Shergaon, Feb 11: Under the aegis of the Arunachal Rising Campaign (ARC), the Department of Information & Public Relations (IPR), in collaboration with the Department of Public Libraries and the Department of Education, West Kameng district, conducted an awareness campaign at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya (NSCBAV) in Shergaon and Jigaon.
The programme focused on promoting reading habits among students, preventing drug abuse, ensuring child protection, and creating awareness about the POCSO Act.
District Library & Information Officer (DL&IO) cum in-charge DIPRO Lobom Tamin explained the objective of organizing awareness programme in residential schools and urged students to stay away from substance abuse while cultivating healthy reading habits.
Introducing the Indigenous Mobile Library initiative, he informed that the mobile library is being taken directly to hostel campuses to encourage students to read regularly within their residential environment. He highlighted that reading enhances knowledge, creativity, personality development, and academic performance.
He further stated that the mobile library will visit the schools every month, enabling students to return previously issued books and borrow new ones. The District Library will also attempt to procure specific books based on students’ interests and requirements.
West Kameng DDSE Dr Ribom Basar Gamlin encouraged students to develop consistent reading habits and engage in creative writing alongside their academic studies.
Resource person Rinchin Khandu Tongchi, MIS Coordinator, delivered detailed presentations on drug abuse, child protection, and the POCSO Act. He sensitized students and teachers about child rights, protection mechanisms, and the procedures to be followed in case of violations within school premises.
More than 100 students actively participated in the programme and were issued books from the mobile library.
The Indigenous Mobile Library is the first initiative of its kind in West Kameng district aimed at promoting a reading culture in rural areas.
DPC Tsering Dhondu also addressed the gathering. Staff members of the concerned departments and teachers were present during the campaign. (DIPRO)