KATRA: Reinforcing its commitment to social welfare and community development, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) on Tuesday extended support to 40 underprivileged students residing at Disha Chhatravas, Kadmal, managed by Sewa Bharti, Jammu and Kashmir.
The residential hostel provides education, accommodation and other essential facilities to children from economically weaker sections of society belonging to different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
On behalf of the Shrine Board, Additional Chief Executive Officer Alok Kumar Maurya, along with other Shrine Board officials, distributed sports equipment, sports shoes and tracksuits to the students at the hostel.
The sports kits included volleyball nets and balls, footballs, badminton rackets, shuttlecocks and nets, table tennis rackets, nets and balls, cricket bats, rings, carrom boards and chess sets. In addition, 40 pairs of sports shoes and tracksuits were provided to the students.
The Shrine Board, under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, said the initiative is aimed at promoting the welfare, education and overall development of students from underprivileged backgrounds while encouraging their participation in sports alongside academics.
Officials said the initiative seeks to instil discipline, teamwork and healthy lifestyle habits among young students through greater engagement in sporting activities.
The Shrine Board has consistently undertaken community-focused initiatives in the fields of education, healthcare and environmental sustainability across the region. The latest initiative reflects its continued commitment to inclusive growth and the holistic development of society, particularly the younger generation in Reasi district.
In a parallel initiative, the Shrine Board also distributed high-quality sports shoes to ten promising athletes of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex, Katra, to support their training and encourage excellence in sports.
Among those present on the occasion were Director Sports Dhruv Gupta, Assistant Conservator of Forests Vinay Khajuria, other Shrine Board officers, representatives of Sewa Bharti and the beneficiary students.
