Guv launches state's first mobile library

RANCHI: The dream for hundreds of slum children to access costly books came true here on Saturday with governor Syed Ahmed flagging off the first ever mobile library in the state.
Launched as a pilot project, the mobile van containing books its concept was floated by Jharkhand Bal Bhawan will visit different slum areas in the capital and remain parked there for children to chose books and read.The van is also equipped with video games for children, a television set and video player with a talkie system.
President Jharkhand Bal Bhawan Ganesh Reddy said the van infrastructure, apart from providing reading stuff to the children, would attract the children to play video games, whereas different short films on awareness about health hyegiene and other schemes of the government meant for children would also be shown.
"Bal Bhawan works on the concept of promoting creative and innovative skills among kids so the books and other materials have been placed in view of this theme," Reddy said when asked if there was any plan to include course books in future.
He said since the objective was to develop reading habit among the children and encourage them to creative and innovative activities, the library would remain confined to "interesting" reading.
Flagging off the library from Raj Bhawan, governor Syed Ahmed said the children were not just the future of every nation but they are the responsibility of a civilized society.
"Our commitment to their overall development is reflected through the facilities that we can provide to the poorest of poor children in the society and a free mobile library for them is a good beginning," he said.
Giving away Balshree awards to talented children who participated in the competitions organized by Bal Bhawan, Ahmed said it was because of lack of interesting activities that many children were lost in the blind alleys of addiction.
"It is the responsibility of every individual in the society to ensure that children are not attracted to addiction and spoil their career," he said.