New Delhi: A group of 35 schoolchildren from remote areas of Kashmir yesterday called on Minister of Home Affairs, Ajay Maken.

The students, in the age group of 12-16 years, were on a Bharat Darshan tour organized by the Border Security Force (BSF).

As part of the programme, they were taken to Amritsar, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra and Delhi and visited places of historical, cultural and national importance in these cities.

In his address, Ajay Maken highlighted the need of acquiring knowledge and information by students to move ahead in life.

He said that, "It was through knowledge and hard work only that they can succeed and rise."

The Minister conveyed the government's desire to bring the development infrastructure in Srinagar and other parts of the State at par with the national capital.

He also recalled the herculean effort put in by the BSF and other paramilitary force personnel in ensuring peace and development in J&K.

Maken also enquired about children's experience during the Bharat Darshan tour and gave mementos to all the children.

As part of its civic action programme, BSF conducts Bharat Darshan Tour for the children of poor families from the remote and border areas of Jammu & Kashmir.

The main purpose of such visit is to expose the children of Border Areas to the historical, cultural and technological profile of the country as also the development and progress.

It is primarily aimed at bringing them in the main stream of the nation. BSF is organizing such programmes since 1999.