Srinagar: Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga and Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Monday celebrated Gandhi Jayanti with the specially-abled school children of Model High School (MHS) Solina, an institute for the visually and hearing impaired children and Chotay Taray Foundation (CTF) Baghat, an institute for mentally and physically challenged children.
The celebrations were part of the nation-wide celebrations celebrating the 148th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi as well as to pay tribute to his timeless contributions and struggles.
Vice Chairman J&K Khadi & Village Industries Board (KVIB), Mansoor Hussain Sohrawardhy, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Department, Shalaindra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary School Education Department, Farooq Ahmad Shah and CEO JK KVIB were also present on the occasion.
The Ministers first visited the MHS Solina where they paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Various cultural performances were presented by the specially-abled students of the school on the occasion. The acts also included a specially-abled student drawing a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and another student paying tribute to him with sign language.
At the CTF Baghat, the Ministers were presented several colorful performances, including a live painting performance, were performed as part of celebrations.
Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga, while speaking on the occasion, said the specially-abled children are God’s gift and there is a lot to be done for them. He congratulated the managements and counselors of the institutes for their wonderful services.
He also announced Rs 50,000 each for the MHS Solina and CTF Baghat as well as Rs 25,000 each from all the six corporations under the Industries & Commerce Department. Commissioner Secretary I&C Department Shaliadera Kumar also announced Rs 20,000 each for the two institutes.
Ganga said all possible support to boost the development of specially-abled children in the State will be provided in keeping with Mahatma Gandhi’s commitments to the upliftment of society. Highlighting the role of KVIB in providing opportunities to the unemployed youth of the state, the Minister said till Monday KVIB has financed 4700 units in the state providing employment to the 210 million of unemployed youth and has registered a production of Rs 1827 crore in J&K state.
Altaf Bukhari thanked the KVIB, the organizers of the event, for choosing the two institutes for celebrating this year’s Gandhi Jayanti, saying the occasion has been an eye-opener for him as well as others.
He announced an amount of Rs 50,000 each for MHS Solina and CTF Baghat as well as Rs 50,000 each for the two institutes on behalf of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Secretary School Education Department, Farooq Ahmad Shah also announced Rs 20,000 each for the two institutes.
Altaf Bukhari also said the Private Schools Association has announced Rs 1 lakh each for the two institutes.
He also announced an amount of Rs 1 crore for infrastructure upgradation of the MHS Solina to be provided by the Board of School Education under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He said vocational training will be provided through Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RAMSA) and new furniture for the school to be provided under Sarva Shiksha Abiyan (SSA). The school was also provided a Braille machine with computer on the occasion.
The Minister also said the CTF Baghat will be provided land to have its own building and also announced an amount of Rs 11 lakh for the institute from his own FIL Industries Limited. He also announced sign language and Braille machines for the institute.
Altaf Bukhari asked for proper proposals for long-term and sustained developments of the institutes so that these can be brought into the mainstream system of education. He said everything possible for development of education and skill of specially-abled students will be done.
Students of both institutes were presented special gifts, including cash awards for their performances by the dignitaries on the occasion.
Director School Education, G N Itoo, Director SSA, Director Handlooms, Director Handicrafts and MDs of various Corporations were also present on the occasion.
