ALIGARH : On International Literacy Day, the Aligarh Muslim University organized a Village Adoption programme at a nearby village, Jarauthi, which includes the five villages of the Aligarh district adopted by the University for their inclusive development. The other villages are Mirzapur, Bhimgarhi, Sumera Dariyapur and Faridpur.
AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah presided over the function while Dr. Balkar Singh, District Magistrate of Aligarh graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Mr. Haji Zameerullah, Member Legislative Assembly from Kol was also present on the occasion.
Addressing a large gathering of villagers, the Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah said that the development of villages is an important job but this target cannot be accomplished by the Aligarh Muslim University alone. The villagers themselves would have to cooperate to attain maximum results.
Lt. Gen. Shah said that the health and education sectors are the most important aspects of rural development, which have caught our attention. He said that a social mobilization and awareness generation programme will be initiated and special camps will be organized to involve villagers in the novel development programme. He said that the most important segment of our developmental programme is concerned with the female education and special efforts will be made to achieve this objective. The Vice Chancellor expressed gratitude towards villagers for their cooperation and help.
Welcoming the initiative, Dr. Balkar Singh, District Magistrate, assured that the district administration will extend all state development projects and schemes to these villages on priority basis. He hoped that the initiative will help transform the village life into a cherished one.
Dr. Singh said that the adoption of villages by AMU will also facilitate closer ties between the University and district administration and the J. N. Medical College of the University will extend its voluntary health services to the village people. He said that a road construction project has also begun for this village with an estimated cost of Rs. 12 crore.
The Chief Development Officer, Mr. D. S. Sachan appreciated the University’s initiative and urged the village people to give full cooperation to the University in carrying out various development programmes.
Addressing on the occasion, AMU Pro-Vice Chancellor Brigadier S. Ahmad Ali said that AMU is sincerely fulfilling its social commitments and efforts will be made to provide the best health and educational facilities to the people of these villages. He pointed out that the alumni of this University living in United States of America have also committed their support to this novel programme. He said that the alumni with medical background have also pledged to serve the people actively.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, Prof. N.A.K. Durrani, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences said that the University has undertaken this project as an outreach activity towards fulfilling its social obligation. He said that volunteers from the Departments of Social Work, Community Medicine, Adult and Continuing Education and the National Service Scheme (NSS) have been involved to play a key role in this programme.
Prof. Durrani pointed out that activities would primarily revolve around social mobilization, awareness generation, literacy, remedial coaching and educational guidance in the selected villages.
Kol MLA Haji Zamirullah also addressed on the occasion. Dr. Shamim Ahmad of Centre for Adult and Continuing Education, AMU, conducted the programme. Students of Department of Social Work presented a short play highlighting the problems, issues and challenges faced by the village people.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor, his wife Mrs. Sabiha Simi Shah, Pro-Vice Chancellor and the Registrar Dr. Asfar Ali Khan planted saplings.
