Jorhat, Oct. 11: The nine-day Jorhat Book Fair to be held at the JDSA ground from October 15 will focus on developing reading habits of children and bringing science closer to the people.

The book fair has been organised by the National Book Trust in association with Assam Academic Centre, a local organisation involved in educational matters, All-Assam Book Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Association and the district administration.

The book trust’s Northeast in-charge, Deep Saikia, told reporters here today that a series of programmes involving children will be organised as part of the book fair to attract budding minds.

Saikia said school students would take out a book march on the morning of the inaugural day through the main thoroughfares of the town.

Students will carry placards, posters and banners with slogans on developing the habit of reading books other than the academic ones.

He added that there would be prizes for the best three schools coming out with catchy and colourful slogans.

Books would be given to the best three schools and also to other participating schools if the budget — Rs 30,000 — allocated for the same permits.

Saikia said on-the-spot writing and illustration competitions among children, named Kalam Aru Tulika will be held and the three winning entries will be selected for a hand-written magazine.

There will also be a spelling bee in Assamese named Pasalat Daat Bhangil.

A sit and draw competition named Ramdhenur Rang for school students in four categories, an essay competition on energy conservation for school students in two categories, a story telling competition by children named Aitar Kolat Bahi and a quiz will also be held during the book fair, the book trust official said.

The secretary of the Assam Academic Centre, Ramen Gogoi, said a programme named Antaranga Alap would be held in which a close discussion between book lovers and writers like Rita Choudhary, Anuradha Sarma Puzari and Manikuntala Bhattacharjya would be held.

Gogoi said another highlight of the fair would be a programme named Lohityar Nandini in which known women poets of the region would participate.

A panel discussion on Science Literature in Translation: An Assam Perspective will also be held during the fair in which science literature writers of the region will take part.

Science behind miracles, low-cost science kits demonstration and a seminar on Taking Science to People, a seminar on International Year of Chemistry and International Year of Forestry will be organised by Vigyan Prasar, a Delhi-based organisation.