To boost community participation in government schools, HRD ministry has launched Vidyanjali scheme inviting volunteers to hold public speaking, story telling, play acting sessions and participate in other co-scholastic activities. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said 21 states and 2,200 schools will be participating in the pilot launch of the programme and hoped that by December it will be expanded to include every school in the country.

Under the programme, volunteers, including Indian diaspora, retired persons, like teachers, government officials, defence personnel, professionals, and women who are home makers, will offer their services for co-scholastic activities for children from class I to VIII. The activities would include reading to children, helping them with creative writing, public speaking, play acting and preparing story books with children.

Under the scheme, schools will be able to through an app contact people who are willing to volunteer for their services to children. Vidyanjali will also cover initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).