North Kashmir Education Fest Announces Rs 3 Crore in Scholarships for Students

An education fest held in North Kashmir recently turned out to be a big opportunity for students, with scholarships worth Rs 3 crore being announced. The event, which took place at the Government Degree College in Sumbal (Bandipora), saw participation from thousands of students and parents. Over 50 universities and institutions from across the country

I chose to write about this topic because we often hear about unrest and challenges in Kashmir, but not enough is said about efforts that focus on education, progress and empowerment. Events like these show that young people in Kashmir are equally ambitious and eager to succeed, given the right platform. When local authorities and institutions bring these opportunities close to home, it can make a real difference in students’ lives—especially in remote or conflict-affected areas. Highlighting such positive steps is important, not just to appreciate them, but also to encourage more such efforts in other under-served regions across India.

What Happened at the Education Fest

The fest was organised by the district administration of Bandipora in collaboration with reputed universities and higher education institutions. Its main goal was to connect students from remote areas with academic opportunities, career guidance and financial support.

Key features of the fest included:

Participation from 50+ institutions including universities, professional colleges and skill development centres
One-on-one counselling sessions for students and parents
Career talks and awareness sessions
Spot registrations and scholarship guidance
Live demonstrations from vocational training providers

More than 6,000 students and their families attended the event, reflecting the huge demand for such initiatives.

Rs 3 Crore in Scholarships: Who Benefits?

One of the highlights of the fest was the announcement of Rs 3 crore worth of scholarships. These scholarships are meant to support meritorious and economically weaker students from the region who wish to pursue higher education.

The scholarships include:

Full and partial tuition fee waivers
Hostel and transport fee waivers
Special support for girls and first-generation learners
Opportunities in diverse streams—engineering, nursing, paramedical, management, arts, and vocational trades

Some private universities even offered on-the-spot admission with scholarships based on academic scores and counselling sessions.

Why It Matters for North Kashmir

Kashmir’s students face many challenges—limited access to resources, frequent internet shutdowns, security concerns and lack of exposure to national-level opportunities. So when an education fair of this scale is held right in their region, it creates a bridge between ambition and access.

Here’s why this fest matters:

It gives rural students a chance to directly talk to top institutions
Parents get clarity about admission processes, costs, and career scope
Students learn about alternate pathways like vocational education, skill training and online courses
It builds trust between local communities and institutions from other parts of India

Events like this also help break the mental barrier that many students have—that good colleges and jobs are only meant for big cities.

What I Took Away from This

As someone who follows education developments closely, I found this event genuinely inspiring. It’s not just about the Rs 3 crore in scholarships, but about the hope and possibilities it has created. In regions where students sometimes don’t even think about college as an option, such exposure can change the entire course of someone’s future.

I believe this kind of initiative needs to be replicated in other parts of the country too—whether it’s remote tribal areas, border districts or hilly states. Education must reach where it is needed the most, and that can only happen when policymakers focus on access, affordability and awareness.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.