who merely deliver information but by those who inspire transformation. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly proficient at providing answers the uniquely human qualities of a teacher become even more indispensable. Technology can inform the mind but it cannot replace compassion. It can process information but it cannot build character. It can generate explanations but it cannot inspire hope restore confidence or believe in a child before the child believes in himself The teacher of the twenty-first century is therefore not simply an instructor but a mentor guide role model protector and architect of human potential. In an age overflowing with information the greatest gift an educator can offer is not more knowledgeit is wisdom humanity and the courage to help every student discover the best version of themselves.
(The author is a teacher and President Jammu and Kashmir General Line Teachers Forum. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
emanayan119@ gmail.com

Mohammad Irfan

 Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent visits to Rajouri and Kathua have offered a window into the administration’s larger pitch for the Union Territory: development must reach the last household, border communities must become active partners in national growth, and the fight against terrorism, narco-terrorism, substance abuse and corruption cannot be left to security agencies alone. The message came through two separate engagements spread over August 20 and 21. In Dharpur, Sunderbani, in Rajouri district, LG Sinha laid the foundation stone of the Amriteshwar Sarovar under the Jan Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative and linked the project with community participation, spirituality and social responsibility. A day earlier, in Karol Krishna, a border village in Kathua district, he spoke at length about the transformation of villages located along the international border, describing them not as the “last villages” of India but as the country’s “first villages”—places where development, national security and the aspirations of ordinary families intersect.

A Sarovar, A Temple And A Larger Social Message: At Dharpur, Sunderbani, the Lieutenant Governor laid the foundation stone of the Amriteshwar Sarovar, a project being taken up under the Jan Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative. Before addressing the gathering, he paid obeisance at the Shri Amriteshwar Shiv Temple and prayed for peace, prosperity and the well-being of people. The setting was significant to the message he delivered. Rather than presenting the project merely as an infrastructure initiative, Sinha placed it within a wider framework of community ownership and social participation. He commended the local community as well as the Shri Amriteshwar Shiv Mandir Vikas Samiti for their collective efforts in establishing and developing the sacred site. The Lieutenant Governor used the occasion to argue that social cohesion has a role that goes well beyond religious or cultural activities. In his view, communities that remain united and alert are better positioned to confront challenges ranging from terrorism and drug abuse to corruption, while also contributing to economic development.

Why Community Participation Matters:  Sinha’s remarks in Sunderbani put particular emphasis on the idea that security and development cannot be treated as responsibilities belonging exclusively to the government. He highlighted what he described as the vital role of community solidarity in eliminating terrorism, substance abuse and corruption and in creating conditions for economic development and what he called a spiritual renaissance in Jammu and Kashmir. “India is going through a great spiritual revival. This cultural wave is felt across Jammu Kashmir, bringing people closer together and strengthening our community bonds,” he said. The argument reflects an increasingly prominent strand in the administration’s messaging: that social institutions, local communities and civil society have a role in strengthening resilience against extremist networks and social problems. The Lieutenant Governor urged people to remain vigilant against what he described as the “nefarious designs” of anti-national elements, report suspicious activities and isolate those who support terrorism.

‘Security Forces Alone Cannot Defeat Terrorism’: One of the strongest points in Sinha’s Sunderbani address was his assertion that terrorism cannot be defeated through security operations alone. “Security forces alone cannot defeat terrorism,” he said, calling for a “whole-of-society approach” involving residents alongside police and security agencies. He specifically referred to the need for collective efforts to dismantle the financial and logistical networks associated with narco-terrorism. His remarks come against the backdrop of the administration’s continued emphasis on the link between drugs, illicit financing and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor said the combined efforts of the Army, security forces, J&K Police, civil administration and residents had contributed to a significant degradation of terrorism and a transformation of the region’s security landscape. He also invoked the changing public environment around the national flag. It was once predicted, he said, that the Tricolour would find no willing hands to carry it in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, he said, it is being held high with pride by people across the region. The statement sought to underline the administration’s argument that a shift in public participation and sentiment is as important to the security landscape as operations conducted by forces on the ground.

From security To Spirituality: The Sunderbani event also carried a distinctly cultural and spiritual dimension. By placing the Amriteshwar Sarovar project alongside the temple visit and the community’s role in developing the site, the Lieutenant Governor presented cultural spaces as potential platforms for social cohesion. The emphasis on spirituality was not presented separately from development. Instead, Sinha linked the two, arguing that stronger community bonds can contribute to a wider social transformation. The idea is particularly relevant in areas where local institutions, religious sites and community organisations often become focal points for collective activity. The administration’s challenge, however, remains to ensure that such initiatives translate into broad-based public participation and tangible benefits for residents beyond the immediate project.

‘Development And Security Are Not Separate’: The Lieutenant Governor argued that development and security should not be viewed as separate objectives. “Development and security are not separate goals but they are two pillars of the same goal,” he said. The logic is straightforward: a village with reliable roads, communications, healthcare, education and employment has greater capacity to retain its population and withstand external pressures. At the same time, a secure environment is essential for investment, tourism, education and economic activity. Sinha therefore described the two as mutually reinforcing, saying only a secure village can become prosperous and only prosperous villages can contribute to a self-reliant India.

