Winter Woes in IIOJK: Students Forced to Learn in Freezing Conditions Amid Crumbling Infrastructure

Students in Kulgam are enduring freezing temperatures and inadequate facilities as they are forced to attend classes under the open sky due to the government’s neglect of their school infrastructure.

In Kulgam’s Bebrada area in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), students at a Government Primary School are forced to endure freezing temperatures while studying under the open sky due to the lack of proper school infrastructure. With only two teachers and no building to shelter them, the 27 students struggle to focus on their education in the harsh winter conditions.

The school, established in 1984, has been plagued by inadequate infrastructure for years. Initially operating from a rented mud building, it was declared unsafe and dismantled by its owners. For the past two years, classes have been held in the courtyard of a local resident’s house, but the makeshift setup lacks basic facilities like classrooms, washrooms, and proper heating, leaving students exposed to the elements.

Two years ago, local residents filed a grievance with the Lt Governor’s office, prompting the Tehsildar to investigate potential land for a new building. However, despite two official visits, progress has stalled due to resistance from certain locals, and the grievance was ultimately closed without resolution.

The chilling winter conditions make matters even worse, with children now enduring sub-zero temperatures while attempting to study. The absence of a proper school building has not only compromised their education but also put their health and well-being at risk. This situation highlights the government’s failure to address basic educational needs in remote regions like Bebrada.

Local residents are calling on the Education Minister and Kulgam MLA to urgently intervene and provide a solution. They demand immediate action to build a proper school building and ensure that students no longer suffer due to government neglect.

This ongoing crisis reflects the broader neglect of education in certain areas of IIOJK, where children are denied the opportunity to learn in a safe, conducive environment. Without swift intervention, the future of these young learners remains uncertain.