more-in The second phase of “Koottukoodan Pusthakachangathi”, a project conceived by the Kozhikode district office of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan to set up home libraries for the differently abled with at least 100 books, was launched here on Tuesday as part of Vayanadinam (Reading Day) celebrations. The project, initially planned to cover students till Class 8, will now extend up to Plus Two classes as the SSA and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Sikshak Abhiyan have been merged to become Samagra Siksha Abhiyan. In the first phase, home libraries were set up for 360 differently-abled students last year. The effort this time would be to cover 1,000 students, SSA programme officer A.K. Abdul Hakeem said. There was a proposal to set up libraries in the children’s ward of the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, and all the taluk hospitals too. As many as 1,500 Changathikkoottam (groups of friends) were also set up by roping in children from the neighbourhood as part of the project. These groups of students would visit differently-abled students in a bid to let them feel that they were not alone, said SSA sources. The help of individuals and organisations are being sought to donate and collect books. The State government is reportedly planning to extend it across the State. Meanwhile, poet P.P. Sreedharanunni opened the district-level Reading Week celebrations. Reading good books would help one expand the horizons of knowledge and imagination, he said. E.K. Suresh Kumar, Deputy Director of Education, was present. Events will be held in schools and libraries till July 7.

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