Jammu, Mar 19: Describing every effort of supplementing the efforts of promoting literacy, especially among girls, as a step towards fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Beti Padhao Desh Bachao’. Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana today hailed the role of Non-Governmental Organizations and philanthropic associations in contributing to women-led development of New India.
Speaking at a well-attended function, organized by Harbans Bhalla Educational Trust (HBET) to distribute scholarships among poor segments of students, Rana hoped that private players will work in creating conditions wherein underprivileged segments of the society especially women can play their useful role in healthy growth of society after getting empowered by the ornament of education.
He acknowledged the challenges in imparting quality education in the wake of conditions obtaining due to Covid pandemic and appreciated the efforts of the HBET in switching over to online mode effectively. He sought larger coverage of targeted sections of the poor children to get benefitted under the initiative and noted with satisfaction the endeavours to enhance educational capabilities of poor girls, some.
“The Trust has been doing an appreciable and commendable role in the educational and health sectors”, Devender Rana maintained and hoped the endeavour will inspire others to take up social work in a big way. He observed that involvement of philanthropic organizations will greatly help in bringing about desired socio-economic transformation in the society and expressed the hope that haves will come forward in a big way in helping the have-nots to enable them lead harmonious and healthy lives. He particularly sought greater care and compassion for girl children.
Speaking on the occasion, Managing Trustee HBET, Kunil Bhalla gave an overview of the evolution of the Trust and referred to the challenge posed by Covid-19. He hoped that online interaction will greatly help in bridging the distance and direct communication gap. It will also give a platform to improve the learning standards of children covered by the Trust.
Bhalla said the Trust has grown significantly into a region wide literacy programme during the past 23 years with over 3,773 scholarships awarded involving Rs 83 lakhs. He said the HBET operates with the goal of providing educational support and care for children especially from financially weak rural families, 80 per cent of them girls, who are being provided scholarships, tuitions, counselling, laptops, books, clothes, etc.
“In collaboration with the Bee Enn Charitable Trust, we also organize free medical camps which include physical checkups and any medication besides treatments available free of cost, ” he added.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Neelam Bhalla, Trustee, Prof. Rajnikant, S.K Dutta, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Keshav Chopra, S. Sucha Singh, Ayodhya Gupta and others.
