Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda, today inaugurated remodeled building of PALAASH 'Children Home' for Boys here.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Director General, SWD, Vivek Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Rahul Pandey, Mission Director, Vatsalya/ Shakti, Harvinder Kour, DC State Taxes Ranjeet Singh, PO ICDS and other concerned officials.
While dedicating the revamped building of Bal Ashram which has been renamed as PALAASH, Commissioner Secretary said that the idea of remodelling these assets is to reflect the idea of new beginnings and growth, which is what Palaash stands for.
Sheetal Nanda further said, "Palaash is a place where children from vulnerable sections of society can come and receive care, education and protection. It is a space where they can find hope and build a brighter future for themselves.
The renaming of Bal Ashram as Palaash is a symbolic step towards this goal." Palaash has been designed to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for children who are orphaned, abandoned or come from troubled backgrounds.
The Ashram has a team of trained professionals who provide counseling, education and healthcare services to the children. Palaash also offers vocational training, recreational activities, and skill-building programs to prepare the children for a better future.
“The inauguration of Palaash marks a new beginning for the children who will call it home. The Ashram is committed to ensure that every child who comes here receives the best possible care and support to achieve their full potential”, she added
While throwing light on the upcoming initiative of the Social Welfare Department, Commissioner Secretary disclosed that every district across the UT of JK shall have dedicated Care Centres for Boys and Girls separately.
Commissioner Secretary appreciated the efforts of district administration and District Social Welfare Office for accomplishing the task of remodelling Bal Ashram within the set timelines.
She further called for utilizing the facilities of care centres for better upkeep of vulnerable children besides supervising the needs of the deserving children.
Commissioner Secretary further exhorted upon the team of Social Welfare Office Kathua to form committees of inmates so as to infuse among them the sense of ownership, belongingness and responsibility.
Earlier, Sheetal Nanda toured the remodelled PALAASH complex and suggested a number of measures to further improve the facilities for the inmates.
During the inaugural ceremony, inmates of PALAASH and PARISHA (Naari Niketan) presented a host of activities including Yoga, Zumba, Dogri, Punjabi cultural performances and sports activities wherein the participants were also awarded on the occasion.
It was informed that remodeled building has come up with a cost of Rs. 40 Lakh under the Mission Vatsalya of Social Welfare Department with the aim of providing state of the art facilities in Child Care Centres.