Shimla: Governor Acharya Devvrat conferred SJVN Silver Jubilee Merit Scholarship Awards upon 151 meritorious students of Himachal Pradesh during the award distribution ceremony organised by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Foundation and HIMCON at Raj Bhawan today.

The Governor handed over a certificate and cheque of Rs 24000 to those students who qualified for the scholarships. This amount would be given to them every year till they complete their degree or diploma course.

Speaking on the occasion, Acharya Devvrat appreciated the initiative of SJVN to start Scholarship Scheme to the meritorious students. He said

“Mutual Harmony and good relations formed a good society and it is our social responsibility to contribute towards the direction of social uplift”,

In view of the importance of power sector in the development of the country, various initiatives and campaigns were being taken to harness maximum potential of energy in which SJVN was giving its important contribution, for which they deserve appreciation, he further added.

While congratulating the awardee students, the Governor said that they should respect their parents and teachers and should be the source of their inspiration and always take guidance from them. He called upon the meritorious students to contribute towards the country and be human in every aspect of life. He expressed concern that although we have achieved every physical development in society but human ethical values has gone down. He urged to adopt Indian cultural values to live better lives and read biographies of the great men and make them their ideal.

The Governor also urged the SJVN to help in making the Himachal an ‘organic state’ by joining its zero budget natural farming campaign.

He said that 65 percent of the country’s population comprised of youth who had immense potential and talent. Youth were the real wealth of the Nation as they were the future of the country and it was essential to channelise this energy towards constructive purposes. He said that youth should be brought into mainstream and motivated to participate in nation building activities and associated with social campaigns for bringing in awareness in the society.

Acharya Devvrat called upon the young generation to stay away from drugs in order to progress in life. He encouraged the students to excel in their lives and develop a competitive spirit to be able to make a mark at national and international level in order to bring fame to the state and country.

Chairman of Committee of Directors on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Ganesh Dutt said that efforts were being made to discharge the social responsibility by implementing various initiatives in the education and health sectors from time to time. He informed about the activities of the SJVN Foundation and its contribution towards hydro-power sector. He said that as per the direction of the Governor, the CSR of SJVN had initiated campaign against drug abuse and cow protection and organic farming were included in the agenda.

Chairman and Managing Director Nandlal Sharma explained various aspects of the scholarship scheme. He said that till date 1137 students have been benefitted with the scheme. This year 250 students have been included in the scheme which included 151 students from Himachal Pradesh. He said that besides exploiting hydro power, SJVN rendering social responsibility in health, education, infrastructural development and other sectors. He said that round about Rs.165 crore have been spent during last six years on social activities by SJVN through CSR.