Meri Mati Mera Desh: PS SED Alok Kumar chairs mega event at HSS Sunjwan. Tribute paid to martyrs who laid down their lives for the country.

GNS ONLINE RAJOURI 
SHYAM SOOD

RAJOURI, AUGUST 11:–2 lakh students shall be taken to heritage for better exposure sites: Alok Kumar

Being patriotic towards the Nation is everybody’s responsibility: Alok Kumar.

As a part of ongoing various programs under the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign, Samagra Shiksha J&K ( SS J&K) under the ambit of the School Education Department (SED) organised a mega event on Friday at HSS, Sunjwan (Jammu) to pay homage to the motherland and salute to the valour and sacrifices of Martyrs and honour the heroes.
Nation-wide ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ Campaign was launched on August 9 to pay tribute to the ‘Veers’ who laid down their lives for the country & till August 30 various programs will be held at the village, and block levels, by local urban bodies, as well as state and national level.
Principal Secretary SED, Alok Kumar was the Chief Guest in the program at HSS Sunjwan while other dignitaries present include Project Director SSJ&K, Deep Raj; Director SED Jammu, Ashok K. Sharma; Director Finance SED, Iftikhar Hussain: Special Secretary, Kanta Devi; Anu Behl, JD Planning, Parshotam Kumar; DD Planning, Bilal Rashid; Field Advisor, Jagdeep K. Padha;CEO Jammu, Suraj Rathore, State Coordinators, Principals, Local public representatives, teachers, & students of the various Institutions.
The program started with the lighting of the Lamp, followed by the Sarswati Vandana and a group of cultural events by students of various schools.
Deputy Director, Bilal Rashid presented a welcome address.
“Being patriotic towards the nation is everyone’s responsibility. There is no nation without people and vice-versa. Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign is to honour the country’s martyred Brave hearts, who sacrificed their lives for the safety and security of the general masses” said Alok Kumar.
By connecting with the land and honouring our heroes, this program will instill a sense of national pride and inspire future generations to protect India's cherished heritage, he maintained.
He reiterated School Education Department is the largest department and the message of the Prime Minister should reach to every nook and corner of the UT through students & teachers.
Alok Kumar informed that “In the memory of these luminaries, special inscriptions will also be installed in various schools and many schools have been renamed, to honour the martyrs,” said Alok Kumar.
Alok Kumar informed that ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ shall be organised across the UT of J&K.
To make ‘Amrit Vatika’ in Delhi, ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ will be carried out by taking soil from every corner of the country in 7500 urns. This ‘Amrit Vatika’ will be a symbol of commitment towards ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
Alok Kumar further said that 188000 Students shall be taken to the heritage sites for better exposure, 1880 Students shall be sent outside the UT on exposure visit & excursion trips shall also be organised for more than 1.5 Lakh Students to make students aware of our rich heritage and instill moral values in them.
Earlier, Project Director Samagra Shiksha, Deep Raj informed that Samagra Shiksha is always committed to the holistic development of the students and has taken several strides in J&K for providing better learning avenues to the students in the form of civil infrastructure, ICT labs, sports equipment, library books and uniform.
“About 1352 smart classrooms, 376 Astro Physics Labs, and 800 ICT Labs shall be set up in next 4 months along with open gym in different Senior Secondary schools under the supervision of Principal Secretary, SED,” said Deep Raj.
Paanch Pran Pledge was also taken on this occasion by those present in this program. Selfies with Diya and Maati were also clicked, with the Tiranga in hands, and a plantation drive was also launched by Principal Secretary and about 100 saplings were planted on this occasion.