Motivational tales to reach students in comic format across J&K Schools

‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign to be launched in run up to Independence Day: PM Modi

JAMMU, July 30: Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) with an aim to motivate young minds, will teach selected stories of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episodes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the comic book format in the government schools across the Union Territory.Sources in the J&K Board of School Education said that the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with ‘Amar Chitra Katha’ has planned to bring out 12 volumes of Comic Book on selected stories of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the Prime Minister of India.

“The first book of the series was published on the eve of completion of 100 episodes of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and also a digital copy of the book is available in 13 languages on the Amrit Mahotsav Portal in a download format,” sources added and said that the second volume of the series (English) is also available.

“The Comic Book comprises of inspiring stories of individuals and organizations that overcame disability, poverty, discouragement and contributed for the benefit of the society,” sources said adding that as there are learning outcomes for school children in the book, digital copy has been made available in most of Government of India run schools and efforts are being made for easy availability of printed copies in these schools.

“The J&K Education Department has been instructed to either place bulk orders to the publisher directly or authorize schools to procure printed copies of the book from the local distributor,” they added.

Sources said that the book is also available on Amazon and Flipkart platforms and the digital copy of the book should also be uploaded on the portals of State School Boards portals of schools, adding, “the Heads of the Institutions (HOIs) across the UT of Jammu and Kashmir have also been instructed to have one period every week for story telling from ‘Mann Ki Baat’ Comic Book.”

“One of the most communicative teachers will be tasked to tell at least two stories every week from the book and in addition, schools may be instructed to narrate selected inspirational stories during school assembly which will surely create a positive impact among the young minds,” they said.“The motivational tales will surely inspire our children about the hardwork and commitment of our people contributing to nation building,” an official told.

He said that the selected stories from different ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episodes will have tales of people from Jammu and Kashmir, whose names were mentioned by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in different episodes with regard to their working and role in various ways of contributing to the development of the country.

“This is the best way of reaching out young minds with motivational and inspirational thoughts that can channelize them in a positive direction,” he added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that a ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign will be launched in the run up to Independence Day to honour the martyred bravehearts of the country.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Modi said that with ‘Amrit Mohatsav’ resonating everywhere and August 15 near, a big campaign is being launched in the country — ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’.He said the campaign will be launched to honour the martyred bravehearts and programmes will be organised across India in memory of those who laid down their lives for the country.”Special inscriptions will be installed in lakhs of village panchayats of the country in memory of these personalities,” Modi said.

An ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ will also be taken out during this campaign, he said.”This ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’, carrying the soil in 7,500 ‘kalash’ from villages and various corners of the country, will reach Delhi. This yatra will also carry plants from various parts of the country. From 7,500 kalash, soil and plants that will come, an ‘Amrit Vatika’ will be built close to the National War Memorial,” the Prime Minister said.

In his radio address, Modi also hailed the changes made by the government in the Haj policy in the past few years and said now more and more people are getting an opportunity to go for the annual pilgrimage.Over 4,000 women were able to perform Haj without ‘Mehram’ or a male companion which he said was a “big change”, the prime minister said.He said Muslim women who recently came back from Haj wrote to him.

“Their Haj was very special as they performed the pilgrimage without ‘Mehram’. Their number is not 50 or 100 but over 4,000. This is a big change,” Modi said while pointing out that earlier Muslim women were not allowed to perform Haj without ‘Mehram’.”Through Mann ki Baat, I would also like to thank the Saudi Government,” he said.”The changes made in the Haj policy in the last few years are being appreciated. Our Muslim mothers and sisters have written a lot to me. Now more and more people are getting an opportunity to go for Haj,” the prime minister said.

He also talked about several artefacts that have been brought back to India from the US recently.Modi noted that the past few days have been full of worries and trouble due to natural calamities. “People had to suffer in many places due to many swelled rivers like the Yamuna,” he said.Amid natural calamities, people of the country have once again brought to the fore the power of collective effort, the prime minister said.Modi also said that it was encouraging to see people make novel efforts for water conservation. He also cited the record plantation of 30 crore saplings in a day in Uttar Pradesh, saying it is an example of public participation and awareness.