Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal has pledged his support to the education and mental health programmes run by Ludhiana-based NGO Initiators of Change, following a review of the organisation's flood relief work in Punjab. The actor recently invited Gauravdeep Singh, founder of the NGO, along with core team members Prem Singh and Riya Bharti, to his Mumbai office to assess the progress of the Punjab Flood Relief Project, which he had backed substantially.
Flood Relief Project Completed in Three Phases
During the meeting, Gauravdeep Singh and his team briefed Kaushal on the successful completion of all three phases of the project. The initiative involved the reconstruction of 97 houses damaged in the floods, organisation of medical relief camps that benefited residents from more than 60 villages across Punjab, and distribution of seed support to help affected farming families resume cultivation.
The actor appreciated the work carried out by the youth-led organisation and expressed keen interest in its ongoing efforts in education and mental health awareness. Kaushal extended his support to the NGO's free evening schools for underprivileged children and said he would like to visit the schools during his next trip to Punjab.
Mental Health Campaigns and Community Development
Kaushal also expressed willingness to become more actively associated with the organisation's mental health awareness campaigns. He lauded the team's continued efforts towards community development. Speaking after the meeting, Gauravdeep Singh said the encouragement from Kaushal would motivate the team to expand its work across Punjab. He added that the organisation would continue to focus on providing educational support to children from economically weaker sections and creating awareness about mental health, while also responding to humanitarian needs whenever required.