The bunker And The Border Family: Security infrastructure remains a visible part of life along the border. During the Kathua visit, Sinha said more than 2,000 individual and community bunkers had been constructed for the safety of border families. For residents living close to areas vulnerable to cross-border firing, bunkers are not abstract infrastructure. They are part of everyday survival and a reminder that development in these villages takes place under a different set of security realities than in much of the country. The challenge for policymakers is therefore to ensure that security infrastructure develops alongside ordinary civilian infrastructure. A family needs protection during a security emergency, but it also needs a school, healthcare centre, reliable electricity, connectivity and a livelihood when there is no emergency.

Meeting The Soldiers At The Frontline: The Lieutenant Governor also visited the Karol Krishna Border Out Post and interacted with BSF personnel deployed there. He commended the jawans for their commitment to securing the nation’s borders and their service during Operation Sindoor. Sinha stressed the importance of continued vigilance to disrupt and neutralise hostile attempts by the enemy. The visit to the BOP reinforced the central theme of the Kathuaprogramme: border security does not exist in isolation from border communities. The soldier stands at the frontline, but behind that frontline are families, villages, schools, roads and local economies.

The Political Geography Of Border Development: The villages covered under the Vibrant Villages Programme occupy a strategic position in Jammu and Kashmir’s geography. For decades, the border belt has frequently been viewed through the narrow lens of security. The policy shift represented by the Vibrant Villages Programme seeks to widen that lens. Instead of seeing residents primarily as populations requiring protection, the programme seeks to position them as participants in development and as stakeholders in national security. That change in approach is politically significant as well as economically important. When Sinha called these settlements India’s “first villages”, he was effectively reframing their geographic disadvantage as strategic importance.

A Message To The Next Generation: The Lieutenant Governor directly addressed young people from Karol Krishna and neighbouring villages, telling them that their generation now has resources and opportunities that were not available to their ancestors. He said their predecessors had held on to the land through difficult decades after Independence and that the responsibility had now shifted to the younger generation to take the villages forward. The question, he suggested, was no longer whether development would reach these villages but what their residents would do with the opportunities available to them. Would Karol Krishna remain known simply as a border village, he asked, or would it become known as a border village producing some of the country’s finest young people? That is perhaps the most ambitious part of the administration’s message.

From Beneficiaries To Participants: Both the Rajouri and Kathua engagements placed people at the centre of the government’s narrative. In Sunderbani, community members and the Shri Amriteshwar Shiv Mandir Vikas Samiti were praised for taking an active role in developing the site. In Kathua, residents of border villages were asked to become participants in shaping their economic future. The common thread is the idea of public participation. Government schemes can provide funding, infrastructure and institutional support, but the administration is increasingly presenting local communities as partners who must help determine how those resources are used.

Grievances Remain Part Of The Equation: While the speeches focused heavily on development and national security, local grievances were also acknowledged. During both engagements, the Lieutenant Governor assured residents that their demands and infrastructure-related issues would receive attention and that sincere efforts would be made to address public concerns. Such assurances are important because the success of large development programmes is ultimately judged at the local level. A new road matters only if it reduces travel time. A telecom tower matters if residents can actually access reliable services. A self-help group matters if women can sell their products. A school upgrade matters if students receive better learning outcomes. The gap between official announcements and lived experience remains the real test.

“Strong action has been taken with surgical firmness against the terror ecosystem and the conflict entrepreneurs who were working to keep terrorism alive in Jammu and Kashmir,” the LG Sinha said…..”

A Larger Transformation Story: Taken together, Sinha’s visits to Rajouri and Kathua point towards a broader narrative the administration is attempting to establish for Jammu and Kashmir.

One part of that narrative is about the security environment and the claim that terrorism has been significantly weakened through sustained operations and greater public cooperation. The second is about economic and social development, particularly in areas that have historically remained distant from major growth centres. The third is about changing the relationship between the state and local communities—from one in which people are primarily recipients of government programmes to one in which they are expected to become active partners. The fourth is cultural, with spirituality, community institutions and social cohesion being presented as elements of a broader revival. What happens after the foundation stones? The real measure of these initiatives will come after the ceremonies. For the Amriteshwar Sarovar, the challenge will be completing the project and ensuring that it becomes a meaningful public and community asset. For the Vibrant Villages Programme, the challenge is considerably larger: sustaining employment, reducing migration, improving education and healthcare, connecting producers to markets and ensuring that security infrastructure keeps pace with evolving threats. The administration has laid out an ambitious vision. Its success will depend on implementation at the village level.

