CUDDALORE: The 24th edition of the Neyveli Book Fair was inaugurated virtually by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Friday evening, alongside the International Conference on Sustainable and Responsible Mining held in Hyderabad.
The event saw the participation of key officials, including the Secretary (Mines), Additional Secretary (Coal), Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India Limited, and Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairman and Managing Director of NLC India Limited (NLCIL).
In his address, the Minister lauded NLCIL’s continued efforts to promote a reading culture and foster intellectual growth through the annual literary festival. “The Neyveli Book Fair is a significant platform for promoting knowledge, inclusivity, and community engagement,” he said.
Highlighting the role of such initiatives in the country’s development goals, he added, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is progressing steadily towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. Events like the Neyveli Book Fair contribute meaningfully to this journey by equipping the youth with knowledge.”
He commended NLCIL for its commitment to the cause and its organisational scale. “I appreciate NLCIL’s role in furthering the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 by empowering citizens through access to knowledge,” he said.
The minister also noted NLCIL’s contributions beyond the literary space. “NLCIL plays a crucial role in supplying water for agricultural purposes in nearby regions and contributes significantly to Chennai’s drinking water supply. These initiatives reflect the broader developmental role a public sector enterprise can undertake,” he said.
A video presentation showcasing the fair’s highlights and its impact on the community was screened during the launch.
According to a statement issued by NLCIL, the 24th Neyveli Book Fair is being held from 4 to 14 July and features 190 stalls from publishers and booksellers across the country. The fair also includes a Mini-Planetarium for students, a Vigilance Rath for public awareness, short film screenings, on-the-spot competitions for children, amusement rides, spacious walkways, and a dedicated food court.
NLCIL added that the Neyveli Book Fair continues to serve as a vital platform for nurturing reading habits, inspiring young minds, and bringing communities together through the shared love of books.