Educational kits given to 606 needy kids

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria presided over Saksharta-2025 programme organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad, Chandigarh, at Tagore Theatre.

Educational kits was distributed to 606 needy and meritorious students from 78 government and government-aided schools across Chandigarh on the occasion.

The Governor lauded Bharat Vikas Parishad’s sustained efforts in nurturing the future of the nation through education. “This is not merely a programme to distribute uniforms or school bags. It is a noble mission to unlock the doors of knowledge and opportunity for children who might otherwise be left behind due to economic constraints. Education is the foundation of nation-building,” he said.

Among the 606 beneficiaries, 371 were girls and 235 boys, who were provided with school bags, shoes, stationery, uniforms and textbooks. The Governor interacted with the students, distributed educational kits, and motivated them to pursue their goals with sincerity, hard work and determination.

Swami Bhitiharanand Ji Maharaj, secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, encouraged students to embrace learning with discipline and devotion, underscoring the power of education in shaping moral and enlightened individuals.

Adding an emotional element to the programme, former beneficiaries of the Saksharta initiative — Sanjay Pushpakar, now a senior scientist at C-DAC, and Anu Kumari, a Research Scholar at PGIMER — shared their personal journeys. They credited the support received from Bharat Vikas Parishad as the turning point in their lives and urged students to make the most of the opportunities being offered to them.

Several dignitaries and office-bearers of the parishad, including its director Ajay Dutta, MK Virmani, president of Bharat Vikas Parishad (Chandigarh Prant), Tilak Raj, Anil Kaushal, secretary, and Anup Gupta, treasurer, were also present on the occasion.