Kashmir Horizon View: Jammu and Kashmir’s border villages occupy a unique space in India’s development story. They are geographically distant from major urban centres but strategically close to the country’s most sensitive frontiers. That dual reality means development cannot be approached in the same way as in ordinary rural areas. Roads and electricity are necessary, but not sufficient. Young people need jobs. Women need markets for their enterprises. Farmers need reliable buyers. Students need quality education. Families need healthcare. And communities need security. At the same time, the social fabric must remain strong enough to resist terrorism, drugs, corruption and attempts to exploit local vulnerabilities. That is why the two messages delivered by the Lieutenant Governor in Rajouri and Kathua converge at a larger point. The future of Jammu and Kashmir, as presented by the administration, is not simply a question of how much infrastructure is built or how many security operations are conducted. It is also about whether communities become stronger, whether young people find reasons to stay and succeed, whether women gain greater economic independence and whether residents of remote areas begin to see themselves not as people living at the edge of the country but as participants in its growth. In Dharpur, that message was expressed through a sarovar, a temple and a call for social solidarity. In Karol Krishna, it was expressed through roads, electricity, bunkers, self-help groups, schools and the presence of soldiers at the border. Different settings, but one underlying proposition: development and security are inseparable, and the people living closest to the challenges must also become central to the solution.

For Jammu and Kashmir, particularly its border belt, the next phase will be about turning that proposition into measurable change on the ground. And for villages such as Karol Krishna, the question now is not merely whether they will remain on India’s map. It is whether they can become examples of what the administration says a modern, secure and self-reliant border village should look like.

(“Team Kashmir Horizon” is committed to continuous improvement and invites feedback and suggestions from readers and its followers on social media sites. Reader insights are considered vital for enhancing content quality and empowering the community. The team encourages open communication and values the thoughts and ideas of its audience, believing that such input will enable them to serve the public more effectively. The initiative aims to ensure that readers have the best possible experience with “Kashmir Horizon”. Interested individuals can reach out to us via email at editor@thekashmirhorizon.com.)

Mohammad Irfan

India’s space story is entering a new phase, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with the founders and chief executives of 20 space startups has underscored where the government wants that journey to go next: beyond launches and satellites, towards a wider space economy that can attract global talent, investment and technology while solving problems on Earth. At Seva Teerth, Prime Minister Modi met entrepreneurs working across almost every emerging segment of the private space industry—from rockets, reusable launch vehicles and advanced propulsion to satellites, avionics, space intelligence, debris removal and artificial intelligence-driven weather and climate services. The meeting was significant not merely because of the number of companies represented, but because of the range of technologies being developed by Indian startups. The companies involved are building capabilities that only a few years ago were largely associated with government-led space programmes and large international corporations.

From Government Monopoly To Startup Opportunity: For decades, India’s space sector was dominated by public institutions, with the Indian Space Research Organisation at the centre of the country’s space programme. The opening of the sector to private participation changed that equation. The startup founders who met Modi recalled the decision to open the sector to private participation as a turning point that created new opportunities for entrepreneurs, engineers and investors. Their message was clear: the policy shift did not simply allow private companies to enter an existing industry. It created the possibility of an entirely new space ecosystem in India. For young companies, that meant an opportunity to develop rockets, satellites, propulsion systems, sensors, artificial intelligence applications and other technologies within the country. Many of the entrepreneurs told the Prime Minister that they had invested significant time and effort in developing capabilities and technologies indigenously. Their success also reflects the changing confidence around India’s ability to build complex space technologies through private enterprise.

The Entrepreneurs Behind The New Space Economy: The interaction brought together founders and CEOs of 20 companies working in different areas of the space economy. Among them were Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos, which are developing launch technologies; Pixxel and Dhruva Space, which are working on satellite capabilities; and Bellatrix Aerospace, focused on advanced propulsion. Other companies represented the newer frontiers of the industry. GalaxEye, PierSight and SatSure are working with space-based data and intelligence, while Digantara is developing capabilities linked to space situational awareness. Manastu Space is working on space debris-related technologies, while companies such as Suhora Technologies are developing satellite-data applications. The presence of companies working in AI, weather, climate intelligence, space debris, defence intelligence and other applications demonstrated how quickly the definition of the “space sector” is expanding. Space is no longer simply about sending a rocket into orbit. It is increasingly about collecting information, analysing it and converting it into services that can be used by governments, businesses, farmers, industries and ordinary citizens.

A Global Market Is Beginning To Open : One of the strongest signals emerging from the interaction was the growing international interest in technologies being developed by Indian space companies. The startup leaders highlighted interest from several countries and companies in adopting and leveraging technologies developed by India’s emerging private space industry. That development could prove important for India’s ambitions in the global space economy. The domestic market can provide startups with an initial base, but global customers are essential if Indian companies are to scale into major space businesses. The Prime Minister’s message appeared to recognise this opportunity. He said that many countries either cannot invest in the space sector or do not wish to make such investments. For India, he argued, this creates an opportunity to strengthen its position in the global space industry. The opportunity is not limited to launching Indian satellites. It extends to exporting technologies, services, data and expertise.

