IIT Jammu’s Dynamic Impact: Empowering Youth and Enhancing Rural Livelihoods
The Department of Continuing Education & Outreach at IIT Jammu, in collaboration with its Unnat Bharat Abhiyan cell, welcomed 95 students from High School Dharamkot of Billawar, Kathua, UT of Jammu and Kashmir on 12th December 2023. The students actively engaged in laboratory demonstrations at the Tinkerer’s Lab, Central Workshop, and Physics lab, led by respective staff members: Mr. Israil and Mr. Gautam, Dr. Krishan Kumar and Mr. Aurl, and Mr. Sumit and Mr. Arjun. During the sessions, students posed numerous questions, all of which were patiently addressed by the staff.
Post their visit, Dr. Riya Bhowmik and Ms. Jeyoti Kaul interacted with the students and received a briefing about the academic and overall environment of the institute.
Later, Dr. Karan Nathwani conducted an interactive session with the students, discussing the role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in our daily lives. The final session before their departure was hosted by Dr. Badri N Subudhi.
Following this event, the Outreach team, comprising Prof. Rakesh Singhai, Dr. Riya Bhowmik, and Ms. Jeyoti Kaul, visited the village of Panjgrain to felicitate five higher secondary students from local schools who successfully completed the Computer Literacy Program at IIT Jammu’s Computer labs. This program was organized by the social club (Kritash) and UBA. The felicitation ceremony also acknowledged ten trainees, primarily homemakers, who completed the Skill Training Program in Screen Printing and are on the path to self-sufficiency. The ceremony took place in the presence of Mr. Thoru Ram, Sarpanch Panjgrain, and Mr. Akash, Branch Program Manager NRLM Nagrota. Discussions on improving livelihoods led to suggestions, and the sarpanch promised to provide them with a new computer desktop set, including a printer, from his unspent sarpanch fund.