Vadodara, June 26 – Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s call to transform the Shala Praveshotsav into a community-wide celebration has received overwhelming support in Vadodara district. On the first day of the campaign, citizens, teachers, and dignitaries came together in an unprecedented manner, contributing approximately Rs 53.94 lakh in donations to 415 primary and secondary schools. The donations included both cash and educational materials.
According to District Primary Education Officer Mahesh Pandey, more than 650 state and district-level dignitaries were deployed across 149 different routes to visit 415 schools in 390 villages. During their visits, they held meetings with the schools' management and development committees, engaging with 4,279 parents in the process.
The campaign witnessed the enrollment of 2,726 new students in Class 1, while 186 students, including 50 children with disabilities, were brought back into the education system. Additionally, 7,191 students, comprising 4,088 boys and 3,103 girls, were admitted to secondary schools. In higher secondary schools, 2,398 students — 1,054 boys and 1,344 girls — were enrolled. The initiative also led to the registration of 4,394 children in nursery classes and 1,716 in Anganwadi centers.
Thirty-four schools introduced new transportation facilities, and 51 girl students were awarded Vidhyalakshmi bonds. Notably, efforts by education teams prevented 15 boys and 8 girls from dropping out of school on the very first day.
As per agency report, this collective effort not only reinforced the value of education among children but also inspired active community participation. The success of Shala Praveshotsav reflects the Chief Minister’s vision of turning education into a people’s movement and empowering society through shared responsibility in shaping the future.
