Security worries in Kashmir keep students away from schools
Iftekar, one of the parent, said we don't feel safety and security to send our children to school.
SRINAGAR (Reuters) - Fear of safety and a sudden violent breakout was holding parents back from sending their children to schools in Kashmir on Wednesday (August 21), two days after the administration ordered a reopening to continue the current semester.
"Once the environment is conducive then only we will be able to send our children to school because right now we don’t feel safety and security" one parent, Iftekar Ahmed, told Reuters.
About 200 primary schools were instructed to open in Srinagar on Monday (August 19), but most classrooms were empty as parents kept their children at home, fearing unrest over the government’s decision to revoke the region’s autonomy two weeks ago.
Middle schools were set to reopen on Wednesday, Principal Secretary of Planning Commission, Jammu and Kashmir, Rohit Kansal, said on Tuesday (August 20).
Protests began after the Aug. 5 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to withdraw Kashmir’s special status and integrate it fully into India, with equal rights for all Indians to buy property there and compete for government jobs.
