In an effort to inculcate reading habits among children, the NCERT has set up a special cell to encourage them to take up reading as a hobby.

The cell, set up under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, will come out with innovative reading material and focus attention on encouraging students to take to reading from early classes.

“It will prepare a series of books in Hindi and English on topics of children’s interest, experiences and needs,” a NCERT official said.

The series will be initially intended for children of classes 1 and 2 and will later be extended to cover higher classes, officials said. It was planned to have at least 40 titles for classes 1 and 2.

The books will touch upon subjects like art, craft, heritage, environment, legends, folklore, fantasy, hygiene, technology and mathematical concepts.