National Writing Competition: NBF to award Rs 1.2 million to kid's literature writers

National Book Foundation (NBF) would award Rs 1.2 million to the best writers of kids' literature, in National Writing Competition 2009-10. The writers were asked to send three copies of their writing materials in English, Urdu and regional languages, along with their CVs.
The writing materials from across the country have been sent to the relevant experts of different categories. The best writers will be selected for awards and results of the competition would be compiled in the coming week, NBF sources told APP.
Giving details of the competition, the source said, those books, which were part of any competition of NBF, would not be eligible for entry again. Fresh and new writings will be given preference. A total of 48 awards in various categories would be given to winning writers. The first winner would bag Rs 40,000, second Rs 30,000, third Rs 20,000 and the fourth would get Rs 10,000. Under the competition, books for children aged between 4 to 16 years, in three different categories, would be included under the topics of science and technology, social sciences, social values and pictorial stories.
Science and technology group includes the category of everyday sciences, health and nutrition, earth and atmosphere, environmental issues and its solutions, preparation against calamities, games and quizzes. In Social Studies group, the categories are Pakistan, its geography, places and people, travelogue, children poems, novel, regional folk and short stories, drama and national heroes.
The categories in the social values group include women role in society, peace and tolerance, ethics and values. In the pictorial stories group, the categories are picture stories, humorous stories, poster and charts. The Assistant Director said that the awards would be given to the writers who would author best books on different topics of kids' interest. The results announced by NBF will be final and cannot be challenged in any court.
The foundation would provide 500 copies of the top books of the competition to the school libraries. To make the market accessible for writers and publishers, the foundation would play its role to create opportunities. The writing competition is aimed at promoting kids' literature, developing reading habits, increasing harmony among children, parents and teachers, and creating children's interest in additional reading material and textbooks.