Under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), J&K Bank today kick-started it’s 'Environmental Awareness Campaign’ here at Badamwari Park, which bloomed with fun and fervor when over five hundred fifty school kids expressed their feelings about the growing environmental degradation painting images-in-colour.

The Bank organised the ‘Children’s Painting Competition’ under the theme of 'Consume with Care”.

Mushtaq Ahmad, Chairman and CEO J&K Bank, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The Bank's Senior President Abdul Rauf Bhat, Presidents S K Bhat, Mohammad Amin Mir, Mohammad Syed Wani and R K Chhibber along with other officers of the Bank were also present.

The amphitheater at the park throbbed with energy and excitement as children in the age group of (9-16) from more than thirty private and government schools busied themselves expressing the theme through colours for more than an hour. Eminent artists of the valley Arshad Sualeh who teaches art in College of Education Srinagar and Naushad H Gayoor, a faculty member at Department of Applied Art in Kashmir University formed the jury for the contest.

With her outstanding piece of creativity Salma Iqbal (class 10) from Kashmir Harvard School was adjudged as the winner of the contest. While as Rafiya Jeelani (Class 7) from Sultan-ul-Arifeen Public School, Sahreen Farooq (Class 5) from Green VaIley Educational Institute were awarded 2nd and 3rd position respectively. The winners received cash-prize of Rs 6000, Rs 4000 and Rs 2000 respectively.

Selecting the winners of the contest proved quite tough for the Jury that appreciated the conceptual clarity and spirit of competition among the kids.

In his brief remarks on the occasion, Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad expressed happiness over the whole-hearted participation of children in the painting contest translating their imagination into meaningful imagery.

He said, "The most important thing today is your ability to express and highlight the issue of great public concern with total honesty and creativity.”

“It is an attempt to make us think about our rights, obligations and responsibilities as citizens towards our environment and other fellow beings”, he observed.

Preservation of ecology is one of the most pressing contemporary issues and through this campaign, we will further expand our programme across the state of J&K, he added.
Chairman presented Trophy, Cheque and Certificate-of-Excellence to the winners on the occasion.

Consolation prize of Rs 1000 and a memento was also given to the students of Delhi Public School (2), Woodland House School (2), Green Valley (2), Government Girls High School Khanyar, New Era Public School, Greenland Public School and Linton Hall Public School.

Participant schools were also conferred with a 'Participation Trophy' along with 'Certificate-of-Participation' for each student.