Ahmedabad, 15 June 2013

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today visited Chiroda, Samdhiyala and Rajesar villages in the Mendarda taluka of Junagadh district to mark the conclusion of phase-1 of the three-day statewide 11th annual Shala Pravesh Mahotsav to encourage enrollment drive in primary schools and Anganwadi playgroups in rural areas.

Speaking at these schools, nestled in the forested foothills of the Girnar, he said that biometric attendance system for teachers and students is being introduced in government primary schools in rural areas. Students’ performance will be tracked with the help of technology. He said that Gujarat Government has already introduced a scheme for schools’ grading, setting the ball rolling for a competition among schools to be A-Grade.

Mr.Modi said the campaign to ensure cent percent enrollment in primary schools during Shala Pravesh and Kanya Kelavni Utsav 11 years ago has started paying dividends, too.

He regretted that crores of rupees were spent on school education by the previous governments for the last 60 years and yet a large section of the population remained illiterate. However, he said, the past could be corrected with the cooperation of parents and teachers. The present generation should ensure not a single child remain uneducated in rural areas. Ignorance, superstition and poverty are the biggest banes of the society.

Mr. Modi distributed books, educational kits, toys and sweetmeats to tiny tots donated by villagers. He felicitated alumni of these schools who over a period of times became prominent citizens.

He laid foundation stones and inaugurated projects worth Rs.101-crore for Menderda taluka of the Junagadh district.

Prominent among those present at the functions included MP Vitthal Radadiya, MLAs Mahendra Mashru, Arvind Ladani and Jethabhai Solanki, District Panchayat President Diviben Baraiya, Vice-President Hiren Solanki, ex-Union Minister Bhavnaben Chikhaliya, ex-State Ministers Ratibhai Sureja and Kanubhai Kalala, ex-Parliamentary Secretary L.T. Rajani, Women’s Suraksha Parishad Vice-Chairperson Jyotiben Vachhani and others.

Mr. Modi is scheduled to launch the phase-2 of the three-day Mahotsav for municipal primary schools in urban areas on June 20, 2013.