Koderma, Feb. 23: The Jharkhand Siksha Pariyojana-sponsored bal mela held at Jhumri Tilaiya block ground on Saturday attracted thousands of students of the district.

The Koderma deputy commissioner Soreng Agapit inaugurated the fair.

The winners in the different categories will represent the district at the state-level bal mela to be held in Ranchi on February 27.

Speaking on the occasion Agapit said: “The mela has spread awareness even in the remotest blocks of Satgawan and Markachcho. The district meet has given a scope to students to participate in the state-level bal mela and I am sure they would do their best there. There has been a 15 per cent rise in the female literacy rate in the district in this decade. Jharkhand Siksha Pariyojana is the propelling force behind the ‘education for all’ programme”.

He urged primary school teachers to spread quality education in their respective institutes. Agapit also inaugurated a special namankan abhiyan, which would target children who have been deprived of formal education.

TLM (teachers learning materials) stalls had been put up at the exhibition and Satgawan was awarded the first prize in the category.

These educational materials had been developed by the teachers to promote interest among children.

Quiz and poster competitions, athletics and cultural programmes were also held. All five blocks of the district — Jaynagar, Markachcho, Chandwara, Satgawan and Koderma sadar — had participated in the mela.

District education officer Nirmala Kumari Barelia thanked all the participants, guardians, members of village siksha samitis, and teachers for spreading education in the district. She said: “In the coming years Koderma will be an example for other districts to follow.”