JAMMU, October 27: In a grand ceremonial event, Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta flagged off a 400-member strong Jammu and Kashmir contingent of the Amrit Kalash Yatra, as part of the “Meri Mati Mera Desh” (Mitti Ko Naman Veeron Ko Vandan) initiative, bound for New Delhi. The event, held at the Conventional Centre in Jammu, saw the participation of key dignitaries including Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home R. K. Goel, Commissioner Secretary GAD Sanjeev Verma, Secretary Culture Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, and other Administrative Secretaries, along with law enforcement officials and a multitude of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members from across the Union Territory.
The ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of a lamp by the Chief Guest and other esteemed dignitaries. During the event, Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta led a pledge, known as “PanchPran (Pratigya),” with participants, underscoring the commitment to developing the country as a developed nation by 1947.
As a symbolic gesture of solidarity with fellow countrymen, the Chief Secretary and other dignitaries placed soil (Mitti) in a Kalash (pot) under ‘muthibharmitti’ during the program.
Dr. Mehta praised the remarkable achievement of the initiative, with a staggering 83 lakh people from Jammu and Kashmir participating in “Meri Maati Mera Desh,” marking the highest participation based on the population ratio of the States/Union Territories in the country. He commended all those who contributed to making this feat a reality.
The Chief Secretary also commended the concerned departments for their efforts in ensuring the success of the initiative. Various events were organized at the panchayat and block levels, and soil was collected from every household, symbolizing the rich cultural, linguistic, and social diversity of India.
Dr. Mehta emphasized that the Union Territory has achieved top-ranking status in various fields due to the combined efforts of its people and administration. He encouraged every household in Jammu and Kashmir to take pride in the rapid pace of development achieved in recent years.
Dr. Mehta noted that the Union Territory now consistently ranks among the top performers in the country in numerous national-level programs.
Earlier, Secretary Culture Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah highlighted the activities conducted during the first phase of the event at the panchayat and block levels. He also addressed the representatives who are set to participate in the final program in New Delhi on the 31st of this month.
In addition to flagging off the Amrit Kalash Yatra, the Chief Secretary initiated a plantation drive as part of ‘Vasudha Vandhan’ by planting a tree on the premises. He also unveiled a Shilaphalakam in the same area, celebrating the creation of the highest number of such structures in the Union Territory.
The Amrit Kalash Yatra contains soil from each household, collected at the block level, and will be transported to New Delhi by a volunteer for the creation of a national monument known as AmritVatika.
The Chief Secretary extended his commendations to all stakeholders for the successful culmination of this year-long program. The Jammu and Kashmir contingent comprises nearly 400 volunteers, each representing a block and Urban Local Body (ULB) of the Union Territory. The teams will be led by officers from the culture department and District-level nodal officers to ensure the smooth progress of this journey to the National Capital.
