Bhubaneswar, Nov 15: On the occasion of Children’s Day, on Monday, Suravi which is the State-Children’s festival kicked start off thus opening the three-day programme organized by the School and Education Department. While the first event, the cycle rally which was the flagship event was flagged off by Debi Prasad Mishra, who is the School and Mass Education Minster here, the Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the festival in the evening. Addressing the gathering, he said that the students today should not only pay attention to academics but also adhere to extra-curricular activities to boost their overall growth and mental development. And so for this the State Government is taking several measures to initiate student enrollment. Besides academics, the students should gain from the other non-academics for eg; this initiative.
On the other hand, Debi Mishra said that the School and Mass Education Department has been successful in decreasing the drop-outs. As a run up to the event, around one lakh students from across the State had participated in 13 competitions at block and district levels. The winners of these competitions were carried to the main event being held at Unit IX Government Boys High School here. Also the school ground where the main event will be held has been transformed beautifully into a fair with lights and creative compound for each workshop.
The Commissioner-cum- Secretary, Ranjana Chopra further informed that their major concern is to decrease the drop-out rate by making education exciting and making students involve in almost all activities. He said that the Anjali Fest started the 15th edition of Anjali Children’s Festival which was conducted on a colourful note on Monday amidst much fanfare. Modelled on the lines of the Goa Carnival, around 500 children, both abled and differently- abled took out a procession donning colourful costumes, crowns and masks on the sound of trumpets and drumbeats that echoed at the backdrop. Also numerous traditional artistes took part in the parade from across the State. Children decked up with painted faces, dazzling dresses and masks carrying huge banners marched from Master Canteen to Adivasi Ground, which was the venue for the five-day festival. Children from other States also took part in their traditional attire. Then in the evening, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Adivasi Ground inaugurated the Anjali Camp.
Sruti Mohapatra, the chief coordinator of Anjali, pointed out the fact that this festival is organized to eliminate differences between the differently-abled children and abled children in the minds of the people hopefully forever. The theme this year is ‘Celebrating Childhood’. Around 600 kids belonging to 18 states besides the neighbouring Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan are participating in Anjali camps.
