The third edition of the annual 12-day Book and Uniform Fair was officially inaugurated at Shaheed Smarak, Gol Bazar on Wednesday. The ceremony was held in presence of Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh and MLA Dr. Abhilash Pandey, marking the commencement of an initiative dedicated to educational accessibility. The inaugural session was attended by Collector Raghavendra Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Jila Panchayat Abhishek Gehlot, and Superintendent of Police Sampat Upadhayay. Also present were Dr. Sriniwas Rao, Vice-President, MP Board of Secondary Education, District Education Officer, Ghanshyam Soni, District Project Coordinator, Yogesh Sharma and Rajiv Mishra, among other administrative representatives. Now in its third consecutive year, the fair is designed to provide students and parents with a streamlined procurement process for essential school supplies. Approximately 70 stalls have been established by a diverse range of publishers and vendors, offering textbooks, notebooks and uniforms at competitive, subsidized rates.

 

The exhibition serves as a centralised hub, ensuring that materials for all private schools in the region are readily available in a single location. Book Bank stall once again remains a prominent feature of this exhibition. This facility focuses on the collection and redistribution of used textbooks, aiming to foster resource sustainability and provide further financial relief to the student community. To assist visitors, the district administration has implemented several auxiliary services including a help desk to guide parents through the procurement and stall locations. The venue includes dedicated play areas for children and various food stalls. Each day will conclude with a ‘Cultural Evening’, organised to showcase local talent and provide community engagement. The fair is scheduled to run until April 5. On weekdays, the fair will be open to the public from 4 pm to 10 pm. To accommodate the weekend rush, the operating hours for Saturday and Sunday have been extended, with the fair opening at 12 Noon and concluding at 10 pm. This administrative initiative remains a vital platform for the local community, ensuring that educational materials are both affordable and accessible to all socio-economic segments.