CM asks people to promote reading habit

While outlining the ‘Samay-Dan” mission,Modi urged the youth to devote at least 100 hours,during the year-long Swarnim Gujarat celebrations,to any area of their interest like education,health services,cleanliness or environment.

State Education Secretary Hasmukh Adhia,also present at the event,said that the drive will include competitions for best readers,discussions on books,libraries,book exhibitions and book of the month scheme.

A number of cabinet ministers including the education minister,litterateurs,educators and invitees from various institutions were also present at the event.

Modi also launched websites related to both the missions during the event. The website http://www.vanchegujarat.in will provide information related to ‘Vanche Gujarat’ scheme and http://www.gujaratindia.com,www.swarnimgujarat.org and http://www.gujarat-education.gov will provide links to registering time donation and other related information.

‘Govt schemes never work’

AHMEDABAD: Eighty-seven-year-old Mahendra Meghani,son of legendary Gujarati writer Zaverchand Meghani,who has made valuable contribution to promotion of literary reading among masses remains unimpressed by the latest government initiative.

“We are not interested in anything that any government does because the moment a government involves in something (in public domain) it gets spoiled.’’

Meghani said that official patronage does not make any positive impact because the government means forcing of things upon people.

Meghani’s four-volume compilation titled “Ardhi Sadi Ni Vaachan Yatra” is a compilation of writings of different authors of different times.

Nearly 1.5 lakh copies of this four-volume book have been sold so far and the print order still continues.