Mitigating the Impact of Covid and Conflict: Empowering & Securing Futures of Children Belonging to Pastoral Communities of Jammu and Kashmir

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, now divided into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, has a significant tribal population, including Gujjars and Bakkarwals, who were recognized as Scheduled Tribes after the end of British Colonial rule and have since received affirmative action from the state.

This research explores the impact of conflict and the Covid-19 pandemic on the work and education of children belonging to the Bakarwal community, who engage in biannual migration as part of their transhumance lifestyle in the border state of Jammu and Kashmir, where their social reproduction and livelihood depend on accessing pastures throughout the year.