The picturesque Gurez Valley is the northernmost dale of Kashmir, north of the Shamshabari Ranges part of erst while Dardistan, now in POK. For 6 months every year beginning November, this valley is cut off from the rest of Kashmir and India. People survive on their own meagre harvest and the Army units.

Their options of livelihood are very limited. They work in their fields and are employed as porters in the Army Posts. The Army here goes out of its way to help the locals. Rations, kerosene, electricity, medicines and even evacuation by air in AF helicopters are provided by the Army. "We wouldn’t survive one winter here but for the Army", says Hamidullah Lone working in the education department at Tilel.

In keeping with the demands of the locals for more job opportunities, a special recruitment rally was organised recently. Prior to the rally, many boys were given special intensive pre-courses by local Army units to help them qualify the stringent standards of recruiting. As a result, more than 75 boys out of about 400 who attempted the entrance tests will don the uniform this year. "A very good result when compared to other parts of India," commented Col Shukla, the Presiding Officer of the recruiting board.