STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The grand finale of Toycathon 2024 exhibition organised by Jammu & Kashmir State Council of Educational Research & Training (JKSCERT) concluded on Thursday at Abhinav Theatre with great enthusiasm and celebration, highlighting a vibrant amalgamation of tradition and innovation.
The event witnessed exceptional creativity and technological brilliance as participants showcased toys and games designed to integrate the rich cultural heritage of J&K with modern innovation.
In keeping with the mission to encourage creativity and excellence among students throughout the Union Territory, the event was organised under the direction of Sakeena Masood (Itoo), Minister of Education, JKUT, and the exhibition was inaugurated by Suresh Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary, School Education J&K.
The Principal Secretary, Director JKSCERT along with the dignitaries visited every stall and interacted with the students.
While addressing the audience, Principal Secretary, School Education, described that Toycathon is a platform that promotes learning and cultural awareness, this is like contributing to a movement that nurtures young minds and supports local innovation.
Prof. (Dr.) Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director JKSCERT, applauded the students for their innovative spirit and hard work and reiterated that Toycathon 2024 has become a vibrant stage to inspire the young minds.
The overwhelming participation this year reaffirms the creative potential of the students of Jammu and Kashmir, he said adding that the Toycathon initiative is part of the larger mission to nurture innovation, promote critical thinking, and support the Prime Minister’s vision of “Vocal for Local.”
Toycathon 2024 attracted approximately 112,657 pupils from all throughout Jammu and Kashmir, with 51,156 of them coming from the Jammu Division.
Participants competed in three categories: Category 1 (Classes 6-8): 30,549 students, Category 2 (Classes 9-10): 15,581 students, Category 3 (Classes 11-12): 5,026 students. Jammu Division saw enthusiastic participation, with 1,639 schools organising School Level Competitions (SLC).
The winners of the SLCs advanced to District Level Competitions (DLC) organised by the District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs).
The Grand Finale showcased the top 90 participants, who presented their innovative and creative toy designs in an exhibition of traditional and modern toys demonstrating the brilliance and diversity of Jammu and Kashmir.
Students from various schools of Jammu visited all the stalls and were inspired by the creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills depicted through toy designs and prototypes of toy creators.
The jury for the grand finale comprised Controllers from the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks (CGPDTM), Kolkata, and two distinguished judges from Jammu.
Hem Raj Pakhroo, Joint Director, JKSCERT, Central praised the brilliant demonstrations by the participants and enunciated that the toy designs of the young creators reflected how modern technology can breathe new life into traditional crafts and stories.
Prof. (Dr.) Sindhu Kapoor, Joint Director, JKSCERT, Jammu Division, commended the extraordinary talent of participants, saying, “These young innovators have created toys that not only entertain but also educate and preserve the traditions of J&K.”
She further added that this initiative is a step towards fostering creativity and innovation while staying rooted in our cultural legacy.
The Grand Finale brought national resources and experience to this significant project in the form of partnerships with NIPAM and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Rakesh Magotra, Project Director Samagra Shiksha, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Director School Education Jammu, Joint Director DSEJ, Subah Mehta, Shruti Awasthi, Regional Director, IGNCA, Harvinder Kour, Secretary Culture, Sanjeev Rana, Additional Secretary Culture and Dr. Sudhir Singh , Director Academics JKBOSE also graced the occasion and inspired the participating students .
Prof. (Dr.) Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director JKSCERT, J&K, expressed his gratitude to all participating schools, DIETs, and stakeholders for their support in making Toycathon 2024 a grand success.
Additionally, he thanked the hard-working organising team for the tireless efforts to ensure the smooth execution of the event.
The winners of the competition will receive awards and recognition in a separate ceremony to be held later this month.