The World Looking For New Space Partners: The global space industry is undergoing its own transformation. The rise of private launch companies, satellite constellations, commercial Earth observation, space-based communications and new applications of artificial intelligence has created demand for companies capable of delivering specialised technologies at competitive costs. India enters this market with several advantages: an established scientific and engineering base, experience in cost-efficient space missions, a large technology workforce and a growing domestic startup ecosystem. The challenge is to convert these advantages into globally competitive companies. Modi’s interaction with startup founders reflected an attempt to position India not only as a country that uses space technology, but as a country capable of supplying it to the world. Modi’s Message|Think Beyond The Launchpad: Perhaps the most important part of the Prime Minister’s interaction was his call to startups to look beyond their existing applications. Modi encouraged space companies to explore wider uses of their technologies and ask a basic question: how can space technology make people’s lives easier? That question could shape the next phase of India’s space startup story. A satellite capable of capturing high-resolution images, for example, is not valuable only because it operates in orbit. Its real value may lie in helping farmers assess crops, governments monitor infrastructure, insurers evaluate damage or disaster agencies respond to floods and landslides. Similarly, weather and climate intelligence can become useful far beyond the scientific community if it reaches farmers, local administrations and businesses in an accessible form. Space debris may exist hundreds of kilometres above Earth, but the broader principle is similar to environmental management on the ground: prevention, monitoring, removal and responsible use of resources. As India’s space industry expands, its ability to address the sustainability of the orbital environment will become increasingly important.

AI And The New Space Economy: Artificial intelligence is also changing the nature of space technology. Among the startups participating in the interaction were companies working on AI-powered weather and climate intelligence. The combination of satellite data and AI can dramatically increase the amount of information that can be extracted from images and other observations. Instead of simply collecting data, companies can process it in near real time and generate insights for specific users. This could make space-based services more accessible to sectors that traditionally had little direct connection with the space industry. For India, the intersection of space and AI could become one of the most promising areas for future startups.

“India’s space startup ecosystem has generated considerable enthusiasm, but the next challenge is scale.Building a prototype is one thing. Developing a commercially viable product, obtaining customers, raising capital and competing internationally is another.”

India As A Global Space Hub: Prime Minister Modi called for the creation of an ecosystem in which the world begins to look towards India when it thinks of space. That ambition goes beyond launching missions. It involves attracting international companies, engineers, researchers, investors and entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister said India’s space sector could become a magnet for global talent, companies and investment. That would mark a significant evolution from India’s traditional role as a space technology user and service provider. A successful space hub requires more than rockets and launchpads. It needs universities, laboratories, suppliers, venture capital, skilled workers, regulatory support and international partnerships. It also requires companies capable of scaling. The presence of 20 startups at the Prime Minister’s interaction suggests that the foundation of such an ecosystem is already developing.

The Startup Challenge| Scaling Up: India’s space startup ecosystem has generated considerable enthusiasm, but the next challenge is scale. Building a prototype is one thing. Developing a commercially viable product, obtaining customers, raising capital and competing internationally is another. Space businesses are typically capital intensive and involve long development cycles. Launch vehicles, satellites and propulsion systems require extensive testing and regulatory clearances. Startups therefore need sustained access to capital and infrastructure. They also need predictable policies and opportunities to work with government agencies as anchor customers. The Government’s role in this ecosystem will increasingly be judged by whether companies can move smoothly from experimentation to commercial scale. Why private participation matters. The founders at the meeting credited the decision to open the space sector to private participation with creating multiple new opportunities. That policy shift has changed the culture around space entrepreneurship in India. Engineers who once might have considered careers only in established institutions can now build companies around specialised technologies. Investors can participate in a new high-technology sector. Universities can work more closely with startups. Manufacturers can become part of domestic supply chains. And Indian companies can seek customers outside the country. The result is a broader ecosystem in which space technology becomes an industry rather than an activity confined to a few institutions. A new generation needs to look at the stars. Prime Minister Modi also turned attention towards schools and young minds. He called for closer collaboration between space companies and Atal Tinkering Labs. The objective, he said, should be to nurture curiosity and interest in space among children from an early age. That may appear like a long-term investment, but it could prove critical. The space industry of the 2030s and 2040s will need scientists, engineers, programmers, designers, entrepreneurs and technicians. The talent pipeline for that industry must therefore begin much earlier. Atal Tinkering Labs can potentially provide school students with exposure to experimentation, robotics, electronics and problem-solving. If space startups begin engaging with these laboratories, students could get an opportunity to see how classroom concepts translate into real technologies.

Making Space Aspirational: India has already demonstrated that space can inspire millions of people. Major missions have generated public interest and encouraged young students to consider careers in science and engineering. The private space industry can add another dimension to that aspiration. Instead of students seeing space careers as limited to a handful of government organisations, they can now imagine becoming entrepreneurs, building satellites, designing propulsion systems or developing AI applications. That change in perception may ultimately prove as important as any single technological breakthrough.

A Meeting With A Larger Message: The interaction at Seva Teerth was therefore about more than a meeting between the Prime Minister and startup founders. It represented the government’s attempt to define the next stage of India’s space journey. The first phase was about establishing national capability. The next phase is increasingly about creating a commercial ecosystem. The phase after that could be about making India a global centre for space technology, services and talent. For that to happen, Indian startups will have to demonstrate that they can build world-class products, attract international customers and compete in a market where technology changes rapidly.

