Jammu,March 27 (Scoop News) – Mrs. Usha Vohra, First Lady, has called for further intensifying the activities of the Association for Social Health in India (ASHI) to bring an increased number of beneficiaries under the umbrella of its initiatives.
The First Lady, who is the President, ASHI (J&K Chapter) was chairing the Governing Body and Annual General Body Meetings of ASHI, here today.
Expressing her satisfaction over the significant growth in the activities of ASHI, Mrs. Vohra observed that all members of the society need to contribute meaningfully for helping the underprivileged segments and making their lives easier. In this context, she emphasized the need for according much greater thrust on safe drinking water, sanitation, health, literacy and skill upgradation programmes being undertaken by ASHI. She stressed on the ASHI members to focus on adult literacy programmes alongside its ongoing efforts for ensuring education to all the children, particularly girls, in the adopted villages, as education can make the real difference in promoting speedy socio-economic empowerment.
Referring to the Health Sub-Centre which she had recently inaugurated at Jagti, the First Lady stressed for fully equipping this Sub-Centre to provide the best possible medicare services to the needy elements living in this area.
Referring to the Self-Help Groups set up by ASHI, Mrs. Vohra said that possibilities need to be explored for working out some arrangement with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for purchase of various products prepared by these Groups.
The First Lady presented a cheque of Rs. 5 lakh, on behalf of the Governor, as a token of support to the various activities of ASHI and asked for mopping up resources to give continuing momentum to its activities.
The First Lady, while reviewing the functioning of two short-stay homes – Neha Ghar and Apna Ghar – run by ASHI, underlined the need for undertaking skill upgradation programmes for the inmates of Neha Ghar.
The meeting also took stock of the action taken on the decisions of the last meeting and approved the Budget and Action Plan of ASHI for the next financial year (2012-13).
Ms. Sushma Choudhary, Vice President, ASHI (J&K Chapter) made a detailed presentation to highlight the various activities which have been so far undertaken by this NGO and, besides, its future Action Plan. She informed the meeting about the new initiatives taken by ASHI in Jagti and Panjgrain Panchayats which had been adopted by it. She also dwelt on the measures undertaken for the betterment of the inmates of Neha Ghar and Apna Ghar and expressed her gratitude to the Governor for providing a support of Rs. 5 lakh to ASHI for carrying out its activities. She thanked the First Lady for taking keen interest in the implementation of the various initiatives being taken by ASHI for the welfare and rehabilitation of the women and children in distress.
The Members of ASHI put forth several suggestions for bringing progressive improvements in the activities being carried out by this organization.
Mrs. Seema Khajooria Shekhar, Joint Secretary ASHI, dwelt on the main activities undertaken by ASHI during the past one year.
Among those who also attended the meeting included Prof. Hemla Aggarwal, Treasurer, ASHI; Dr. Ved Kumari Ghai; senior functionaries and members of ASHI.