Anuradha Raj, the president of AWWA, Trishakti Corps, after presenting a wheelchair to a disabled girl; , Lt Gen. P.K. Goel presents a trophy to the principal of Army Public School, Bengdubi

A welfare camp for challenged people was organised jointly by the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and the Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA), Trishakti Corps, on August 6.

The camp, in which about 150 challenged people, including children from Sukna, Gangtok, Darjeeling, Bengdubi, Binnaguri and Kalimpong participated, was presided over by Anuradha Raj, the president of AWWA, Trishakti Corps.

An audiologist and an optometrist from NIVH were
present at the camp which was held at Trishakti Corps .

For non-government organisations like North Bengal Council for the Disabled, Prerana Education Centre Siliguri, Howrah South Point Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri Welfare Organisation, North Bengal Handicap Rehabilitation Society, Siliguri, and Goodricke School for Special Education, the programme was an ideal opportunity to help the needy.

The AWWA president distributed 97 wheelchairs, 356 hearing aids, 30 walking sticks, 28 tri-wheelers and 300 low vision aids among others to the disabled. Of the 97 wheelchairs, 28 were small, while rest were large,

Spectacles, folding sticks and cricket balls were also given away at the camp.

Green drive

The army launched a massive afforestation drive in the New Military Station, Gangtok, on August 4. The governor of Sikkim, B.P. Singh, and his wife Karuna Singh were the chief guests on the occasion.

Sing and his spouse planted one sapling each, followed by Major General Sanjiv Chachra, the general officer commanding, other officers, junior commissioned officers, jawans and their families. Children of Army School Gangtok were also a part of the drive.

Around 5,000 saplings of different varieties were planted on the day. The saplings were provided by the Sikkim Forest Department.

A similar drive is being undertaken by the army in other places of Sikkim as well.

School meet

The annual meeting of principals of Army Public Schools under Eastern Command and nominated chairmen of Army Schools or Army Public Schools of other commands was held on August 7 and 8.

The meet, held at Army Public School Bengdubi, was presided over by Lt Gen. P.K. Goel, chief of staff, the headquarters Eastern Command, and chairman of board of administration.

The managing director, Army Welfare Education Society, Major General Manmohan Singh, chairman, Army Public School, Bengdubi, Brigadier S.P.S. Bhalla, director of schools, AWES, Colonel B.S. Braria and many others attended the meet.

The theme of the meeting was “Energising Classroom Environment in Army Schools”, with a special emphasis on the growing educational needs of the up-coming generation and the society.

Army Public School, Bengdubi has had a proud history of producing the best results, including attaining first position in Class XII CBSE Board Examinations among all Army Public Schools in 2008.

Apart from academic excellence, Army Public School, Bengdubi, had also excelled in sports and co-curricular activities and had been adjudged the Best Army School in Eastern Command for 2006-2007.