GUWAHATI, May 1 � �Our aim is to unearth the latent talents of the students from rural areas and to broaden their outlook and vision towards life by giving them the opportunity to visit educational institutions, IIT, Science Museum, the Planetarium, State Zoo, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati city,� said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at an interactive programme and concluding function of Chief Minister�s Gyanjyoti Scheme, 2012 organised by the Kamrup (Metro) district administration at Sarusajai stadium complex here recently, stated an official press release.
Gogoi said that the very concept behind launching the Gyanjyoti scheme in 2004 has been to give the rural students from backward areas the opportunity to visit various educational and scientific institutions and important spots in Guwahati in order to broaden their knowledge and outlook towards life. �We want each and every student to excel in their studies and such educational excursion under Gyanjyoti scheme would inspire and motivate them in life,� said Gogoi.
Gogoi said that the government would go in for expansion of the Gyanjyoti scheme by taking out the students to Delhi and Agra from next year. �Besides Delhi and Agra, we would also take them out to southern States,� he added.
The Chief Minister exhorted upon the students not to remain confine to bookish knowledge but to acquire knowledge from different sources and apply them for their own good and for the welfare of the State and the country. �More than theoretical knowledge, it is practical knowledge that is more important. We must use the acquired knowledge for the good of the society,� he said.
Gogoi said that the government has given added thrust to education by taking up a slew of schemes for the students like Anandaram Barooah Award, Rajiv Gandhi Computer Literacy Programme, bicycle to girl students, free textbooks to students, mid-day meal scheme, model school, et al. �New schemes are in the offing for the benefit of the students at large,� said Gogoi.
The Chief Minister announced that the Gyanjyoti scheme would be made zonal wise to give more students from far-flung areas the opportunity to visit places of importance.
Gogoi asked the students to dream big in an ever-expanding world where opportunities and scope lie galore.
Earlier, Mridul Das from Baska, Pritam Shekhar from Nalbari, Mayurdeep Pathak from Bongaigaon, Dimpi Kalita from Jorhat, Dibosh Deb from Hailakandi posed questions to Chief Minister Gogoi who replied with finesse much to the delight of the students. Priyanka Sonar from Udalguri, Sompi Deori from Jorhat, Biplab Das from Karimganj and Sagarika Maini Mahanta from Darrang expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister for giving them the opportunity to visit Guwahati for the first time ever.
Minister for Social Welfare, Akon Bora said that the unique scheme, the brainchild of the Chief Minister, has given the opportunity to the students to widen their knowledge which would, in turn, help them to stand in good stead in life.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro), Ashutosh Agnihotri in his welcome address said that students from 14 rural districts of the State have taken part in this year�s Gyanjyoti scheme. Agnihotri said that apart from visiting the educational and historical spots in the city, the students were taken out to the Assam Assembly for the first time under the scheme.
The Chief Minister also gave away the first prize of the district-level quiz competition to Darrang district, second prize to Jorhat district and the third to Nalbari. Nalbari was adjudged the winner for cleanliness and hygiene, the release added.
