On Wednesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the 21st edition of ‘Shala Praveshotsav’, a state-wide annual drive to boost Class 1 student enrollment, at a government school in the tribal-dominated Dang district, according to an official release.

Patel welcomed new students by gifting them books, stationery, and school bags, and enrolled them in the primary school at Biliamba village in Subir taluka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated Shala Praveshotsav in 2003 when he was the state’s chief minister.

The release noted that 21 former students, enrolled nearly two decades ago by then CM Modi, attended the event. Among them were IIT student Aviraj Chaudhary, MBBS doctor Anitaben Kuvar, and international athlete Murali Gavit.

“Today we see the results of the movement launched by PM Modi when he was Gujarat’s chief minister. Twenty-one students enrolled back then are now here with us,” Patel said.

According to an official document, Gujarat’s gross enrollment ratio for girls at the elementary level is 94 percent, while for boys it is 91 percent.

Patel highlighted the achievements of Biliamba school students who have become doctors, IIT graduates, and sports stars. He mentioned that the captain of Gujarat’s Kho Kho team is a student from this school and praised their perseverance despite challenges.

The CM commended the teachers and local community for the school’s educational quality and the village’s development. He noted that Biliamba, despite being the last village of Gujarat (bordering Maharashtra), has adequate infrastructure.

The state government is building medical colleges in the tribal belt from Ambaji in the north to Umargam in the south, alongside science stream colleges, and Patel urged students to take advantage of these facilities.

On this occasion, the CM also emphasized the importance of environmental conservation amid climate change. He expressed concern over extreme weather patterns and praised the early education on global warming.

Patel encouraged people to follow the PM’s advice to plant at least one tree to contribute to environmental conservation and stressed that education is fundamental to building a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India), urging everyone to ensure every child receives an education.

Also read: Gujarat: Government to recruit 7,500 teachers amid protests