Srinagar, Sep 18 (KNS) : In a significant endeavour to deepen awareness and foster empathy around HIV/AIDS afflicted persons, the Academic Division of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society (JKACS), organized a UT and Divisional Level Red Ribbon Quiz Competitions simultaneously at Jammu & Srinagar.

The 19 participating teams of the final competitions were drawn from school-level and District level rounds engaging about700 across the UT, a testament to the event’s wide-reaching impact.

One team each from 19 districts of the UT participated in divisional-level competitions.

The final result at UT-level declared the team of Aalam Shah Convent School (ASCS), Banihal, Ramban at first place winning the cash prize of Rs. 10,000/-, followed by Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Arihal, Pulwama at second place with cash prize of Rs. 8,000/- and D.S Education Institution, Rajouri in third place with cash prize of Rs. 6,000/-.The winner team will participate in the regional level event at Haryana on 22nd of this month.

Secretary, JKBOSE, Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, who inaugurated these competitions, urged the students for showing compassion towards those living with the AIDS virus.

“The society must exhibit genuine concern towards AIDS victims. Those unfortunate people need our empathy not mere sympathy. They are integral members of society, worthy of equal respect and acceptance. Awareness is the best preventive means to save the society from this menace,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe also expressed his satisfaction over the collaborative effort of JKBOSE and JKACS to work for this important cause.

Dr. Monika Wali, Special Guest of Honor and in-charge IEC, JKACS, in her address emphasized on the transformative role of knowledge in eradicating prejudice. “Knowledge is the antidote to stigma, and initiatives like these are invaluable channels for spreading awareness,” she observed.

Dr. Sudhir Singh, Director Academics underscored the value of such programs. “Each team displayed remarkable preparation and dedication to understand AIDS-related issues. The purpose of the programme is to educate the students to save society from this fatal disease. Students shall act as beacon of light in spreading awareness in society," he added.

Joint Secretaries of JKBOSE, other senior officers of JKACS and JKBOSE, organizers of the competitions and the students of participating institutions were also present on the occasion.

Pertinently, the Red Ribbon Quiz Competition stands as a beacon of JKBOSE and JKACS’s commitment to cultivate a well-informed, empathetic society. Through education and open dialogue, this initiative encourages young individuals to embrace empathy and reject prejudice. With continued efforts in this direction, JKBOSE and JKACS are paving the way for a future where understanding and compassion thrive, laying the foundation for a united community.(KNS)