KPC demands restoration, enhancement in admission quota in Kendriya Vidyalayas for displaced Kashmiri Pandit students

STC NEWS DESK
JAMMU, MARCH 21 (STC): Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) in a statement has appealed to the Union Education Minister for restoration and enhancement in admission quota in Kendriya Vidyalayas for displaced Kashmiri Pandit students across Jammu and other regions.
“It is a matter of grave concern regarding either to deny or being avoided the admission to Displaced ( Migrant) Kashmiri Pandit students under Kashmiri Migrant Quota in Kendriya Vidyalayas across Jammu and other regions from the academic year 2024. This sudden discontinuation or denial of these admissions has caused immense hardship to the children of our displaced community, who are already facing the burden of prolonged displacement, social dislocation, and economic insecurity,” said the KPC President Kundan Kashmiri.

Notably, Kendriya Vidyalayas have provided a critical educational lifeline to the children of displaced Kashmiri Pandits through the Kashmiri Migrant Quota. This provision offered these students access to quality education despite the profound challenges faced by their families. “However, it is deeply distressing that from 2024 onwards, admissions under this quota have been arbitrarily stopped without any valid reason and explanation. Such an action directly deprives deserving students of their fundamental right to education and undermines the hope of a better future for a community that has suffered immeasurable loss for the past thirty-five years, Kundan Kashmiri said.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, through its earlier provisions, played a significant role in alleviating some of the hardships of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit students. “Denying or avoiding the admission to them now is a severe blow to these vulnerable children who rely on this educational opportunity for stability and growth. It is both an ethical and moral responsibility to ensure that these students are not abandoned or overlooked due to procedural decisions,” he said.
In an appeal to the Central government, the KPC has urged immediate restoration of admissions under the Kashmiri Migrant Quota across all Kendriya Vidyalayas in Jammu and other regions where displaced Kashmiri Pandits reside. “This restoration should be implemented with retrospective effect for the academic year 2024 to ensure no deserving child is left behind. Furthermore, considering the increasing number of Kashmiri Pandit displaced families and their ongoing challenges, we request that the quota be increased to accommodate more displaced Kashmiri Pandit students who are in dire need of educational support,” reads the KPC statement submitted to the Union Education Minister and Chairman Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. (STC)