India, June 25 -- As the nation marks the birth anniversary of Param Vir Chakra awardee Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, his native village, Rudha, is witnessing a fresh wave of development and inspiration.

With funding from SBI Foundation, Mumbai, and implementation by Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK), Lucknow, several development initiatives have been carried out in the village under the SBI Sammaan - Hom(e)age to the National Heroes project.

A flagship initiative is the Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Youth Training Centre, which has become a focal point for rural youth preparing for the Army, police, BSF, CISF and other Government services. The centre offers both physical training and written exam preparation and features a running track, open ...