Srinagar, Sep16: For families in the far-flung Dhoks around Butapathri, darkness has long been a daily reality — no power lines reach their makeshift homes, children study by lantern light, and mobile phones die within hours. On Wednesday, that changed for 137 Gujjar-Bakarwal households, with the Indian Army’s 52 Rashtriya Rifles distributing one solar light per family under the second phase of its Solar Lights Distribution initiative, part of Operation Sadbhavana.
The programme follows the first phase in the Nagin Dhok complex, where 100 families received solar lights from the Battalion. Army officials said the effort was aimed at “removing the darkness from many homes and providing an opportunity to enlighten the future of many children residing in far-flung areas” of the Battalion’s Area of Responsibility.
A total of 160 villagers, including elders, women and children, took part in the event, which the Army termed “an excellent opportunity for meaningful grassroots-level interaction” with the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities living in and around Butapathri, Sochalpathri, Atar and Arian Dhoks.
During the interaction, Army personnel discussed the community’s traditional lifestyle, seasonal movement patterns and the challenges they face — “particularly due to adverse weather conditions, limited availability of tracks and other administrative constraints,” a statement said.
The Army said the conversation “fostered a better understanding of the issues and challenges faced by the Gujjar-Bakarwal community and further enhanced mutual trust, communication and cooperation between the local population and the Indian Army.”
The solar lights, officials said, are “a heartfelt attempt to address the urgent requirement of illumination in the Dhoks” — helping children study and meeting basic daily needs such as charging mobile phones in areas with no conventional electrical connectivity.
“The community warmly welcomed the initiative and expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the continued outreach and welfare measures undertaken by the Indian Army under Operation Sadbhavana,” the statement said.
The programme, the Army added, “reaffirmed the Indian Army’s commitment towards the welfare of remote communities and its endeavour to foster stronger bonds of trust, cooperation and mutual understanding with the local Awam.”
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