Some students from the remote town of Bandipora in North Kashmir met the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today at Rashtrapati Bhavan. They were accompanied by students of Step By Step School, Noida. These students, from Army Goodwill School, Bandipora in J&K were in Delhi under a Student Exchange Programme "DOSTI" which is part of the Indian Army Sadhbhavana Programme.

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the Army on this initiative and wished the programme all success. He stated that 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 Step by Step School, Noida. It is titled "Learning Through Friendship". The aim of the programme is 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. The Programme would inculcate the spirit of communal harmony in their young minds for achieving the ultimate aim of national integration.

This release issued at 1400 hrs