Modi opens three-day state-level life building camp

Chief Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the three-day state-level life building camp of the winners of the state-level ‘Vanche Gujarat’ book reading competition at the Mahatma Mandir here today.

In all, 1,100 winners were selected from 15-lakh students who took part in the district level competitions held earlier. Five winners were selected in different categories from each district.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the campaign to inculcate the habit of book reading launched in the year of the state’s golden jubilee has gathered momentum as a people’s movement, with far reaching consequences.

He said that Gujaratis are known to be devotees of the goddess of learning ‘Saraswati’. The book reading campaign has made them the devotees of the goddess of wealth ‘Lakshmi’, too.

Today being the birth anniversary of Thomas Alva Edison, Mr. Modi said it is a matter of proud to proclaim that 20-lakh students in 25,000 schools of the state have read nearly one-crore books during the Vanche Gujarat campaign – no small achievement this.

He said the other benefit of the book reading campaign has been prompting the students to think beyond their textbooks and learnt ways to face the world. He said the benefits of the campaign may accrue later, directly and even indirectly.

The Chief Minister feted the winners at the camp and complimented all the students who participated in the competition and also in the campaign.

Three girl students who have read more than 1,500 books presented books as mementos to the Chief Minister at the function.

Education Minister Ramanlal Vora said the credit for launching this novel book reading campaign goes to Mr. Modi. It should lead the students to be better citizens.