Srinagar: Using the education as means with all its excellence and diversity to enable children to engage, learn and create value in intellectual and other terms, DPS Srinagar as an institution strongly echoes the missionary theme of J&K Bank which is to empower people through varied financial products and services to create value in economic terms. Of particular value is their special focus on the kids with physical or learning challenges that equally resonates with our efforts under CSR to bring socio-economically disadvantaged from margins to the mainstream of our society.
J&K Bank Chairman and CEO Parvez Ahmed made these remarks Saturday during his visit to the Delhi Public School Srinagar in presence of Chairman DPS Srinagar Vijay Dhar and Principal Balsubramaniam Murli, who along with other senior faculty members of the school welcomed him at the school. The Chairman was invited by the management of DPS Srinagar and was accompanied by the Zonal Head Kashmir Central – I Manzoor Hussain, Head Business Unit BB Cant Syed Jameel Qadri and other officials of the bank.
“I am fascinated to see Delhi Public School Srinagar as the live blend of state-of-the-art infrastructure and the dynamic vision of its inspirational founders. Education afforded to variously challenged kids is heart-warming. ‘Wonderful job’ is the appropriate expression to sum up my experience as a visitor to this growing educational enterprise of the valley. In this regard, the bank would like to further extend hand of partnership towards DPS Srinagar for fulfilment of collective values of self-reliance and industry – the hallmarks of our cultural ideals”, Chairman said.
Parvez Ahmed while lauding vision of the founder of the school and the socio-economic contribution in the backdrop of Kashmiryat said, “There cannot be a better way to honor the memory of one of our finest visionaries of the State. Late D P Dhar has been one of the greatest contributors to the strengthening of the Socio-economic fabric of the State and I am glad to see the hires of his legacy contributing tirelessly and carrying forward his legacy in the best possible manner. The Socio Educational causes undertaken by the School are simply heart touching.”
Commenting upon the remarks made by Chairman J&K Bank, the Chairman DPS Srinagar Vijay Dhar said, “We are very appreciative of the Chairman’s visit and highly encouraged by his appreciation of the work done by the School particularly in the field of special educational needs and starting of visually impaired Centre. My concern is simple and that is our kids must know how important J&K Bank is for us and feel proud of it. So we request you to depute your officers to the school to educate children about the basics of finance, banking, banking facilities given by J&K Bank so as to make them financially aware as well as responsible.”
Responding to it, Chairman Parvez Ahmed directed the concerned on the spot to begin conducting financial awareness camps at the school and follow those up with guided tours to the bank’s business units and various offices to provide children with firsthand experience of bank’s functions and processes. On the occasion Chairman also proposed a model educational banking lobby for the school which shall be housing a banking lab. The school management promptly agreed to provide the space for the banking lobby.
“We really need to catch them young and inculcate a sense of financial education so that they begin it by spending their pocket money prudently,” Parvez Ahmed agreed.
Earlier, along with senior staff members who briefed the visitors about almost everything on the school campus, Chairman DPS and principal took the Chairman on a guided tour of the school from its library housing 48000 books to English Language Labs to Computer Museum and Innovation Room to Indoor Gymnasium, Tiny Tots Block and other Senior Blocks.
“We are very sensitive towards our roots and that is why we keep focus on our social heritage, literature, poetry and other cultural expressions besides providing best basic education in science, languages, technology and sports. The main motivation for me personally is that the children should feel happy being here”, remarked Chairman DPS on the uniqueness of school’s purpose.
Of special interest to the Chairman was the Satya Devi Resource center for Visually Impaired and Special Education Needs (SEN) Block. Moved by the extent of care and commitment towards children with special needs, Chairman took keen interest in their activities at the SEN Block and interacted with the kids and their teachers.
At the resource center, instructor Qurat-ul-Ain, the visually challenged herself gave the Chairman a brief overview of the center that has already began to offer courses, for the visually challenged on a minimal registration fee of Rs 500, covering Computer Basics, English language with Braille, independent mobility to Assistive Devices.
On the occasion, she requested the Chairman to sensitize all the bank’s branch staff about the needs of variously challenged and personally direct them to cooperate with such people. Chairman passed on the directions to the concerned immediately that every such individual must be treated respectfully and with dignity.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman thanked the DPS Management particularly it’s Chairman Vijay Dhar for the invite and reiterated his desire to extend the partnership with the institution further in the noble cause of education and empowerment of society. He congratulated the Principal and school staff for their commendable contribution in the making of such a wonderful institution.
