At a time when people, particularly the younger generation, are addicted to mobile phones and social media, Sundargarh Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan has launched an initiative to develop book reading habits of people here.
The Collector launched the campaign “Sundargarh Bahi Padha” to promote reading habit and walked in the town, talked with people and distributed books among them, urging them to stay away from mobile phone and engrossed in book reading.
Kalyan walked from the District Headquarters Hospital along with some officials and social workers, through Bijaya talkies road and Dengibadi to distribute books to students, guardians, women and senior citizen. He apprised them about benefits of studying books.
He distributed story books and novels to the passers-by and talked to the people at roadside stalls and engaged with them over a cup of tea.
Interacting with mediapersons, he lamented about the gradual waning of reading habit, among people, especially the young generation.
He also said good books, magazines and novels were not available at Sundargarh and assured that steps would be taken for setting up a big library at Sundargarh and for the development of all existing libraries in the district. He also stressed that books would be made available for studying in all Government offices and waiting halls.
Sources said the initiative of the district administration would continue for nine months and necessary arrangements would be made regarding this in different phases. Further, reading sessions have been scheduled to be conducted every week at the Collector's residence campus and other places involving people of all ages including students. “I am sure, this initiative would be successful and our aim is to generate interest amongst people of all walks of life in reading good books," said Kalyan.
Meanwhile, the initiative of the Sundargarh Collector has received appreciation from all sections of the society. "It was good to see that the Collector walked a distance and interacted with public and distributed books," said SK Patel, a resident of Dengibadi.