NGO empowers girls, gives rural govt schools a leg-up

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, February 19

Utthaan, The Journey Begins, an NGO, being run by Maj General Balwinder Singh, VSM (retd), has been working towards transforming government schools and committed to rural development for the past three years.

Talking to the Tribune, Balwinder Singh, who is also a member of the Governing Council of India, said: “Under Utthaan, several people have been inspired to adopt government schools and the NGO team is passionately working for their uplift.”

He said schools falling in villages of Jalandhar district, Hoshiarpur and Nakodar had been adopted recently and converted into smart schools. The schools now have the new technology, furniture, wifi, LEDs and RO system.

Besides, the NGO has so far imparted vocational and handicraft training to over 80 girls and women, enabling them to earn livelihood and support their families.

When asked what forced him to start the NGO, Balwinder Singh said: “During my postings in various villages across the country, I had witnessed sufferings and hardships of the rural folk and their children, therefore, through Utthaan, I am making efforts to bring a change.”

He said: “Punjab, which was once flourishing with pride, is losing its aura and we need to reverse the situation. At present, the state is reeling under drug abuse and exodus to foreign countries, thus, educating the rural Punjab becomes an important task.”

The aim of Utthaan was not only to empower rural people and women through education and vocational training, but also to propagate spirituality among school and college-going students, enabling them to lead a good life, he said.

Talking about other initiatives of Utthaan, Balwinder Singh, said: “The NGO is operating and administering a stitching centre and giving free training to poor girls from all sections of society. We are also in the process to establish a computer centre to provide free computer education to the needy.”

He said the NGO team was conducting various seminars, workshops and activities to assist and guide rural people to be self-employed and spread awareness on drugs, AIDS, corruption and unemployment. “Besides, we also aware people about their rights and various welfare schemes,” he added.