Shelling and Schooling: Educational Disruptions and Social Consequences for Children in Poonch

This study explores how cross-border shelling affects the lives and learning experiences of children living in the border villages of Poonch district, Jammu & Kashmir. These communities lie along the tense Line of Control, where frequent military hostilities disrupt everyday life. Among those most deeply affected are the children, whose education and emotional well-being often suffer in silence. Using a qualitative approach, the research draws on personal stories shared by students, parents, teachers, and local officials, as well as on-the-ground observations in areas hit hardest by the shelling. The findings paint a troubling picture: repeated episodes of shelling result in school closures, displacement, and severe disruptions to learning. Many children live with the constant fear of violence, studying in schools that lack even basic safety infrastructure. With limited access to digital tools or alternative modes of education, learning often comes to a standstill. Beyond the academic setbacks, the study highlights deeper emotional and social scars. Children report high levels of anxiety, reduced interaction with peers, and a loss of the stable routines that are so vital during their formative years. Their emotional growth and sense of security are often compromised, leaving long-term impacts. Despite these challenges, schools remain one of the few places offering children a sense of hope and normalcy. But in conflict zones like Poonch, they are too often underfunded, poorly equipped, and left vulnerable. The study calls for urgent reforms—conflict-sensitive education policies, trauma-informed teaching, mobile schooling units, and protective infrastructure—to ensure that children living along the border are not denied their fundamental right to education.