#KATHUA: In an effort to bolster voter turnout and foster democratic values, a unique mega voter awareness activity took place at picturesque Purthu in Basohli, alongside the famous Ranjit Sagar Lake.

The event, which saw synchronization of para motor sailing with a pool of water boats, immersed the iconic location in the fervor of upcoming elections.

Asha and Anganwadi workers, adorned with placards and specially made election invitation cards issued by District Election Cell, highlighted the district administration’s resolve to motivate all to participate in upcoming elections scheduled for April 19.

The event captured attention of both locals and tourists, who joined Voter Pledge ceremony, marking their commitment to exercising their democratic right. A dedicated wall served as a reminder for voters not to overlook their duty to vote, a fundamental aspect of India’s democratic principles.

Participants were equipped with wristbands by the District Election Cell, turning them into ambassadors for voter awareness, ensuring the message reaches a broader audience ahead of elections on April 19. They were provided informative pamphlets exhibiting step-wise voting procedure to spread message in their respective locations

Speaking on the occasion, ADC Basohli, Anil Thakur emphasized the pivotal role of such events in reminding people to elect their representatives, devoid of societal biases, and without fail.

CEO, BBDA, Ajeet Singh, highlighted the lasting impact of event at iconic Purthu on electorate’s memory, encouraging them to exercise their right to franchise on April 19.

JAMMU: The 23rd Sub-Junior National Wushu Championship for boys and girls took off today in Jammu. The event, being organized by the Wushu Association of J&K in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council in the Gymnasium Hall of Jammu University, was declared open by Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull today.

More than 1500 boys and girls from different parts of the country are participating in the event

In her address, Nuzhat Gull congratulated the participants of the guest states and UTs for making it to the grand event.

The Secretary Sports Council thanked the Directorate of Sports and Physical Education for its cooperation and support in the conduct of this event.

The Bureau Chief of Times Now, Pradeep Dutta who was the guest of honour on the occasion, also shared his views with the participants and the guests present on the occasion.

Earlier, the General Secretary Wushu Association of India, Vijay Saraf, presented a welcome speech and gave a brief gist of the event.

While the presentation ceremony was folding, Kuldeep Handoo presented the vote of thanks.

The six-day event will conclude on the 2nd of April.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today felicitated the medal winners of National and International Competitions for the years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The Lt Governor congratulated all the athletes and coaches on their outstanding performances.

A total 368 sportspersons, from 17 disciplines, received special cash awards amounting to Rs 1.35 crore directly in their Bank accounts through DBT mode. Rs 12 lakh awarded to Aqsa Gulzar and Sohan Kamotra was awarded with Rs 8 lakh cash award, in Pencak Silat and Chess disciplines, respectively.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor inaugurated a State-of-the-Art Synthetic Football Turf costing Rs 4.83 Cr at Parade Ground, Jammu. He also laid the foundation stone of the Synthetic Hockey Field at Bandhurakh worth Rs 4.85 Cr.

“Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, we have built modern sports infrastructure, providing world-class training and mentoring to athletes and all other supports to ensure J&K’s sportspersons are able to achieve excellence in national and international sporting events,” the Lt Governor said.

The Lt Governor extended his felicitations to the Para teams and women athletes for their remarkable feat in major sporting events.

He said, the recent successes in Asian Para Games, National Games, National School Games of athletes and players from J&K have kindled brighter hope of an upswing in performances in many more international events.

The Lt Governor said that our Sports Icons are the true inspiration for the youth of Jammu Kashmir and the efforts of the government to take sports to villages, far-flung and border areas have bridged the decades-old gap between talents and the opportunities.

Adequate sports infrastructure, new sports policy, upgradation in the quality of coaches, youth engagement drives at Panchayat Level, LG rolling trophy and various other initiatives will create a robust sports culture involving all sections and secure attractive career track for athletes, he said.

A total of 702 sports projects have been completed in the last few years. Two athletic tracks, one each at Jammu University and Kashmir University; five synthetic hockey fields and two synthetic football fields have been constructed at Pulwama, Srinagar, Jammu, Poonch, Nagrota. Further, more athletic tracks, synthetic hockey and synthetic football fields are coming up at Jammu, Poonch, Sopore, Srinagar, Shopian, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Jagti Nagrota and Rajouri, the Lt Governor further added.

The Lt Governor commended the endeavours of Sports Department, Sports Council and associations for promoting sports activities in Jammu Kashmir.

He also highlighted the commitment of J&K Administration towards the welfare of the sportspersons bringing laurels to the country and the Union Territory. We are determined to complete the recruitment process of sportspersons at the earliest, he added.

The Lt Governor interacted with the sportspersons and handed over sports kits and equipments to the budding players.

Sh Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; Sh Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary, Youth Services & Sports; Ms Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, J&K Sports Council; senior officials, eminent sports personalities and youth in large number were present.

#JAMMU: Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Yasha Mudgal today flagged off a group of 25 adventure enthusiasts from Railway station here to undertake a 17-day Special Combined Paragliding Course at  NIMAS Training area in Seppa, Arunachal Pradesh, renowned for adventure sports education.

The course is scheduled from March 12 to March 28, 2024 and will encompass three levels – Basic, Intermediate, and Advance (P1, P2, & P3), catering to the diverse skill sets of the participants.

Speaking on the occasion, Yasha Mudgal highlighted on the  tremendous potential of Jammu as an adventure tourism hotspot. She  stressed on the importance of capitalizing this potential of Jammu and make it leading adventurous destination of the country.

She commended the Directorate of Tourism Jammu for these kind of initiatives, noting its pivotal role in leveraging the region’s natural beauty and diverse landscapes to attract adventure enthusiasts worldwide.

She expressed confidence in the participants ability to excel in their paragliding endeavours, solidifying Jammu’s reputation as a premier destination for adventure tourism.

Joint Director, Tourism Jammu on the occasion highlighted the significance of nurturing local talent, underscoring how this initiative will contribute to the overall development of Jammu region as a prime adventure tourism destination .

Pertinently, this  initiative aims to cultivate local talent, invigorate adventure tourism and elevate Jammu as a premier adventure tourism destination. This special combined paragliding course not only provides a platform for adventure enthusiasts to hone their skills but also aligns with the government’s vision to promote adventure tourism and position the region as a premier destination.

During their interaction with the media, participants expressed gratitude to the Tourism Department for the initiative and conveyed hopes for its transformative impact on adventure tourism, envisioning a future where Jammu becomes a global hub for thrill-seekers and adventurers alike.

Notably, Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, in collaboration with the Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) and Jammu Adventure Sports Association (JASA), has conducted comprehensive water surveys across all districts of Jammu Division. These surveys have yielded valuable recommendations, pinpointing specific locations for activities like paragliding at Aitham, Dhanwa, Billo ki Paudi, Mokhri, and water-based activities in various locations. Additionally, 38 new trekking routes have been identified, further enhancing adventure tourism offerings in the region.