Early Times Report KATHUA, Feb 27: Under the aegis of the Directorate of Colleges, Higher Education, Government Degree College (GDC) Kathua-the Lead College of District Kathua-organized a comprehensive Inter-College Road Safety Awareness Programme. The event featured Painting and Slogan Writing competitions aimed at sensitizing the youth toward traffic discipline, responsible driving, and the critical importance of road safety in daily life. The program was graced by Mr. Surinder Paul Sharma RTO Kathua & Shammi Kumar, ARTO Kathua, who attended as the Special Guests. In an insightful address, Sharma educated students on traffic regulations, the life-saving necessity of helmets and seatbelts, and the hazards of over-speeding and mobile phone usage while driving. He called upon the youth to act as responsible road users and ambassadors for safety within society. The event saw enthusiastic participation from various institutions, including GDC Basohli, GDC Mahanpur, GDC Hiranagar, GDC Marheen, GDC Ramkot, GDCW Kathua & GDC Kathua. A total of 48 students competed, with 28 participating in the Painting Competition and 26 in the Slogan Writing category. Students displayed exceptional creativity, originality, and awareness through their vibrant paintings and impactful slogans conveying strong messages on road safety and civic responsibility. In the Painting Competition, Sakshi from GDC Kathua secured the first position. Mannat Badgal from GDC Marheen and Sunny from GDC Hiranagar earned the second and third positions, respectively. A consolation prize was also awarded to Rupakshi from GDC Kathua. The Slogan Writing Competition saw Mr. Sunny from GDC Hiranagar take the top spot. Riya Chadak from GDC Kathua earned second position, while Suman Sharma, also from GDC Kathua, took third. Consolation prizes in this category were awarded to Pallvi Choudhary and Siya Salaria. The winners were praised for their innovative ideas and their dedication to promoting road safety messages. All participants received certificates in recognition of their efforts. Following their success, the first-place winners from each category will move on to represent Kathua District at the Divisional Level Road Safety Competitions. The first-position winners from each category will now represent Kathua District at the Divisional Level Road Safety Competitions. Dr. Manohar Lal, Principal of GDC Kathua, emphasized the pivotal role of educational institutions in shaping law-abiding citizens. He lauded the active involvement of the participating colleges and encouraged students to translate their awareness into action. Dr. Neelima Gupta, Convenor of the Road Safety Club, highlighted that continuous engagement is essential to fostering a culture of accountability among young citizens. |