Ganderbal, Mar 17: (KNS)  Continuing with its community outreach programme, the Women’s Empowerment Committee and HELD Change Programme of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) and Middle School Babasaleh Wednesday organised a series of events at Babasaleh here to commemorate the International Women’s Day.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said the prime objective of adopting the Babasaleh village by the university is to provide adequate support for the overall growth and development of educational institutions in the area. “Education empowers communities and CUK endeavours to help the teaching staff to uplift the educational standards in the area,” Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said. Citing examples of students, belonging to impoverished class who passed the recent 10th and 12th standard examinations with flying colours, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir remarked that hard work is key to success and asked the students to follow their footsteps.

Addressing the gathering, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said the university would soon arrange tours for the school children of the area to the Central University of Kashmir so that they would get fully acquainted with the university set up. He also asked the community members to identify the areas wherein they need the help and support of the university functionaries. 

Finance Officer and Project Director DIC, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka, said that DIC is contemplating to establish a training centre in the area wherein the people would be given skill based training in various traditional arts and crafts. He further said the university would also try to provide computer training to the school students so that they would be fully equipped to work on the machines.

Controller of Examinations, and Chairperson, WEC, Prof. Parveen Pandit, said the university has already done health profiling of the area inhabitants by conducting medical camp and provided medicines to the needy. She said the varsity would provide all necessary support to the Middle School to churn out academically sound students who will excel in their respective fields.

Senior Professor DoE, Prof. Nighat Basu, said the university would identify the areas at Babasaleh wherein the intervention is needed and would do it accordingly. She asked the parents of children, especially girls, to educate their wards and allow them for higher studies.

Babasaleh Middle School Headmaster, Muhammad Ashraf Reshi, thanked the CUK functionaries for adopting the school and holding the function. He said the area was educationally backward and sought the help of the university authorities to further strengthen the school education set up.

Thereafter, the students of the university and middle school performed various cultural activities and enthralled the audience.(KNS)