Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul is the center of knowledge and wisdom: LG Sinha

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the celebration of the 37th founding day of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the 12th annual day of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul, Charan Paduka, Katra today at the Matrika auditorium of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.

On this occasion, the Lieutenant Governor laid the foundation stone for various Shrine Board and Gurukul projects, including a new hostel for the expansion of Gurukul and accommodation facilities for Shrine Board employees in Ardhkuwari and Banganga. .

In another important welfare measure for Shrine Board employees, the Lieutenant Governor announced hardship pay for 1,450 SMVDSB employees stationed at Higher Altitude.

The Lieutenant Governor also rolled out a new RFID system for passenger convenience. The system will provide seamless access control with minimal hassle for worshipers. For better crowd management and tracking of the Yatries, 29 counters and control rooms have been set up in Katra and verification counters have been set up at 7 locations on the track.

He was further informed that the works on the spiritual theme park will commence before the auspicious occasion of Navratras.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated all members, stakeholders and all associated with the Board of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul on the Foundation Day.

Observing that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul is the center of knowledge and wisdom, the Lieutenant Governor said that the Gurukul is a perfect medium to develop future leaders who will be well accustomed to modern, traditional and spiritual education.

Over the past 12 years, the Gurukul has paved the way for J&K’s strong spiritual and cultural foundation. Gurukul’s affiliation with Central Sanskrit University in New Delhi is an important step towards reviving Sanskrit in J&K and connecting students with science and spirituality, he added.

At Gurukul, we must encourage original ideas among students and nurture their spirits so that they can learn higher life values ​​and devote themselves to nation building. We should strive to make necessary changes to the curriculum in accordance with the National Education Policy, the Lieutenant Governor urged stakeholders.

Over the past two years, we have been trying to reshape J&K’s education system in accordance with the National Education Policy. Work has been done to develop all institutions, from the school level to the university level, as centers of consciousness change. Today, our young people prioritize service to society as well as personal aspirations and this is a notable transformation after a long time, the Lieutenant Governor said.

We have launched several important initiatives over the past two years, including the flagship “Student-Teacher Mentoring” program, which is a revolutionary step towards improving learning outcomes by identifying learning gaps. At Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul also, teachers will have the opportunity to radically change their method of teaching by assessing the needs, abilities and interests of students. It will also lead to commensurate changes to the curriculum to inculcate ideas based on future requirements, he added.

The Lieutenant Governor appreciated the management’s efforts for Central Sanskrit University affiliation and the expansion of the Gurukul with respect to student admission.

The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the measures taken to cater for the needs of the 8-9 lakh devotees who visit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine every month.

On this occasion, we must also recall the key role of Shri Jagmohan ji, former governor of the former J&K in the constitution of the SMVD Shrine Board, said the lieutenant governor.

Keeping in mind the heavy rush of devotees, we are constantly improving the facilities to make their pilgrimage hassle-free. Over the past two years, new projects have been sanctioned for better facilities and resources and significant steps have also been taken for crowd management at the Holy Shrine. Work on Sky Walk will be complete by December, the lieutenant governor said.

The Memorandum of Understanding between National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) and Katra Development Authority which was signed on August 30, 2022 will establish one of its intermodal stations for enthusiasts bringing services like the heliport, train station, bus stop, automatic stop, parking lot, five-star hotels and other modern facilities in one place, he added.

Enlisting a host of new initiatives being taken to ensure that pilgrims around the world benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and further strengthen the link between the local economy and pilgrimage, the Lieutenant Governor said the government was working to development and promotion. of the spiritual tourism circuit. Efforts are being made for the conservation and revitalization of spiritual cultural heritage and to integrate prominent spiritual and religious places like Purmandal-Utterbehni, Mansar-Surinsar and Shiv Khori into the country’s religious tourism circuit, which will also generate livelihood opportunities for residents, the lieutenant governor said.

No less than 18 conservation projects of places with spiritual cultural significance have been started in Jammu, Kathua, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Udhampur which have been neglected for years. After seven decades of waiting, all these sites will be restored and the surrounding infrastructure will also be developed and comprehensive and holistic development of the whole area will be ensured, the Lieutenant Governor added.

The Lieutenant Governor also said that strict action will be taken in accordance with the law against those guilty of alleged irregularities in the examination for recruitment of the sub-inspector, financial accounts assistant and junior engineer.

There have been complaints about irregularities in the recruitment examination of the sub-inspector, assistant accountant and junior engineer. A high-level committee investigated the allegations without delay and in view of the committee’s recommendation, the investigation into these three reviews was handed over to the CBI, the lieutenant governor said.

I want to assure young people that there will be no compromise on transparency and merit. Justice will be assured, their ability and merit will be respected and strict action will be taken against all those elements who have unethically attempted to harm the future of deserving aspirants, the Lieutenant Governor said.

Mahamandleshwar Shri Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Member and Chairman of the Board, observed that in a short period of 12 years since its inception in 2010, the Gurukul has made a name by providing quality education in Sanskrit and other subjects and expressed confidence that it will establish itself as a center of excellence very soon.

Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, in his remarks acknowledging the unprecedented emotional connection with the shrine, hailed the achievements made so far and highlighted the pleasant and hassle-free experience for visiting pilgrims.

Sh Anshul Garg, Managing Director of SMVDSB, in his welcoming remarks, highlighted the initiatives taken under the leadership of the Honorable Lieutenant Governor to facilitate pilgrims initiated in a very short time by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board as the mobile app, Pooja Prasad / Panch Mewa Prasad home delivery, 24 hour call center for yatri facilitation, installation of high-tech video walls, construction of Durga Bhawan, e-library, queue management Yatri (Sky walk) queue, underground wiring project and RFID project.

He also thanked the Chief Secretary for giving his full support to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in times of need. He also informed the assembly of the efforts made to continue to improve the functioning of Gurukul.

Dr. Dhananjay Mishra, Director of Gurukul, presented the institution’s annual report while Gurukul students performed an impressive Sanskrit play “Bharat Vijayam”, which was highly praised by the audience.

The Lieutenant Governor congratulated deserving students who have excelled in academics and various other extracurricular activities over the past year.

The Lieutenant Governor has published a book “Gurukulodayam” tracing the founding and development of the Gurukul-an Institute of Sanskrit learning. He also opened a photo exhibit capturing the pilgrim-centered services and social support interventions of the Shrine Board since 1986.

On this occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also laid the electronic foundations for the new Accommodation and Catering Complex at SMVD Gurukul and the Nature Interpretation Center and Seed Bank at Kunia Nursery, Panthal.

An impressive presentation of Bhagawati Stuti, Bhajan, cultural program by the students was among the main highlights of the event.

Sanctuary Board Members: – Sh Baleshwar Rai; Dr. Ashok Bhan, Dr. Neelam Sareen, Sh Suresh Kumar Sharma, Sh Raghu K. Mehta; Teacher. Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor, Central Sanskrit University Delhi; Teacher. (Dr.) Ravindra Kumar Sinha, VC SMVDU; Dr. Sanjeev Jain, VC Central University Jammu was present on the occasion.

Padma Shri Vishwamurti Shastri, SMVD Gurukul Director; Sh Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Sh Ramesh Kumar, Jammu Divisional Commissioner; Mrs. Babila Rakwal, Deputy Commissioner Reasi, in addition to students, faculty members and prominent citizens also attended the ceremony to celebrate the founding day of the Shrine Council and the annual day of SMVD Gurukul.