Vantangiyas to get special Diwali gifts

Lucknow: Families of the Vantangiya community in Gonda district will receive a special Diwali gift. The govt has organised a Vantangiya Mahotsav from Oct 27 for the residents of Maheshpur and Ramgarh villages under which families will receive gifts, including items of daily use and clothes.
Gonda DM Neha Sharma said: "The initiative aims to empower rural residents to become self-reliant and significantly contribute to poverty alleviation, enabling them to enhance their economic conditions and celebrate Diwali with dignity and joy."
As part of the festival, a special cleanliness campaign and health camp will be organised for the villages on Oct 24 and 25.These camps will raise awareness among villagers about the importance of hygiene and health. A medical camp will also be organised for the villagers, which will offer free health check-ups, including eye examinations. Special emphasis will be laid on addressing the health issues of women and children. The district panchayati raj officer and the block development officer of Nawabganj have been assigned the responsibility of organising the event.
Sharma said: "The Vantangiya Mahotsav was initiated in 2023 and this year we are continuing this initiative under the chief minister's ‘zero poverty' vision. Our goal is not only to distribute gifts but also to enhance the living standards of the villagers and raise awareness about cleanliness and health. Through this festival, we aim to provide improved services and facilities to the villagers, empowering them to lead healthier, more self-reliant lives."