25 J

Mumbai, Sep 24 (UNI) A group of 25 school children and two school teachers from remote villages of Karsian in Rajouri district of Jammu&Kashmir accompanied by officers of the Army, who arrived here yesterday on an educational tour, today visited modern indegenously built warship INS BETWA and German designed SSK class submarine 'Shankul'.

''It was a fascinating experience for us, who had never seen the sea,'' 12-year-old Ajaykumar and 13-year-Sachin Chaudhary told news persons.

The joy of having seen the sea, ship and submarine was clearly writ on their faces who had the tricolour in their hands.

''We have seen many tall buildings and several other places and experienced quite a vast difference in life here and in J&K'' the school children said.

Earlier, the school children on tour were given a warm welcome and reception on their arrival at the Mumbai Central railway station.

The joy and happiness on the faces of young children of J&K on arrival here was very evident.

The Children were conducted to motivation Hall and various Heritage sites inside the Naval Dockyard premises, and as the Museum ship 'Vikrant' These children, who are from the remotest part of the nation, have never seen the sea or a ship, were conducted to naval ships and submarines where they had a first hand experience of machinery, weapon system, navigation and communication installtions.

Later, they were taken for Harbour cruise on a naval boat. At a High tea organised on the occasion, the children met Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area. Naval officer Y P Sharma and others apprised details to the children about the ship and submarine.

Indian Army is conducting large number of projects of Jammu and Kashmir for upliftment of the people and children in the state under Operation 'Sadbhavna.' Under one such initiative 22 field Regiment (Victoria Cross), is conducting an educational tour 'Sarhad Se Sagar Tak' for J& K School children under the aegis of 39 Mountain Division of the Indian army.

The children being in an impressionable age group of 12-16 years have spent a major portion of their early life in the dark shadows of militancy.'' The noble objective of the tour 'Sarhad Se Sagar Tak' is to give an exposure to these future citizens about the mightly Indian Navy and an exposure to culture and heritage of the nation.

UNI JM KU LS RK1604