Kullu social worker awarded

Renowned social worker Shalini Vats from Kullu was honoured with Himachal Gaurav Puraskar during the state-level Independence Day function at Sarkaghat in Mandi.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented the award in recognition of her two decades of dedicated service to empowering visually impaired individuals, women and children.

Hailing from Seobagh village in Kullu, Vats has been a driving force behind inclusive education and disability rights in Himachal Pradesh. As Secretary of the National Association for the Blind (NAB), Kullu, she pioneered initiatives such as special question booklets and extra time provisions for differently-abled students.

Her efforts led to the establishment of model schools and digital literacy programmes for visually impaired children, including distributing smartphones, computers and laptops to students at Chander Abha Memorial School. Beyond education, she contributed to Child Rights Projects and helmed Child Helpline 1098 as the city coordinator.