Written by Tauseef Ahmad and Sajid Raina
Kifayatullah Malik knows what it feels like to be on the edge of losing something precious. As a child growing up in Lawaypora village in Bandipora, North Kashmir, he saw many of his friends drop out of school, forced to trade their dreams for domestic responsibilities and financial burdens. He could have been one of them — but he fought to stay in school, becoming the first in his family to do so. Now, at 25, he is making sure no child in his community has to give up on their education the way so many before them had to.
Through his relentless efforts, Malik has helped re-enrol more than 700 children who had dropped out of school due to financial hardships. But his work goes beyond just getting students back in classrooms — he is shifting mindsets, advocating for education as a right, not a privilege.
A personal struggle that sparked a movement
Malik’s journey began with his own struggles. Born and raised in Lawaypora, he was the first child in his family to attend school. From an early age, he saw many of his peers abandon their education due to financial struggles and domestic responsibilities. Determined to make a difference, he completed his master’s in social work from Amar Singh College, Srinagar. It was during his college years that he gathered a group of like-minded youth to address the dropout crisis in tribal areas.
“It began with collecting the used textbooks from my friend circle and then from our locality and others. Then we used to distribute them to needy students to ensure that no student would be left behind from getting basic education,” he recalls.”Most of the students throw the books away after getting promoted to the next class or reading them, but someone wishes to have that book.”
Today, Malik is not working alone. He now leads a team of over 10 volunteers, who help him in his mission to bring tribal children back to school.
Bringing dropouts back to school
One of the students who benefited from Malik’s efforts is Sumaiya, a young girl from the tribal community. “In our community, most girls drop out due to a lack of resources. I was one of them. I had to leave school in Class 5 because my parents couldn’t afford to educate both my brother and me. It was heartbreaking to watch my dreams slip away, knowing that education was a privilege I could not afford,” she shares.
For two years, Sumaiya remained out of school, her aspirations put on hold. Then she met Malik, who not only provided her with books and stationery but also counselled her parents on the importance of education. Thanks to his intervention, she re-enrolled last year. Today, she dreams of becoming a teacher, determined to support girls like her who are forced to sacrifice their education.
The problem of school dropouts is widespread. According to official data from the Jammu and Kashmir government, the tribal community and other marginalised communities have the highest school dropout rate at the secondary level, with 14.17%. This includes 19.05% among girls and 10.55% among boys.
Afshana Gul, a teacher in Uri, North Kashmir, has witnessed this harsh reality firsthand. “No one wants to drop out of school, but financial hardships force many to do so, especially girls. It is heartbreaking to see bright students leave their education midway,” she says. “As a teacher, nothing hurts you more than seeing one of your bright students drop out midway. Some of my best students from three years ago are now at home, unable to continue their studies.”
Despite the challenges, Malik remains determined. “When your intentions are clear, there will be support for you,” he says. His initiative runs entirely on crowdfunding, with people contributing small amounts — Rs 100, Rs 200, or Rs 500 per month. “Now people have trust in me, and these small contributions, though minimal for them, help us enrol students and fulfil their dreams.”
“There’s no support for us from the government, but we do awareness sessions in tribal areas to educate people about labour government schemes and their importance,” Malik says.
Beyond schooling: Empowering communities for long-term change
Beyond education, Malik also focuses on empowering tribal women by helping them acquire vocational skills through various government schemes. “Most people in tribal areas are unaware of the resources available to them,” he says. “We conduct awareness programmes and guide them on how they can learn new skills and earn a livelihood. When parents are skillful and earning, it directly impacts the child, as he gets support for his education.”
Sadiya, a young woman who benefited from one such initiative, shares her experience: “I took part in the three-month stitching work last year after an awareness programme in our village under the skill development programme. Now I earn Rs 300-400 a day, which is enough for us instead of doing nothing for girls like me.”
Her village now has a 12-member self-help group, where women earn a sustainable income with government support.
A vision for the future
Malik’s work has not gone unnoticed. He is a district coordinator for REACHA (Research and Extension Association for Conservation of Horticulture and Agroforestry) as part of the Smartpur project, which aims to bridge the digital divide in Kashmir’s remote areas. “To Kifayatullah, REACHA is not just an organisation but a mission to touch the remotest corners of the country, enlightening people with education, IT literacy, and sustainable projects,” he says.
But his ambitions do not stop here. Malik’s long-term mission is to bridge the digital literacy gap and ensure basic education for all tribal children who left their education midway because of poverty. He plans to expand his efforts beyond North Kashmir and sustain his initiatives through NGO partnerships.
“Every child, no matter where they come from, deserves a chance to learn. I will keep working until every tribal child has access to education,” Malik shares.
His dedication has earned him several prestigious accolades, including:
- The President’s Award for National Social Service (NSS) (2021-22)—the first-ever recipient from the University of Kashmir.
- The Best Forest Friend Award by the Jammu and Kashmir Social Forestry Department for his large-scale tree-planting initiatives.
- The Ambassador of Humanity Award (2024).
- The Global Human Rights Award.
These honours underscore his far-reaching impact—not just in education but also in environmental conservation and humanitarian efforts.
For Malik, the journey is far from over. He continues to work tirelessly, ensuring that no child in his community is denied the right to education. “If you change one life, you create a ripple effect. Today, we are re-enrolling students. Tomorrow, they will be the ones advocating for education in their own families,” he says with conviction.
Through his vision and persistence, Malik is proving that grassroots efforts can drive meaningful change. In the remote villages of North Kashmir, where access to education was once uncertain, opportunities are now being reclaimed.
Edited by Khushi Arora; All images courtesy Tauseef Ahmad and Sajid Raina
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