 Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 13: Kiran Wattal convenor of Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj (VKS) – today received prestigious Bharat Shreshtha Sewa Sanstha Puraskar from Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya in an impressive function held at Gurugram.
He was nominated for the award by Utsav Foundation – a leading social organisation engaged in providing education to young children and skilling them for a sustained livelihood – for his immense contribution and service to society as VKS convenor.
Others awarded on the occasion included US-based Concentrix BM, DLF Cares Foundation, Arindam Foundation, Roop Automative Ltd, Canara HSBC, Joyson Safety System and Selify with daughter foundation. The function, among others, was attended by top officials of Haryana government and prominent persons of the state, besides Utsav Foundation president Raj Nehru, vice-president Pankaj Dhar and treasurer Virender Thakur.
Utsav Foundation’s advisory & mentor board members – Dheera Khandelwal (ex-chief secretary, Haryana), C K Gariyal (former secretary to Tamil Nadu governor), Hanif Qureshi (joint secretary, ministry of heavy industries), Shiv Prasad Sharma (former deputy commissioner, HSVP), Sujata Shahi (vice-chancellor, IILM University), Venkatesh Balasubramanian (professor in IIT, Madras), Sunil Dabas (professor in Dronacharya government PG College, Gurgaon), Dr Shakun Malik from National Institute of Health, USA, B B Gupta (president of JBM group), Rachna Mukherjee (former CHRO Schneider) and Ameeta Mulla Wattal (chairperson & executive director education, DLF Foundation) – were also present.
Wattal – a philanthropist – is associated with several social organisations in J&K. He also heads Shri Amarnathji Yatra Welfare Society (SAYWS) which every year organises free langar for Baba Amarnath devotees visiting J&K from across the country and abroad during all days of the pilgrimage.
He is also actively engaged in promotion of sports in J&K. In the field of gymnastics, J&K has won over 1,000 medals under his presidentship.
He has also done a lot of social work with VKS – a frontline Kashmiri Hindu social & cultural organisation which has from time to time highlighted the grave issues and problems of Kashmiri Pandit samaj before the government.
In a first-of-its-kind medical camp organised by VKS, top doctors from Medanta Medicity, Delhi, and from Jammu had participated. More than 4,000 persons were medically examined in the camp and given free medicines.
VKS also holds ‘Samuhik Yagnopveet’ for all Hindus including girls. It has also revived the old Kashmiri tradition of ‘Har Ratri’ on the eve of Mahashivratri. Also, on the eve of Amarnath Yatra this year, VKS held ‘Mahadev Ka Mahotsav’ on June 29 for pilgrims in collaboration with sister concerns and Tourism Federation of Jammu headed by Rajesh Gupta.
First time, VKS organised an impressive welcome function for idoil of Maa Sharda from Shangeri Math covering a distance of 4,000 kms. Later, VKS took out a yatra to Teetwal near LoC in Kupwara district where SaptRishi calendar of 5099 was also released.
Since 2017, VKS’s sister organisation – Mata Kheer Bhawani Ji Yatra Welfare Society – has become a bridge between the government and Kashmiri Pandit community in conducting the smooth and hassle-free yatra to Tulmulla, Kashmir. In 2020, VKS conducted a mega sports carnival at Kashmiri Migrants Camp at Jagti with the government support. More than 400 boys and girls had participated in different games like cricket, volleyball, football, kho-kho, badminton, kushti, chess and athletics.
VKS has also been holding awareness programmes on dowry, drugs addiction and skill development.
An engineer by profession, Wattal – a multifaceted personality – is credited with taking Jammu Municipal Corporation to new heights during his tenure as its commissioner.
He has also served as Managing Director of J&K Housing Board, Chief Engineer of UEED and Secretary, J&K State Sports Council.
He started his career in August, 1978 as site engineer in GAMMON INDIA LTD and was put on the job of specialised bridge construction. He joined the J&K government service in 1980 and independently handled the job of construction of lined canals, cross drainage works, roads and buildings. In January 1985, he opted for municipal services as Assistant Engineer and monitored various jobs of civic amenities, improvement of slum areas and low cost sanitation management of solid waste. |
