Padhe Bharat: Union Minister launches ‘Padhe Bharat’, a 100 days reading campaign, calls on “young friends” to share their reading list

What is the News?

The Union Education Minister has launched the ‘Padhe Bharat’ campaign.

What is the Padhe Bharat Campaign?

Padhe Bharat is a 100-day reading campaign starting from January 1,2022 to April 10, 2022. 

Aim: To improve the learning levels of students as it develops creativity, critical thinking, vocabulary and the ability to express both verbally and in writing.It also helps children to relate to their surroundings and real-life situations.

The campaign will focus on children studying in Balvatika to Grade 8. It expects the participation of all stakeholders at the national and state level including children, teachers, parents, community, educational administrators among others.

Under the campaign, one activity per week per group will be taken up with the focus on making reading enjoyable and building a lifelong association with the joy of reading.

The campaign will also focus on Indian languages, including mother tongue/local/regional languages.

In this regard, 21st February which is celebrated as International Mother Tongue Day has also been integrated with this campaign. The day will be celebrated with the activity of KahaniPadhoApniBhasa Main (Reading story in own language) across the country by encouraging children to read in their mother tongue/local language. This will help in promoting the local language and culture of our society.

What is the significance of the Padhe Bharat campaign?

Firstly, the campaign is in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020  which emphasises the promotion of joyful reading culture for children by ensuring the availability of age-appropriate reading books for children in local/mother tongue/regional/tribal Language.

Secondly, it has also been aligned with the vision and goals of the foundational Literacy and Numeracy mission.

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Union Minister launches ‘Padhe Bharat’, a 100 days reading campaign, calls on “young friends” to share their reading list’ published in PIB on 31st Dec 2021.