The Punjab government has decided to set up 'book banks' in different schools so that needy students do not have to buy books at the start of every academic year and also to prevent "wastage of paper".
"The Education department will set up book banks in all schools of the state in order to save precious time and money of the students," state Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary said here today.
The students would be asked to submit their old books which would be provided to needy children free of charge. Book bank is purely a voluntary initiative and is not binding on any student, she said.
"Every year, students purchase new books and huge amount of paper is used in printing those. Besides, precious academic time is wasted in the process of printing books. Not only this, students have to spend a considerable amount of money to buy new books," Chaudhary said.
The way to incentivise students contributing to book banks is being deliberated upon. Following the decision, NGOs which are running book banks have decided to cooperate in this initiative, the minister said.
She said this initiative will also result in preserving the environment since printing new books every year would be reduced to a large extent.
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