Even as the eighth statewide annual school enrollment campaign in rural areas, called 'Shala Prveshotsav', concluded on June 19, it will be followed up by a special 'Swarnim Gujarat' 'Shala Praveshotsav' and 'Kanya Kelavni' campaign in the urban areas from June 24-26, 2010.
In all 526,045 children in the 5-plus age group were enrolled in standard one in the primary schools during the campaign from June 17 to 19. They included 252,666 girls and 273,378 girls, in addition to 5,092 children were readmitted who had left school for some reason or the other.
The campaign was launched eight years back, along with 'Kanya Kelavni' special drive to enroll girl-child and 'Gunotsav' under which weaker students were helped to improve their performance.
During the campaign, the state administration, led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Education Minister Ramanlal Vora and Minister of State for Education Jaysinh Chauhan, covered 4-5 villages all the three days in the remotest parts of the state. Other IAS, IPS, IFS officers, district level officers and other staff also visited different villages.
The drive also resulted in enrollment of 305,908 tiny tots, including 158,277 girls and 147,631 boys, in the pre-school playgroup called 'Anganwadi-Balmandir'.
In yet another dimension to the campaign as part of public-private participation, individuals and institutions donated Rs.8.95-crore in cash and kind to the 'Kanya Kelavni' Fund, while 'Vidya Laxmi' Bonds were distributed to 77,313 girls.
