Indeed, the visiting tribals appreciated the efforts of the Indian Army in organising the tour and said that this journey gave them a glimpse into the progress made by rest of India.
"What we have seen here, we did not find all that in Jammu and Kashmir. The people here are educated. The people have a sense of brotherhood and they live happily. They are progressive people," said Mohammed Hasayedeen, a tribal from Rajouri.
Their visit to Nilgiris was part of a fortnight long programme under which the army personnel of the 54th Rashtriya Rifles selected people from 28 tribes belonging to Rajouri and Reasi of Jammu and Kashmir to take them to different cities of India and give them a taste of the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the rest of India.
"This is an effort on the part of the Army to bring them here and expose them to the virtues of peace," said Col. S S Judge, Deputy Commandant, Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington.
The tribals immensely enjoyed their visit to Nilgiris, also known as the Blue Mountains, in Tamil Nadu.
By Jehovah. G