The Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu, under the visionary guidance of Prof. Umesh Rai, esteemed Vice-Chancellor initiated ‘Training Outreach Programme’, a new programme which would offer training opportunities in performing arts and fine arts to the students of colleges located outside Jammu. The inaugural workshop is being warmly hosted by Govt. College for Women, Udhampur. Prof. Vishav Raksha (Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee), Prof. Sanjana Kaul (Co-Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee), Dr. Monika Sharma (Principal, GCW, Udhampur) alongwith other dignitaries inaugurated the 5-day theatre workshop in this series. The outreach programme is being coordinated by Sumeet Sharma (Drama Instructor, SW) who is also the resource person for the theatre workshop.

Briefing about this futuristic initiative, Prof. Prakash Antahal (Dean Students Welfare), informed that the Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu keeps on organizing several training camps/workshops of music, dance, theatre, fine arts etc. for the benefit of students of university and affiliated colleges. But it has been observed that most of the times, the students from far-off places don’t find it feasible to come a long way to participate and get benefitted from such workshops. So, to overcome this limitation, the Department of Students Welfare has formulated this new initiative which would extend the benefit of professional training/orientation to maximum students. He also congratulated Dr. Monika Sharma, Principal, GCW Udhampur for hosting the first ever workshop of this programme which is extending benefit to the students of around nine colleges, he complemented the principals of all the participating colleges for their positive response to this activity.

Prof. Vishav Raksha stated that under the Training Outreach programme, the Department of Students Welfare would be sending the expert resource persons to conduct short-term workshops/orientation programmes in the colleges located at far-off places. One college (as per geographical location) would be designated to become the nodal college which would coordinate with its nearby colleges and invite those students who are interested in availing the benefit of training. This way the orientation would reach to more students who have talent but require proper guidance. This programme would kindle an interest for cultural/literary/fine-arts activities amongst the students which is also an important aspect for their holistic personality development.

Prof. Sanjana Kaul, in her address expressed gladness over commencement of this wonderful initiative which would definitely act as a catalyst in reverberating the cultural ambience of the colleges. Speaking about the importance of theatre and other cultural, fine-arts activities in refining one's overall personality, she advised the participants to take maximum benefit from this workshop.

Dr. Monika Sharma shared that GCW, Udhampur is always keen to organize the activities which are for the benefit of the students and this collaboration would definitely yield positive results. The college had invited students from the nearby colleges to participate in this workshop and around 50 students from nine colleges have been registered for this workshop which include GCW Udhampur, GDC Udhampur, GDC Ramnagar, GDC Chenani, GDC Neli Nallah, Shivalik College of Education, Kalra College of Education, Bhartiya College of Education and Bhaskar Degree College and the host college will extend all possible facilities to the participants. She asserted that students of this region have immense talent and platforms like this programme would inspire them to pursue their talents in a professional manner. She also complemented her team consisting of HOD Chemistry, Prof. Kewal Kumar, HOD Music Dr. Seema Sharma, HOD Zoology, Prof Sanjeet Kour, HOD Botany, Prof Ashni Devi, Dr. Kewal Kumar, Convener Students Welfare, Prof. Sumita Rao, Prof. Yash Paul, Dr. Mool Raj, Prof Suneel Singh, Prof. Sanjay Kumar for making this wonderful event possible. Assistant Professor Department of Music, Mr. Yash Kumar is coordinating this workshop in the college.

The events of DSW are organized by the team consisting of Prof. Prakash Antahal, Prof. Vishav Raksha, Prof. Sanjana Kaul, Dr. Anil Gupta (Associate Dean SW) Dr. Garima Gupta and Dr. Pritam Singh (Assistant Deans, SW), Dr. A.R. Manhas & Dr. Shallu Sharma (Deputy Proctors), members of Campus Cultural Committee, Ms Mansi Mantoo, Sumeet Sharma and Ifra Kak.