The discussion explored how reading goes beyond academic learning to nurture critical thinking, communication, imagination, creativity and empathy. While digital platforms and AI offer instant access to information, books encourage children to engage deeply with ideas, form independent perspectives and develop skills that benefit them throughout life.

The panelists highlighted how consistent reading builds vocabulary, grammar, fluency, writing and speaking skills, alongside confidence and curiosity. These abilities develop over time, making reading an investment whose returns extend well beyond immediate academic outcomes.

Emphasising the long-term value of reading, Kranti Gada, Founder, neOwn, said, “Reading offers so much more than knowledge; it nurtures creativity, imagination, empathy, vocabulary, fluency, perspective and confidence. These are capabilities that shape how they think, make decisions, solve problems and navigate life as they grow. That is what makes reading such a valuable investment parents can make in their children, and it begins with us, as parents, embracing reading ourselves.”

Author Amish Tripathi said, “Reading is the best investment you can make for your child’s future. Through stories, we can teach children how to deal with failure, find the courage to take risks and rise again after setbacks. The value of reading goes beyond entertainment to help shape how children think, respond to challenges and navigate life.” 

Dr. Swati Popat Vats, President, Podar Education Network, said, “I believe reading is an important investment in a child and it is not merely a child’s responsibility but also, equally the parents’ responsibility to introduce them to the world of books, imagination and ideas. Reading goes beyond developing literacy. It is rooted in neuroscience, culture and parenting, and helps us understand our children better.”

Founded in 2023 by Kranti Gada, neOwn is India’s first app-based children’s book library, operating out of Mumbai, with 15,000+ active subscribers and 25,000+ families served nationwide. It offers 75,000+ physical books from leading publishers like Scholastic, HarperCollins, Penguin and Hachette, across genres from fantasy and mystery to comics and non-fiction, for ages 0–14, with a special focus on Indian authors.

The event reinforced a simple message: nurturing a reading habit is an investment in a child’s ability to think, imagine, communicate and navigate an increasingly complex world.

Activities on Anemia Camps
POSHAN Abhiyaan is Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children under 6 years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister, POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan aims to address the challenge of malnutrition in a mission-mode. Focusing on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0) has been launched as an integrated nutrition support program to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022 from 1st to 30th September 2022. This year, the objective is to trigger Poshan Maah through Gram Panchayats as Poshan Panchayats with key focus on “Mahila aur Swasthya” and “Bacha aur Shiksha”.

The month long event will witness intensive activities across the country for awareness about nutrition at the ground level through sensitization drives, outreach programmes, identification drives, camps and fairs with special focus on pregnant and lactating women, children below six years and adolescent girls, in order to realise the vision of ‘Swasth Bharat’.

At the Panchayat level, awareness activities will be conducted by local functionaries under the guidance of the concerned District Panchayati Raj Officers and CDPOs. Poshan Panchayat Committees will work closely with field level workers (FLWs) – AWWs, ASHAs, ANMs – to support problem solving and enabling service delivery through Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHNDs), and other relevant platforms to ensure all pregnant and lactating women, children below six years, and adolescent girls receive basic Integrated Child Development services.

Awareness drives on Anganwadi Services and good health practices will also be organised. Growth Measurement drives will be conducted to bring more beneficiaries under the ambit of Anganwadi Services. Growth Measurement drives under Swasth Balak Spardha will be conducted by States with the help of AWWs, AWHs, ASHA, district functionaries and agencies such as Lions Club, Rotary Club etc. Health camps for anemia check-ups will be especially organised at AWCs for adolescent girls.