Education, skill development catalyst for progress, prosperity: Sheetal Nanda

Kathua, Dec 18: As part of government’s ambitious initiative “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra”, Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare, Sheetal Nanda, Monday visited Basantpur panchayat and participated in various events besides assessing issues and concerns of locals.
Commissioner Secretary chaired the main event held under VBSY at Government Higher Secondary School Basantpur wherein she interacted with the students, teachers, and locals.
She said that the initiative is aimed to educate the residents of Basantpur Panchayat about the government schemes and programmes. She highlighted various schemes being launched by the government for socio economic empowerment of people.
“The progress achieved in Kathua district under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is appreciably commendable,” Commissioner Secretary asserted. She emphasised the need of collective efforts by all stakeholders to promote development and empowerment at the grassroots level.
Commissioner Secretary stressed on the importance of education and skill development as the catalyst for progress and prosperity. She emphasized the need for collaboration between the government, PRIs and community-based organizations to enable sustainable and inclusive development in the district.
“The VBSY initiative has been instrumental in providing accessibility to education, improving health infrastructure, and advancing entrepreneurship and skill development across Jammu & Kashmir”, she maintained.
Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Minhas, apprised that as of now 120 panchayats of the district have been covered by the IEC Vans under VBSY benefitting around 1.15 lakh people through awareness generation regarding various flagship schemes of the government.
On the occasion, the Commissioner Secretary handed over 09 Motorised Tricycles, Baby Kits, Ayushman Cards to the beneficiaries. Besides, Viksit Bharat Sankalp pledge was also administered to the participants.
Vice Chairman DDC, Kathua, Raghunadan Singh, ACD besides other district and sectoral officers were present on the occasion.