Authority to set up units to promote reading culture

The Kannada Book Authority plans to establish ‘Pustaka Premi Vidyarthi Balagas’ in government and aided degree colleges in the State to promote reading culture among the youth.

Banjagere Jayaprakash, chairman of the authority, told presspersons here on Monday that there had been a significant boom in the Kannada book publishing industry over the years. In contrast, the number of readers was dwindling. “Reading habit is popular among people above 40 years and not among youngsters. This may be due to the advancement in the field of information technology,” he said. According to Mr. Jayaprakash, the authority plans to set up around 100 ‘balagas’ which will have to be managed by the students under the guidance of principals.

The authority would allocate Rs. 5,000 a month, for about six to eight months in an academic year, to each ‘balaga’ .