From Indian Capability To Global Leadership: The startup founders who met Modi are working across a remarkably broad technological spectrum. Rockets and launch systems remain important, but they are only one part of the picture. Satellites can monitor the Earth. AI can interpret the data. Weather platforms can help communities prepare for extreme events. Space intelligence can support security. Debris-removal technologies can protect the orbital environment. Together, these technologies represent a new space economy. India’s opportunity lies in connecting these capabilities to both domestic needs and global markets. The bigger opportunity is on Earth. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on applications for ordinary people may ultimately be the most important part of the government’s space strategy. The success of the private space sector cannot be measured only by the number of launches or satellites. It will also be measured by how many farmers receive better weather information, how effectively disasters are monitored, how infrastructure is mapped, how climate risks are understood and how new jobs are created. The space industry becomes truly transformative when technology developed for orbit begins improving life on the ground. That is the direction Modi’s interaction with the startup founders appeared to underline.

Kashmir Horizon View: India’s space startup ecosystem is still young, but the ambitions being articulated around it are already global. Twenty companies from different parts of the emerging industry sat across the table from the Prime Minister, representing a generation of entrepreneurs that has entered a field once considered too complex and capital-intensive for startups. Their presence is itself a sign of how much the sector has changed. The next challenge is to sustain that momentum. India will need investment, talent, research partnerships, manufacturing capacity, regulatory certainty and international market access. It will also need to ensure that the benefits of the space economy spread beyond the technology industry. If those pieces come together, India could move from being a major space-faring nation to becoming a major global space industry hub. That is the larger ambition emerging from the government’s engagement with private space companies: a future in which India does not merely reach space, but builds the technologies, businesses and human capital that make space work for the world.

 (“Team Kashmir Horizon” is committed to continuous improvement and invites feedback and suggestions from readers and its followers on social media sites. Reader insights are considered vital for enhancing content quality and empowering the community. The team encourages open communication and values the thoughts and ideas of its audience, believing that such input will enable them to serve the public more effectively. The initiative aims to ensure that readers have the best possible experience with “Kashmir Horizon”. Interested individuals can reach out to us via email at editor@thekashmirhorizon.com.)

.”From September 1, electricity consumers across Jammu and Kashmir will have to pay more for power after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a revised retail tariff for the Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited for 2026-27. The average increase of 6.83 per cent may be moderate compared with the much steeper hike that could have been imposed, but for households already dealing with rising living costs, another increase in monthly bills cannot be taken lightly. The revised tariff will remain in force from September 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. For metered domestic consumers, the energy charge has been fixed at ₹2.45 per unit for consumption up to 200 units, ₹4.20 for 201-400 units and ₹4.60 beyond 400 units. A fixed charge of ₹10 per kW per month will also apply. There is some relief in the retention of concessional rates for BPL households and small agricultural consumers. Eligible BPL consumers using up to 30 units a month will pay ₹1.40 per unit, while agricultural connections up to 20 HP will be charged ₹1.05 per unit. Protecting these categories is important because electricity is an essential requirement for poor households and farmers, not a discretionary expense. The bigger concern, however, lies beneath the tariff numbers. JERC has approved a combined Annual Revenue Requirement of ₹10,275.72 crore for JPDCL and KPDCL for 2026-27, while revenue under the revised tariff is projected at ₹7,854.94 crore. This leaves a gap of ₹2,420.78 crore to be met through government subsidy and grants. The Commission has said that recovering the entire revenue gap through tariffs alone would have required an increase of around 40 per cent. The 6.83 per cent hike is therefore considerably lower than what consumers might otherwise have faced. But the size of the gap also exposes the continuing financial challenge before the power distribution sector. If tariffs do not cover the cost of supplying electricity, the difference has to be funded by the Government. In practical terms, consumers may avoid paying the entire cost through their monthly bills, but taxpayers ultimately bear a substantial part of the burden. Government subsidy is justified when it protects vulnerable sections of society. It becomes a concern when it merely compensates for persistent inefficiencies in the power system. Jammu and Kashmir needs to move towards a model in which subsidies are targeted, transparent and financially sustainable rather than becoming a permanent substitute for better revenue collection and distribution efficiency. The revised tariff will also affect commercial consumers. Single-phase non-domestic users will pay ₹3.75 per unit up to 200 units and ₹5.70 thereafter, along with a fixed charge of ₹75 per kW per month. For small shops, workshops, restaurants and other establishments already facing higher operating costs, electricity is another financial pressure. Any increase in business costs can eventually have an impact on prices paid by consumers. This makes power tariff policy an issue beyond electricity bills. It can influence household budgets, the cost of doing business, agricultural production and even employment. The retention of concessional agricultural rates is therefore welcome. Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir already face uncertainties linked to weather, markets and input costs.

“Jammu and Kashmir’s latest 6.83% electricity tariff hike isn’t the main issue—the real threat is letting systemic revenue losses and grid inefficiencies run unchecked. Under the 2026–2029 Multi-Year Tariff frameworks, rate revisions must be tied to grid modernization, loss reduction, and clean energy growth. While subsidies safeguard vulnerable consumers, paying households deserve guaranteed reliability, accountability, and better service.”

