GANDHINAGAR: Amidst a great fanfare, Kanya Kelavani Mahotsava, the state-wide enrollment drive, has been launched in Gujarat under the leadership of Chief Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and direct supervision of Minister of Education, Smt. Anandiben Patel.
According to the reports received at the end of the first day of the drive, a total of 1,87,959 children in the age group 5+ years were enrolled in Std. I, comprising 89,484 girls and 98,475 boys, while a total of 1,30,592 children in the age group 3-5 years were enrolled in ICDS-Anganwadis, comprising 62,358 girls and 68,234 boys. The magnitude of success of the programme is reflected by the fact that contributions in cash and kind worth Rs. 1,86,67,062 approximately, were received by schools from local donors on the very first day of the enrollment drive.
The celebrations of Kanya Kelavani Mahotsava, led by all the cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs, Chief Secretary, and senior officers from IAS, IPS, IFS & Secretariat cadres and Education Department, are being organised across the state, with special focus on villages with low female literacy. As per the strategy adopted, every minister, MP, MLA and officer is visiting at least five such villages everyday, so that during the three-day drive, each one of them will have visited at least 15 villages requiring rigorous efforts to improve the female literacy by making efforts for 100 per cent enrolment of girls. The visiting dignitaries are emphasising the enrolment of 3-5 years age group children in the ICDS centres/ Anganwadis. Nutritious candies are distributed among the children as bal bhog.
The enrollment drive is being celebrated with the festive spirit and amidst joyous atmosphere in every village and town. Eligible children, dressed for the occasion, are taken on a joyride on bullock-carts, camel-carts, tractors with carriers and trucks, through the main streets before arriving at the school where they are greeted with warm welcome by teachers, members of VEC, MTA & PTA and other villagers. A tilak is applied on the foreheads of the newly enrolled children, who are also offered sweets and confectionery. The efforts are being made to make them feel that a school is a place for fun and enjoyment.
Donors presented the newly enrolled children with school bags, slates, pens, pencils, textbooks, notebooks, uniform etc. Under Vidyalaxmi Yojna, in villages with low female literacy, the girls enrolled in Std. I were given Narmada Bonds worth Rs. 1000, which were also collected through local donations.
