Karnataka - Bangalore

Free distribution of books recommended

Bangalore: Terming free distribution of books as “Jnana Dasoha”, Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture I.M. Vittalamurthy said that the Kannada Book Authority (KBA) should make free distribution of books to the deserving sections of society an annual scheme. The Government would earmark funds in the budget for the purpose, he added.

He was speaking at the release of 16 books brought out by the KBA and the free distribution of over 67,000 books to over 150 schools, colleges and private organisations here on Tuesday. Each institution was given an average of 450 selected titles worth of Rs. 15,000.

The Government had not released funds to the KBA for its annual book purchasing scheme since the last three years. However, it had released Rs. 90 lakh for enabling KBA to purchase good titles.

Another Rs. 60 lakh would be released shortly for the purpose, Mr. Vittalamurthy said.

Tracing the genesis of KBA, Mr. Vittalamurthy said that the objectives of the KBA was to accommodate publications of good books, encourage young talent and market books with a low price tag. The person to head KBA should commit himself to the cause of promotion of Kannada book culture, he added.

KBA Chairman S.G. Siddaramaiah said that the objective of the free book distribution scheme was to promote the cause of Kannada and inculcate the reading habit among students and teachers with a focus on border districts.

The scheme was first launched with support from the Kannada Development Authority in Kasargod district.

It had distributed Rs. 30,000 worth books each for 50 high schools in June and 40, 000 books each to the 50 high schools in Bidar district in December.

The KBA would launch the project on a regular basis in all the border districts in a phased manner.

It would distribute over 20, 000 books to schools in Pavagada taluk and Akkalakote taluk in Sholapur district of Maharashtra, Prof. Siddaramaiah said.

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