Affordable electricity can support irrigation and agricultural equipment and help farmers adopt more productive practices. But concessional power must also be reliable. Cheap electricity has limited value if farmers continue to face interruptions and inadequate supply. The Government and distribution companies now need to make efficiency the central priority. Reducing technical and commercial losses should be at the heart of the reform process. Every unit of electricity that is purchased but not properly billed or collected eventually adds to the financial burden on the system. Better metering, modern distribution infrastructure, stronger action against power theft, improved billing and quicker grievance redressal can strengthen the finances of the utilities without repeatedly shifting the burden to paying consumers. Digital technologies can also help monitor consumption patterns and identify losses more effectively. Consumers are more likely to accept reasonable tariff revisions when they see improvements in the quality and reliability of electricity supply. A higher bill becomes difficult to justify when households continue to face outages, voltage fluctuations and delays in resolving complaints. Tariff reform and service improvement must therefore move together. JERC has also approved the Business Plan and Multi-Year Tariff framework for JPDCL and KPDCL for 2026-27 to 2028-29. This provides an opportunity to address the power sector through a longer-term strategy rather than treating every tariff revision as an isolated exercise. Jammu and Kashmir needs a power policy that brings together procurement costs, distribution losses, infrastructure modernisation, renewable energy, subsidies and consumer protection. The region has significant hydropower potential and is also looking towards renewable energy and electric mobility. The Green Power Tariff has been retained at ₹0.50 per kWh over the applicable tariff, but the transition to cleaner energy must be accompanied by stronger distribution networks and financial discipline. The latest hike is therefore not the biggest problem facing Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector. The bigger concern would be allowing the underlying revenue gap and distribution inefficiencies to continue year after year. A 6.83 per cent increase may be manageable for many consumers, while concessions for poorer households and agriculture offer some protection. But consumers should reasonably expect something in return: better reliability, stronger accountability and a serious effort to reduce system losses.

For generations, education in Kashmir was more than a route to a degree. It was a social contract. Families that could barely afford it invested their savings in tuition, books, coaching and university fees because education promised something larger than employment: dignity, mobility and the possibility of a more secure future. A government job, a professional qualification or even a respectable white-collar career was seen as the reward at the end of a long academic journey. That promise is now under strain. The latest assessment of school education presents a troubling picture. Jammu and Kashmir recorded a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 113.7 per cent at the primary level in 2024-25, but the figure falls to 77.3 per cent at upper-primary, 66.1 per cent at secondary and just 44.8 per cent at higher-secondary level. NITI Aayog’s assessment, based on UDISE+ data, places Jammu and Kashmir among the regions with the lowest higher-secondary GER in the country. The numbers do not, by themselves, prove that young Kashmiris have consciously rejected education. But they reveal a serious problem in the education pipeline: the system is increasingly struggling to carry students from the classroom of childhood to the classroom of opportunity. And that is where the real crisis begins.
A Ladder That Narrows As Students Climb: The most striking feature of the data is not the strength of primary enrolment but the attrition that follows.
At primary level, the GER is above 100 per cent. By higher secondary, it is less than half of that. The transition rate from secondary to higher secondary is reported at 72.9 per cent, while the retention rate at higher secondary is only 38.2 per cent in the J&K government’s 2024-25 monitoring data. This means that the question facing Kashmir is no longer simply whether children enter school. It is whether they remain in the system long enough to acquire the qualifications that can meaningfully alter their economic prospects. A child entering Class 1 is still part of the education story. A teenager leaving the system after Class 10 is a different story altogether. The broken part of the ladder lies somewhere between the two.
When A Degree Stops Looking Like A Destination: Education cannot be separated from the economy surrounding it. In Kashmir, government employment has historically carried disproportionate importance because the private sector has not generated opportunities on a scale sufficient to absorb the educated workforce. For many families, the logic of education therefore became straightforward: study hard, obtain a degree, prepare for competitive examinations and secure a stable job. But what happens when the final step becomes increasingly uncertain? Recruitment delays, litigation, changing eligibility requirements, examination controversies and the sheer competition for a limited number of government positions have created a sense of uncertainty among aspirants. At the same time, private-sector employment often fails to offer salaries and stability commensurate with years of education. The result is a dangerous psychological calculation. A young person begins asking whether another degree will actually change his or her economic circumstances.
When an educated graduate remains unemployed or underemployed for years, while informal work provides an immediate—if modest—income, the opportunity cost of education becomes visible. The student does not necessarily reject learning. The student begins to question the economic bargain attached to learning. That distinction matters. The problem may not be an anti-education generation. It may be a generation that no longer believes the education system guarantees a meaningful return on its investment.
A School System Of Striking Contradictions: The infrastructure data makes the problem even more difficult to ignore. According to the latest NITI Aayog assessment, 146 government schools in Jammu and Kashmir have zero student enrolment, yet 61 teachers remain posted in them. At the other end of the spectrum, 1,371 schools are operating with a single teacher, serving more than 32,000 students. The contradiction is stark. In one part of the system, public resources are tied to schools where there are no students. In another, a single teacher is expected to carry the responsibility of an entire school. This is not simply an issue of expenditure. It is an issue of educational planning.
A school may exist on a government map, but its physical existence does not automatically make it an effective educational institution. Similarly, appointing teachers somewhere in the system does not mean that students everywhere have adequate access to teachers. The question should therefore shift from How many schools do we have? to How effectively are those schools serving children?
The Dropout Warning: The problem becomes even clearer at the secondary level. UDISE+ data for 2024-25 puts Jammu and Kashmir’s secondary-school dropout rate at 12.9 per cent, compared with 11.5 per cent nationally. The gender breakdown is also revealing: the dropout rate was 13.6 per cent for boys and 12.2 per cent for girls. A 12.9 per cent dropout rate may appear like a statistic buried in a government table. It is not. Behind every percentage point are thousands of individual decisions, family circumstances and lost opportunities. Some students leave because of economic pressure. Others struggle with academic performance, inadequate counseling, transportation, family responsibilities or the perceived futility of continuing. In remote areas, the physical distance from institutions can also become a decisive factor. This is why dropout should never be treated merely as an administrative indicator. It is a measure of how successfully society is convincing its young people that staying in education is worth their time.

