Unique Literacy Day experiment in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Sep 9 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh School Education Department conducted an unique experiment on World Literacy Day by supplying books in advance for mass reading at the state's railway stations, bus stands, farms, tourist centres and even dams.

The preparations began a week in advance. Chief Minister Raman Singh, elected representatives of panchayats, schoolchildren and their guardians actively participated in the mass reading involving books on education, entertainment, literature, religion and spirituality.

Visitors at Chhattisgarh's largest Gangrel Dam, on the Mahanadi in Dhamtari district, also took part in the exercise. A Limca Book of records team was also monitoring the experiment at the Chief Minister's residence, principal educational institutions and several locations in Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Durg and Kanker districts.

''As per statistics collected thus far, 1.20 crore people participated,'' Secretary (School Education) Nandkumar told UNI