South civic body to give free books, bags to students

In a first, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has announced that it will distribute free study material, including textbooks and school bags, to students of its 600 primary schools.

"SDMC has saved Rs 10,300,000 by distributing old books among its students for the ongoing academic session. Now, the corporation has been able to invest that money to arrange free study material for its students,"a corporation official said on Thursday.

Earlier this year, the corporation had announced that it will reuse textbooks for Class III-V to save money. "We even received criticism from several parents but when we told them about the intention behind the move, most of them agreed happily," the official said, adding that only one old textbook was given to every student.

Every year, the corporation buys textbooks worth Rs 4 crore and 34 lakh, but was able to save due to the reuse drive, he added.

The corporation has already issued an advisory for the next session, instructing students of Class III-V to use their books properly, so that they can be re-used. "The students were asked to avoid using pens and sketch pens on their textbooks," the official said, adding that this was a first-of-its-kind initiative in any school in the country.

Meanwhile, the corporation also announced that it will give books and bags to students before the session commences.

"Every year, we distribute books and bags in July but this time, we have decided to provide them before the session begins, so that students can go through their books," the official said.