Vikalp – a students’ initiative at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Katra distributed shoes to underprivileged children and students of the nearby areas yesterday. The idea to distribute shoes was conceived by Mr. Sumanta S. Sharma, Faculty Coordinator, Vikalp. It was observed that a lot of kids and students of nearby places cannot afford shoes or any other footwear. Thus, it was felt that distributing shoes during winters will be a good idea. The concept plan of this venture took a year to materialize. Mr. Harjit Singh Slathia (Manager, J&K Bank) and Dr. Varun K. Tripathi (Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences) donated generously for the cause. All student volunteers have worked stupendously to make it a reality.

It may be pertinent to note that the students at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University initiated the Vikalp program in January 2009, with a small team of thoughtful and motivated students, whose main aim was to bring about an overall social change in the society. Today the program has reached a point where more and more people have chosen to become a part of this program. The program has become successful beyond everyone expectations and is best illustrated by the students as ‘an alternative, a step taken by the SMVDU family to provide education to the underprivileged children which has played the role of a candle in their dark lives’.