Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The REACHA Foundation, under the CSR support of Nokia, successfully organized a significant event-cum-workshop titled “Smartpur Impact and Insight: Annual Showcasing and Capacity Building Workshop” in Samba.
The event brought together around 61 participants, including key stakeholders, government officials, NGO representatives, academicians, digital entrepreneurs, and beneficiaries associated with Smartpur Centres across the region.
The workshop aimed to highlight the transformative journey of Smartpur Centres in empowering rural communities through digital inclusion, skill development, and capacity building. Participants shared their on-ground experiences, emphasizing how Smartpur has enhanced access to digital literacy, vocational training, and essential services, thereby improving individual livelihoods and enabling holistic community development.
Prominent dignitaries who attended the workshop included Mr. Shajad Nagra (Project Head, REACHA Foundation), Ms. Isha Bali (State Lead, REACHA Foundation), Dr. Vinay Kumar (Assistant Professor, Social Work, Central University of Jammu), Mr. Sushil Singh Charak (Social Activist and Chief Functionary, Nations Development Association, Life Member of the Red Cross Society, and Former Secretary, International Human Rights Organisation J&K), Mr. Naresh Kumar (Assistant Director, Department of Employment), Mr. Sourav Gupta (Senior Scientist, KVK), Ms. Ruchi Thakur (District Coordinator, Sankalp HEW, Mission Shakti), and Ms. Kritika Choudhary (Cluster Head, CRISIL Foundation).
Also present at the event were Mr. Ravi Sharma (Project Supervisor), Mr. Dushyant Kumar (Guidance and Counselling Expert), and Gender Specialists Ms. Ritika Banotra and Ms. Mansi Abrol. The dignitaries appreciated the collaborative and grassroots efforts of the REACHA Foundation and shared meaningful suggestions for replicating and scaling the Smartpur model across other districts of Jammu province.
Mr. Shajad Nagra, in his address, outlined REACHA's long-term vision and strategic roadmap for the sustainability and expansion of the Smartpur initiative. He emphasized the importance of a community-driven and participatory approach for advancing digital empowerment and strengthening rural infrastructure.
Mr. Sushil Singh Charak, Chief Functionary Nations Development Association, lauded the impact of Smartpur Centres in the critical domains of education, health, livelihood, governance, and financial literacy in Jammu & Kashmir. He appreciated REACHA’s inclusive model and suggested further strengthening partnerships with grassroots NGOs and youth-led groups to enhance outreach and sustainability.
Adding to the discussion, Dr. Vinay Kumar, Assistant Professor of Social Work at the Central University of Jammu, highlighted the strong linkage between social work and CSR-driven development. He emphasized the need to integrate social work professionals more deeply into Smartpur like models to ensure culturally relevant, people-centric solutions.
A highlight of the workshop was the experience-sharing session by Smartpur Centre beneficiaries. Their powerful testimonials spoke volumes about how digital access and capacity building had improved their daily lives from better job opportunities to easier access to government schemes and support systems.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment by all stakeholders to collectively work towards inclusive growth, digital empowerment, and rural transformation in Jammu and beyond. The REACHA Foundation reaffirmed its dedication to building resilient, self-reliant communities through the Smartpur initiative, in continued partnership with Nokia under its Corporate Social Responsibility framework.