On the concluding day of the three-day Public Information Campaign organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Dehradun in Mehalchauri under Gairsain block of Chamoli district, the events held were mainly dedicated to education.
The highlight of the activities on Wednesday was the Sarv Shiksha rally in which 500 school children participated. Starting from Mehalchauri Bazaar, the rally concluded on reaching the campaign programme venue.
Sarv Shiksha Coordinator from Mehalchauri, Satyendra Chaudhari dwelt in detail about the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). He informed the people that under the programme, all children from 6-14 years age were provided free education and a child once admitted to school would not be stopped from promotion to next higher class. If any child remained excluded from taking primary education, he could also complete it free of cost even after 14 years.
He told that it was provided under the Right to Education Act that all schools ought to have admit the children from weaker sections against 25 percent seats earmarked for them. Satyendra Chaudhari told that in Gairsain Block, 16 new primary schools, 24 upper primary schools, 2 block resource centres and 4 cluster resource centres were constructed from 2002 to 2014. Besides, 96 toilets including 48 for girls were also built in schools. In addition, drinking water supply was provided in 29 schools and boundary wall was constructed in 131 schools under the SSA.
Coordinator of Cluster Resource Centre, Pharkande under Gairsain Block, Raje Singh Bisht gave an elaborate account of the mid-day meal scheme for schools.
In the exhibition section, 18 government departments and voluntary organisations were honoured for putting up the stalls. The first prize was bagged by Medical, Health & Family Welfare Department. Second prize was given to NABARD, Chamoli while the third went to Rudraprayag based voluntary organisation, Appropriate Technology India. Besides, schools which took part in the cultural programmes were also presented prizes. The Gairsain Block Pramukh, Sumati Devi Bisht gave away the prizes at the concluding function.