It is learnt that the “Book on Wheels” initiative was launched at Colva Beach on Saturday with an aim to encourage the reading habit among the general public, especially children. The van stacked with books on Goa, besides fiction and non-fiction as well as children’s books was stationed at the Colva Beach for a few days and will travel to the rest of Benaulim constituency in the coming days. This is a very good initiative and needs to be replicated in other parts of the state. Children at present don’t see their parents reading and thus, they too, stay away from books. The pandemic has added to the problem. The habit will stay if it is imbibed at an early stage. If a child sees people around them taking a book to bed and not watching soap operas on TVs or web series on mobile phones, they, too, would be inclined to read. Unfortunately the mobile phone has become a constant companion and it’s difficult to even wean adults from them. While older children prefer searching for any information online, now even little children have cellphones in their hands. Just as charity begins at home, reading habit also begins at home.
