SRINAGAR, Oct 4: President of the Rotary Club of Kashmir, Dr. Touseef Bhatt, today called on the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, and held a fruitful interaction on a range of issues concerning youth empowerment, environmental conservation, community service and inclusive economic development.
During the meeting, Dr. Bhatt apprised the Lieutenant Governor of the ongoing and proposed projects of Rotary International in the region, particularly initiatives focused on strengthening community outreach, engaging youth in constructive activities and promoting environmental sustainability.
Dr. Touseef Bhatt also briefed the Lieutenant Governor about Rotary Club of Kashmir’s efforts to undertake community-oriented projects at the grassroots level, with a focus on creating sustainable and meaningful social impact. The Lieutenant Governor appreciated the initiatives and conveyed his best wishes for the Club’s continued efforts in the service of society.
Dr. Touseef Bhatt was accompanied by Rotarian Irfan Gujju, owner of Atwaas Retails, one of J&K’s largest home-grown hypermarket chains, who also shared his perspectives on youth entrepreneurship, local enterprise and the need to strengthen the region’s business ecosystem*.
Rotarian Sajad Shah raised important concerns relating to the artisan and shawl-manufacturing sector of Kashmir, particularly issues surrounding Geographical Indication (GI) tagging, protection of traditional craftsmanship, market access and the preservation of Kashmir’s rich artisanal heritage.
The delegation emphasized the need for greater institutional support and focused interventions to protect the interests of local artisans and shawl manufacturers while enabling them to access wider national and international markets.
Dr. Bhatt expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor for giving time to the delegation and for his continued encouragement towards initiatives aimed at youth development, environmental conservation, community service and strengthening traditional livelihoods.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with the delegation reaffirming its commitment to work with all stakeholders for the sustainable development and inclusive growth of Jammu & Kashmir.