“The true metric of an education system lies in guiding students toward meaningful futures rather than mere enrollment. If youth in Kashmir lose faith in education as a viable path to opportunity, the resulting disillusionment will escalate from an academic issue into a broader societal and economic crisis.”

The Reservation Debate Needs Facts, Not Slogans: There is another issue that cannot simply be ignored: the growing debate around reservation and open merit. For many open-merit aspirants, the expansion and restructuring of reservation categories has generated anxiety about the number of opportunities available to them. That perception has become an important part of the wider conversation around competitive examinations, university admissions and government employment. But the figures need to be presented accurately. Under the current J&K framework, the government has stated that vertical reservation in government jobs and professional and academic admissions is 50 per cent, excluding the separate 10 per cent EWS provision, along with applicable horizontal reservations. The framework includes quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Residents of Backward Areas and residents of areas adjoining the ALC/International Border.
Therefore, it would be misleading to simply state that “more than 60 per cent of seats and government vacancies are reserved” and conclude that less than 40 per cent is available to open merit. The structure is more complicated, and some categories operate differently from conventional vertical reservations. That clarification does not make the issue irrelevant. It makes it more important. A reservation system must pursue social justice without allowing a large section of young people to develop the belief that merit, effort and competition have become meaningless. At the same time, any discussion of merit must recognise the historical and structural disadvantages that reservation seeks to address. The real policy challenge is not choosing between equity and merit as though one must destroy the other. It is designing a system in which both can coexist credibly.
The Bigger Danger Is Educational Cynicism: The most serious consequence of declining educational participation may not appear in next year’s statistics. It may appear a decade later. When a generation loses confidence in education, the damage travels beyond classrooms. It affects productivity, entrepreneurship, social mobility, innovation and the quality of the future workforce. A young person who leaves education because of poverty is a different policy problem from a young person who leaves because education appears economically pointless. The first requires financial and social support. The second requires rebuilding the connection between qualifications and opportunity. Kashmir needs both. Schools must become places where students acquire more than certificates. They need communication skills, digital literacy, problem-solving abilities, vocational exposure, career counseling and familiarity with emerging sectors of employment. Higher education, meanwhile, cannot remain disconnected from the economy. Universities and colleges must ask uncomfortable questions: How many graduates are entering employments? How many are becoming entrepreneurs? How many possess industry-relevant skills? How many are preparing for careers that barely existed a decade ago?
The answer cannot always be another degree. Sometimes the answer is a better skill.
From Counting Schools To Rebuilding Confidence: The first reform must be administrative. Teacher deployment needs rationalisation. A school with zero students cannot continue to absorb resources indefinitely while another school struggles with a single teacher. Staffing must follow students, geography and actual educational need. The second reform must be technological and infrastructural. Digital classrooms should not become another box to tick in government reports. Technology must be accompanied by trained teachers, reliable connectivity, digital content and meaningful classroom integration. The third reform must be economic. Career-oriented education should begin well before university. Students should understand the possibilities available in vocational education, entrepreneurship, technology, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, creative industries and emerging digital professions. The fourth reform must be psychological. Students need to believe that their education has value even when a government job is not waiting at the end of it. That requires changing the definition of success.
For decades, Kashmir’s educational imagination has been heavily centred on a narrow hierarchy: government job first, professional degree second, everything else somewhere below. A modern economy cannot sustain such a limited definition of achievement. The demographic dividend cannot be taken for granted. Kashmir’s young population is often described as an opportunity. But a young population becomes a demographic dividend only when it is educated, skilled, healthy and economically productive. Youth without opportunity can become frustrated rather than productive. The decline from a 113.7 per cent primary GER to 44.8 per cent at higher secondary should therefore be read as more than an education statistic. It is a warning about the narrowing of the pathway between childhood and adulthood.
The ladder has not disappeared. But too many rungs are becoming difficult to reach. Kashmir does not need another campaign telling parents to send their children to school. Families already understand the value of education. What they increasingly need is evidence that the system will reward persistence with genuine opportunity. That means better schools, better teachers, relevant curricula, credible recruitment, stronger private-sector employment and a fairer, more transparent relationship between education and opportunity. The ultimate test of an education system is not how many children enter Class 1. It is how many can climb all the way to a future they can believe in. If Kashmir’s young people begin to see education not as a ladder to opportunity but as a ladder leaning against an empty wall, the crisis will no longer be confined to schools. It will become a crisis of the region’s future.
(The author is a research scholar. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)

