Educational & Cultural Tour of Govt. Degree College Drass to South India Flagged Off.

Educational & Cultural Tour of Govt. Degree College Drass to South India Flagged Off.
Kargil, January 28, 2026: An Educational and Cultural Tour of Government Degree College Drass to South India (Kerala, Kanyakumari) and Delhi formally flagged off today under the Gender Inclusive Equity Initiative of PM-USHA.
The tour was flagged off by Bhanu Prabha (IAS), Administrative Secretary, Higher Education, UT Ladakh, in the august presence of Tsewang Mutup (State Nodal Officer, PM-USHA), Samina Iqbal (Mission Director, PM-USHA), and Yangdol (Principal, EJM College, Leh).
A total of 30 girl students and 2 faculty members of Govt. Degree College Drass are participating in this exposure tour. The initiative aims to provide educational, cultural, and geographical exposure to girl students and enable them to experience the rich heritage and diversity of South India. For many students, this is their first opportunity to travel outside UT Ladakh, and notably, their first experience of air travel.
Administrative Secretary, Bhanu Prabha appreciated the PM-USHA initiative for organizing such exposure tours, emphasizing that these experiences will broaden students’ understanding of India’s educational and cultural heritage and contribute significantly to their personal and academic growth. She also informed that similar educational tours for Govt. Degree College Kargil and Zanskar (including Sankoo Campus) are scheduled for February 2026.
The participating students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Secretary and the Department of Higher Education for providing them this invaluable opportunity. The entire tour is being conducted by Balmer & Lawrie, a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India.
The Principal, Govt. Degree College Drass, in his capacity as District Nodal Officer, PM-USHA, informed that an amount of ₹7.13 crore has been approved by the Central Government under the PM-USHA scheme for colleges of District Kargil. This funding will play a crucial role in promoting girl education and women empowerment in the region. He also expressed sincere gratitude to Madam Secretary for her continued support and guidance in successful implementation of PM-USHA initiatives.
This exposure tour is expected to strengthen students’ understanding of India’s diverse culture, geography, and unity, empowering them to become informed, confident, and responsible citizens.
The Department of Higher Education expresses its deep gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India for his visionary leadership in enriching student experiences today, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to a Viksit Bharat tomorrow.