The army’s civil outreach, operation Sadbhavana, which began in 1998 to give relief for the militancy hit people of Jammu and Kashmir looks has paid the dividend as 15 engineering aspirants coached under Super 30 programme cleared the JEE (Mains) this year. Based on the Bihar pattern of Super 30 army launched ambitious project in 2014 has given a platform for the youth from Jammu and Kashmir to excel in the present day of competitive world targeting youth from the lower strata having the requisite qualifications but lacking means to go further. Army picked them up and prepared to face the challenge with necessary coaching and removing the misnomer the rural youth does not have the talent. It is the reachability of affordable facilities that army provided to these rural youth and they did not fail the army. The Operation Sadbhavana (meaning Goodwill), is an unique attempt to apply healing touch to Win the Hearts and Minds (WHAM) of people by promoting development activities focused on their basic needs. Implementation of the projects under this initiative has had an extremely positive impact on the minds of the local population. Various educational schemes and women empowerment centres have helped in employment generation and transformed many lives. In J and K what has been achieved through Operation Sadbhavana represents the best feasible for transition to the political process. Operation Sadbhavana as a sound strategy for conflict prevention in Ladakh has been widely acclaimed. Over the years, the army has, under the ambit of Operation Sadbhavna, expanded the scope of its education initiative. What started as provision of primary education in Army Goodwill Schools has now expanded to the professional level with initiatives like the Super 30. Many other similar initiatives have led to admission of Kashmiri students in educational institutes across the country. The army is making a tremendous effort to help students pursue higher education outside the State. Most of the students studying in Army Goodwill Schools under scholarship are being assisted in obtaining admission in institutes outside Jammu and Kashmir. The scope of the study should be broadened to include other regions of Jammu & Kashmir as well.
