Mehsana, Oct 4 (NationPress) To celebrate and develop the abilities of schoolchildren, the Gujarat government has launched the Mission Bal Varta initiative. As part of this program, a story-writing competition was held for students at government schools in the Kherva cluster of Mehsana district.

Students from nine schools took part in the competition, with several of their stories selected, creating immense joy for the young authors.

Upon learning that their stories had been chosen, students expressed their excitement. They were informed that their works would be published in a book.

Krishna Garhvi, a participant, shared with IANS, “A Bal Varta competition was conducted at my school, and my story received appreciation. It will be included in a children's literature book, which fills me with happiness.”

The students conveyed that Mission Bal Varta has significantly inspired them and encouraged a deeper engagement with creative writing. Many others who participated echoed similar sentiments of joy.

Diya Gadia, another student, mentioned, “This program has greatly motivated me and helped enhance my storytelling skills.”

During the competition, 21 stories met the criteria set forth and have been chosen by the education department for inclusion in a book.

Hetalben Mehta, CRC Coordinator of Mehsana, noted, “The education department will soon publish these stories as a book, offering a platform for budding writers and fostering literary talent in schools.”

Alongside the competition, a dialogue session was held at Kherva Primary Kumar School, where teachers provided valuable guidance to assist students in refining their writing skills.

The Gujarat government’s Mission Bal Varta program has effectively nurtured the skills of students at the school level and fostered a culture of reading and writing among young learners.