Former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s birthday, October 15 will be celebrated as Vaachan Prerna Diwas or Reading Day in Mumbai schools. Students in Mumbai will be allowed to come to school without their school bags on the day. Students will get to read books apart from their course books.
Maharashtra education minister, Vinod Tawde had taken the decision to observe the birth anniversary of APJ Abdul Kalam, as Vaachan Prerna Diwas in schools across the state soon after the former President’s demise on July 27.
According to a government resolution released on October 7, the students of Classes 3 to 8 across all schools in Maharashtra will not carry school bags on October 15. It has instructed the schools to let students read non-academic books, host book exhibitions, conduct discussions on books, teach students about well-known authors from around the world and initiate gift-a-book programmes.
The state government has set aside a fund of Rs 6 lakh for the programme.
The authorities have also asked the schools to dedicate time on a specific day every month for reading, organize meets for teachers, host book fairs and keep the school library updated. They should also award students and teachers who read the maximum number of books.