Parents should cooperate in J&K: P Chidambaram

New Delhi/Srinagar : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said people of Jammu & Kashmir, especially parents, should cooperate with the government for ?normal? functioning of schools and colleges in the Valley.

Nearly after 100 days of shutdown, educational institutions in Kashmir are being reopened on Monday following a state government’s directive to school authorities on Sunday as curfew has been lifted from most of the areas of the valley.

“I appeal to all sections of the people of J&K, especially parents, to cooperate with the State Government and ensure that all schools and colleges function normally,” Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

The Minister said the UPA government is ?happy? that most students have attended their classes despite hardline faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference asking parents not to send their wards to schools and colleges.

?Most schools and colleges have reopened. I hope the few educational institutions that remained closed today, will reopen tomorrow. Also, I am confident the attendance will also increase significantly tomorrow,? he added.

Asked about protesters pelting stones at school buses at Habak, Bemina and Nowgam, Chidambaram said: ?I can?t believe people can pelt stone on school buses! Such nuisance must stop immediately.?

?The Centre and the State government will take every possible step to ensure all educational institutions remain open and function normally across the Valley. We will also provide adequate security to students,? the Home Minister said.

The Omar Abdullah’s government’s move to reopen the schools came following the Union Government’s eight-point peace package for the Kashmir Valley.

Transports are being provided to teachers and students on 11 important routes in Srinagar.

School uniforms will be treated as identity proof and school buses will be allowed passage in curfew.

Examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 are to start in the last week of October and first week of November respectively.

The administration has advised parents to call the police station concerned in case they need help in sending their wards to schools on Monday onwards.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to all Kashmiris, particularly the separatists, to rise above their stated positions and ideologies and join hands to secure the future of Kashmir’s children, held hostage to violence.

Educational institutions remained closed for the past three months in the Valley due to shutdowns called by separatists and weeks of intermittent curfew.

A number of parents have moved their children to other parts of the country for their education and future.

?Though education is important, the government can?t use our children to suppress the agitation,?? said Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The J & K government on Sunday lifted curfew after two weeks of strict restrictions and declared schools and educational institutions opened from Monday.

Life was normal in Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Awantipora as people stepped out to buy rations. However, curfew on Srinagar-Baramulla road continued.

The local administration said though the news of reopening of schools was coming from some areas, but exact figure such institutes was yet to be confirmed.