ABVP aims to register 10,000 members in Kashmir, one lakh across J&K

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organization, has started a membership drive in J&K aiming to double its membership to one lakh students across the union territory from the current 50,000 registered members.

The ABVP claims that it has 80 functional units in J&K including 30 units in Kashmir, which they plan to increase to 140 units this year with 50 units in the Valley. "There are many challenges in operating in J&K especially in Kashmir Valley. However, we are determined to tackle these issues with engagement with the students at grassroot level," said Akshi Billowria, state secretary of the ABVP in J&K. She further said that they want to move away from "protest activism" in Kashmir to more focused engagement in sports, cultural and developmental activities. The administration in J&K has remained skeptical about student activism in Kashmir Valley fearing political repercussions and thus didn't allow any organic student movement to take roots in any of the school, college or university campuses.

"We support anyone who supports the nation and respects the national flag. We have no political agenda and engage with like minded NGOs and groups to bring positive change on ground," said Akshi.

The ABVP membership started this week in the schools of Kashmir, which will be followed by membership in schools in Jammu and then in colleges, universities and professional colleges across the region which will end on September 5. The ABVP will hold several programs on its foundation day on July 9 across the UT. "We had 50000 members in J&K in 2023, which we aim to take to one lakh this year. We had 7000 members in Kashmir, which we will strive to increase to over 10,000 this year," said Tilak Thakur, state organizing secretary of ABVP.

"Our organization has worked hard in J&K for the last two decades but we have fast paced our efforts in the last three to four years. We started Ek Gaon Ek Tiranga Abhiyan in J&K in 2021, which was later adopted by the government as Har Ghar Tiranga," said Thakur. He further said that the ABVP consistently organizes sports, cultural, self defence and personality development programs to ensure students remain on the positive path of development.