Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today launched four initiatives as part of the 13th 'Shala Praveshotsav' for tribals and rural populace with a view to ensure cent per cent school enrolment of students from two villages of Kherpada and Vaviyala in neighbouring Narmada district.
Kherpada (in Sagbara taluka) is a remote village in tribal-dominated Narmada district bordering Maharashtra while the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) affected people from the beneficiary states of Maharashtra and MP have been staying in Vaviyala in Garudeshwar taluka located on banks of Narmada.
Narmada district has taken the lead in Gujarat in launching these four initiatives of Sabandhsetu, Snehsetu, Sankalpsetu and Vigyan Gyan mobile van project.
Under 'Sabandhsetu', 'Snehsetu' and 'Sankalpsetu', the teachers of these schools will interact with parents of children on expectation from their wards and take all the necessary steps for imparting good quality education to make children self-reliant.
A M Tiwari, Managing Director of Vadodara based Gujarat Alkalis and Chemicals Ltd (GACL) promoted by the state government, donated a Vigyan Gyan Ganga mobile van to Narmada district collector Sandip Sagle for encouraging children of 30 schools in Dediapada taluka to take up Science.
This mobile van is equipped with scientific instruments lab, charts on science etc to arouse interest amongst children of this taluka for science subjects.
Addressing villagers on the occasion, the CM said the state government has taken up the task of educating children, and providing free health check-up to them along with their mothers as part of these initiatives.
Patel said, "it is now for teachers and society to teach sincerity and righteousness to children from formative years. They should try to help children develop their latent talents in poetry, drawing and performing arts."
She said education helps children become confident and keep them away from social evils and corruption.
Patel said she would carry forward 'Shala Praveshotsav' and 'Beti Bachao' campaigns started by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi 13 years ago while expressing her firm resolve to eradicate illiteracy from the state.
Patel said "In addition to giving roots of our culture to the younger generations, it is also important to gift them the wings to carve their own identity.
