RAHI KAPOOR
Located in the serene hills of the Mendhar just three kilometers from Line of Control is Government High School, Dharana, far away from the hustle of Poonch city where children can easily absorb knowledge and grow in all aspects of life. The students from this school generally come from impecunious families whose primary occupation is day labour. This had wide implications on the students namingly, lack of exposure to the modern outside world. Mendhar Gunners, the local army unit on regular interaction with the locals discerned the issue at hand & immediately sprung into action to assist. The ambience of the school is best described as calm, spacious with good amenities and utilities in a visually appealing landscape. The sprawling campus is lush green and welcoming. The process of teaching-learning unfolds with the tweeting of birds with a visual treat of butterflies and peacocks! Students can also take short treks in the orchards around the campus.
Mendhar Gunners carried out beautification of the school by painting the walls with educative paintings and symbols of national pride. Students being from the hilly area are sturdy and have special interest in sports. Army assisted the school with Volleyball, Kho-Kho and Badminton courts alongwith the necessary sports equipment. Same was followed by conduct of tournaments of Volley ball and Kho-Kho alongwith friendly matches of Badminton as a first exposure to the sport though admired but rarely played in this remote part of the country.
With over 200 students enrolled in this school, the Army has helped equip the school with modern facilities which only city schools have. The Army through Mendhar Gunners is making all possible efforts to ensure that no barrier comes in the way of the education of these students while expanding horizons in all fields, like by putting up posters in the campus related to human body parts to generate interest in the subject of biology.
Fathima, a student of the school said, “Our school is along the Line of Control but we are being provided with all those facilities which are available in all city schools, for example, we have a library with all kinds of study material & Volleyball courts to play during our games period, which is something we all look forward to.
The recent landmark verdict by Supreme Court shattered the glass ceiling wherein girls were allowed to take the NDA examination for admission to the National Defence Academy. A motivational lecture to join NDA for girls of the school was organized with an aim to guide them to join the best military training academy in the country & needless to say, there was exuberant participation by the girls for the same.
Post the historic Olympic Gold medal victory by Subedar Neeraj Chopra in Javelin, students of GHS have showed exuberance in picking up sports to represent both state & the nation. Furthering this aim of motivating youth to take up sports as a profession and to inculcate the value of sportsmanship, the Mendhar Gunners conducted various sports competitions for Kho-Kho, Badminton and Volleyball.
Students with clamour for soft skills were engaged with drawing and painting, dance and public speaking events. The students standing out with their performance were rightfully rewarded to motivate them to achieve greater goals. The events organised were based on the theme of national integration to groom the yongsters into patriotic citizens of the great nation. Tree Plantation drive was organised to make the young students realize the importance of preserving our environment. The area being remote is surrounded by dense forests. The students were therefore made to feel proud of the bio diversity of their surroundings and to take a resolve to protect the same.
The Army also organized a medical and COVID-19 vaccination camp with an aim to provide basic medical facilities & free Covid vaccination to the local populace. An informative lecture about COVID-19 and its prevention was given by the Army doctor. This year is being celebrated as the “75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” by the nation. Indian Army, maintaining its ethos & tradition reached all out to the far flung area to provide all possible assistance to the people. Over 550 patients turned up from the adjoining area and availed these facilities. Mr Parvez Ahmed Khan, BMO, his medical and vaccination team extended their support in successful conduct of this camp.
The endeavor of Mendhar Gunners has been to bring the school at par to national standards despite the school being on the Line of Control and the COVID 19 restrictions. Keeping in line with the army’s vision of “AWAM ke saath”, the residents of Dharana village express sincere gratitude to the Indian Army for its consistent development activities in the school and elsewhere in Mendhar.
