Just before the main market in Drass is a Vocational Training Centre in village Bhimbhat. That is what you see. It has individual rooms for computers, knitting, stitching etc. Hill on right of pic is Tiger Hill that was the focus of 1999 Kargil War. This VCT is run by the Indian Army.
It has 7 computers as of visit i.e. August 2016. The lady that you see has undergone computer training. She teaches the basic esp. typing and importantly makes the child computer friendly. Liked the way she taught the children.
Closer view of class. Kid in front is just typing from a book. Good facility - important everything works. Army also runs a Goodwill School in Drass. Reached there after school closed, loved the way the walls were painted. Entire compound area had very good vibrations.
When you visit Drass have to remember the very very brave and inspirational Captain Vikram Batra. This board is somewhere on the highway. To see pics of a VTC, Livelihood College Dantewada in Bastar
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We left Drass for Kargil about 8.30 am. It was time kids were going to school. Enroute saw this Army truck, now school bus, ferrying kids to school. Reminded me of our days - these kids look so happy going to school, we rarely did.
Close up of boys in school bus. All smiles and very happy to be photographed. As of August 2016, the Army runs 46 schools in J&K of which 8 each are in Jammu and Ladakh regions and 30 in Kashmir Valley.
Enroute met these young boys who study in 12th standard or college do not remember. Stopped by and felt like chatting. The one in the centre wants to become a Chartered Accountant. Since am one, gave him some tips the most important one being CA means Come Again. Few pass exams first attempt so be prepared to work hard and do not get disheartened in case you fail. Hope he goes for CA training in Chandigarh or Delhi.
These kids were waiting for the school bus to come, the one that you saw earlier. All smiles. To visit good AAROHI ngo in Kumaon Click here
Back to the VTC at Drass. Room with 9 sewing machines. This being harvest time ladies were busy in the fields. To see pics of Vocational Traing Centre run by Ramakrishna Mission at Agartala
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Was looking for the Draupadi Kund when stumbled upon Bhimbhat Stone near Kargil War Memorial. About 10 minutes walk from here is a huge rock that according to tradition is the solidified body of the third Pandava brother Bhim. The rock is surrounded by stones and close to the river. Not so easy to find but be patient. Met 2 locals who had come there.
Rock i.e. considered to be the solidified body of Pandava Bhim. Was told the Draupadi Kund is about 25 kms from Drass on road to Zojila Pass. Do check. In virtually every part of Bharat either the Pandavas or Shri Ram is said to have visited.