President meets Kashmir students as part of Student Exchange Programme 'DOSTI'

NEW DELHI: Some students from the distant town of Bandipora in North Kashmir met the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee today at Rashtrapati Bhavan, as part of a Student Exchange Programme 'DOSTI' which is part of the Indian Army Sadhbhavana Programme.

The students of Kashmir were accompanied by students of Step By Step School, Noida. These students, from Army Goodwill School, Bandipora in J&K were in Delhi under the programme.

The President congratulated the Army on this initiative and wished success to the programme. He said despite differences in language or culture, we were all Indians.

The Student Exchange Programme, has been organized by the Army, 14 Rashtriya Rifles (Garhwal Rifles) under the aegis of Headquarters 81 Mountain Brigade of the Indian Army in collaboration with Noida-based Step by Step School.

The programme is aimed to provide exposure to the students from Kashmir to the world outside Kashmir Valley with the purpose that the students on their returning to the State of Kashmir would spread goodwill and the message of peace and prosperity.