President meets Bakarwal children

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) A group of 20 children from the Bakarwal nomadic tribe in Jammu and Kashmir today met President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

Interacting with them, the President said children should make full use of educational opportunities being provided to them by the Army who has also sponsored their trip under 'Operation Sadbhavana Yatra'.

The President, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, felt that the Army could help the nomadic community sell their products and goods, a Rashtrapati Bhavan release said.

The children, who for the first time have travelled beyond Jammu, shared their experiences such as ride in Delhi Metro and mechanised dairying operations in Karnal.

The Bakarwals are solely dependent upon their livestock for their livlihood.

The children, during their August 1-18 tour, will also be visit Jaipur, Ambala and Jalandhar.

UNI SAA SP KN2032