How the Indian Army and Adani Defence Are Shaping Futures in Classrooms in J&K

In the shadow of the red-hot LoC, Pine Wood School in Poonch, J&K, has long stood as a symbol of resilience. With support from the Indian Army’s Operation Sadbhavana and Adani Defence, this school is now evolving into a centre of excellence—offering safety, dignity and opportunity to hundreds

of young lives shaped by cross-border hostilities.

In a remote hamlet near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, where echoes of conflict often drown out the voices of childhood and innocence, a quiet revolution is taking place. Nestled in Hamirpur village, Poonch district, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), the Pine Wood School—established in 1995 under Operation Sadbhavana—has transformed from a modest institution of 35 pupils to a thriving school with over 400 pupils from pre-primary to Class XII. The initiative, spearheaded by the Indian Army, is designed to win hearts and minds of residents by providing access to quality education in one of India’s most sensitive regions.
In a recent milestone, Adani Defence and Aerospace and Adani Foundation, social welfare and development arm of the Adani Group,partnered with the Indian Army to augment this transformation, contributing significantly to the school’s infrastructure. Their support led to the construction of a state-of-the-art 510-seater auditorium and a secure boundary wall—two critical components for a school functioning near the volatile LoC. While the boundary wall safeguards the students, the auditorium opens new avenues for holistic learning—co-curricular activities,talent showcases and community engagement.The project, inaugurated by Major General Kaushik  Mukherjee, GOC(General Office Commanding), Ace of Spades Division, on July 31 saw the
 presence of senior Army officials, corporate representatives, local

sarpanches and proud parents. It marked not just a new chapter in education, but a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in nation-building. Launched in the 1990s, Operation Sadbhavana is the Indian Army’s flagship outreach programme to foster development and trust in conflict- affected regions of J&K. By establishing schools, vocational centres and medical camps, it aims to build bridges with communities impacted by decades of unrest, right to self-determination and sectarian violence.This commitment to civilian welfare has   resonated with Adani Defenceacross multiple fronts.  For instance, in 2023, Adani contributed significantly to evacuate over 1,700 stranded Indian nationals and foreign citizens from Sudan, amidintense conflict. From logistical support to safe passage coordination, Adani Defence played a vital role in extending India's humanitarian reach. Their involvement in such high-stakes missions demonstrates a consistent alignment with national security and citizen welfare.  Similarly, Adani Defence played a crucial role in Operation Sindoor
between May 7 and 10, providing drones and anti-drone systems for the Indian Armed Forces. Specifically, Adani's drones were used as eyes in the skies and swords of attack", while their anti-drone systems helped protect forces and citizens from Pakistani armed forces.  Through initiatives like the one at Pine Wood School, Adani Defence continues to reinforce its vision of empowering India  frontier communities—not just with defence systems, but with hope, dignity andopportunity.