Srinagar, Nov. 22 -- Education comes with a price tag in today's Kashmir.

The "best" schools advertise opportunity and excellence, but their gates open only for those who can afford the fees.

Talent spreads across the valley, but opportunity concentrates in a few polished campuses.

Children step out of sleek SUVs, carrying brand-new bags, striding confidently into classrooms that gleam with smartboards and air-conditioning.

A few streets away, children share a single textbook, dreaming far beyond what their circumstances allow.

Ability is never the barrier. Money is.

Fees in reputed schools often exceed rs 70,000 to rs 1,20,000 per year per child. Add uniforms, transport, books, and surprise charges, and the total becomes an uns...