rizwanroomi2012@gmail.com

Kashmir Valley is experiencing environmental changes that can no longer be treated as a distant global concern. Situated in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, the Valley is vulnerable to changing temperature and precipitation patterns, erratic snowfall, intense rainfall, cloudbursts, floods and landslides. These changes have implications for water resources, agriculture, biodiversity, infrastructure and livelihoods. The devastating floods of 2014 demonstrated how environmental vulnerability and extreme weather can combine to produce widespread consequences. While government policies, scientific interventions and disaster-management systems remain essential, a sustainable response also requires changes in public behaviour. Education can become one of the most effective tools for bringing about that behavioural change.
Climate change should not be treated merely as a chapter in a textbook or an isolated topic within a lesson. It should be systematically integrated into the school curriculum and progressively taught according to students’ age and level of understanding. Children should learn not only the scientific meaning of climate change but also how it affects their own surroundings and what they can do about it. A simple school-level observation illustrates the importance of this approach. In an activity involving 50 students of Classes 9 and 10, 27 students, or 54 percent, recognised climate change as a serious issue, while only 20 students, or 40 percent, were aware of the greenhouse effect. This observation cannot be generalised to all students of Kashmir, but it points towards an important concern: awareness of climate change does not necessarily mean adequate scientific understanding.
The greater challenge is therefore to bridge the knowledge–action gap. Knowing that climate change is harmful does not automatically lead to water conservation, responsible waste management, energy saving or other environmentally responsible practices. School education must help students move from awareness to understanding and from understanding to action. This requires a shift from routine, examination-oriented learning towards activity-based and experiential education. Students can conduct water and energy audits, examine waste-management practices, maintain school gardens, observe local biodiversity and record weather conditions. They can study rainfall and snowfall patterns, investigate local water resources and understand the importance of wetlands and natural drainage systems in reducing flood vulnerability. Climate quizzes, debates, exhibitions, field visits and student-led environmental projects can further strengthen learning. Such activities should not be viewed merely as extracurricular programmes. When connected with classroom teaching, they can help students develop curiosity, critical thinking and practical environmental skills.

“Climate education alone cannot stop climate-driven disasters, but educating Kashmir’s youth is essential to complement policy and disaster preparedness. By moving students from basic climate awareness to collective action, classrooms can nurture an informed generation capable of protecting the Valley’s future.”

Kashmir’s local environment should also become part of classroom learning. Students can investigate why wetlands are important, how waste can obstruct drainage, why water conservation matters, how changing weather affects agriculture and why mountain ecosystems require special protection. Connecting lessons with the immediate environment can make climate change more meaningful than learning it only as a global concept. Climate education should also be interdisciplinary. Science can explain greenhouse gases and climate processes; geography can examine floods, landslides and changing landscapes; mathematics can help students analyse rainfall and temperature data; and social science can explore the social and economic consequences of environmental change. Language classes can provide opportunities for essays, debates and awareness campaigns.
Teachers are central to this transformation. They need appropriate training and resources to connect climate science with Kashmir’s environmental realities. Their role should increasingly involve facilitating inquiry, discussion, problem-solving and environmental action rather than simply transmitting information.
This is particularly important because climate risks in Kashmir interact with human pressures such as unplanned urbanisation, degradation of wetlands, encroachment on natural drainage channels, waste accumulation and increasing pressure on natural resources. Students who understand these connections can become more responsible citizens and influence environmental practices within their families and communities.
If we can successfully bridge the knowledge–action gap, it could be a transformative step towards building a climate-resilient Kashmir. A generation equipped with scientific understanding, practical skills and opportunities to act can contribute to reducing environmental pressures and strengthening society’s capacity to cope with the increasing impacts of climate change in the Valley.
Climate education alone cannot prevent cloudbursts, floods or global climate change. Effective policies, scientific planning and disaster preparedness remain indispensable. But an informed and environmentally responsible generation can make these efforts more effective. For Kashmir Valley, the message is clear: we must move from climate awareness to climate understanding, from understanding to responsible behaviour, and from behaviour to collective climate action. The classroom can be the starting point of this transformation.
Educating Kashmir’s children about climate change is therefore not simply about teaching them what is happening to the environment. It is about preparing them to become informed, responsible and active participants in protecting the future of the Valley.
(The author is a teacher and Environmental Science researcher pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)

aqibiqbal192@gmail.com