At 73 years of age, he runs a library in the forest for the tribals

[dray]

P.V. Chinnathambi’s little shop – selling tea, ‘mixture’, biscuits, matches, and other provisions - sits at the hilly crossroads of Edamalakudi. While Kerala is India’s most literate state, this little hamlet, Kerala’s remotest panchayat, lies in the low literacy spot of Kerala. The inhabitants solely constitute one adivasi group, the Muthavans. Adivasis inhabit some geographically challenged terrains in India and are among the most socially and economically excluded communities.

It’s a tiny tea-shop, a mud-walled structure in the middle of nowhere. The hand-written sign on plain paper pinned to the front, reads: *Akshara Arts & Sports/Library, Iruppukallakudi, Edamalakudi.*

Inside the same shop exists a library that stocks 160 books, available to the inhabitants of this remote hamlet. Chinnathambi maintains an immaculate record of every single book that's checked out along with who, when and where.

“But Chinnathambi, do people here really read such stuff?”, one visitor asked. In reply, he fishes out his library register. There may be only 25 families in this hamlet, but there were 37 books borrowed in a month. That’s close to a fourth of the total stock of 160 – a decent lending ratio. The library has a one-time membership fee of Rs. 25 and a monthly charge of Rs.2. There is no separate payment for the book you borrow. The tea is free. Black and without sugar.

We salute P.V.Chinnathambi for his noble efforts to educate and empower the most socially and economically excluded of all communities in the state.

Source: The Logical Indian

 

[Georgeclark]

P.V. Chinnathambi’s little shop – selling tea, ‘mixture’, biscuits, matches, and other provisions - sits at the hilly crossroads of Edamalakudi. While Kerala is India’s most literate state, this little hamlet, Kerala’s remotest panchayat, lies in the low literacy spot of Kerala. The inhabitants solely constitute one adivasi group, the Muthavans. Adivasis inhabit some geographically challenged terrains in India and are among the most socially and economically excluded communities.

It’s a tiny tea-shop, a mud-walled structure in the middle of nowhere. The hand-written sign on plain paper pinned to the front, reads: *Akshara Arts & Sports/Library, Iruppukallakudi, Edamalakudi.*

Inside the same shop exists a library that stocks 160 books, available to the inhabitants of this remote hamlet. Chinnathambi maintains an immaculate record of every single book that's checked out along with who, when and where.

“But Chinnathambi, do people here really read such stuff?”, one visitor asked. In reply, he fishes out his library register. There may be only 25 families in this hamlet, but there were 37 books borrowed in a month. That’s close to a fourth of the total stock of 160 – a decent lending ratio. The library has a one-time membership fee of Rs. 25 and a monthly charge of Rs.2. There is no separate payment for the book you borrow. The tea is free. Black and without sugar.

We salute P.V.Chinnathambi for his noble efforts to educate and empower the most socially and economically excluded of all communities in the state.

Source: The Logical Indian

@WAJsal you would love to read this

 

[45'22']

Great
Govt needs to encourage such small steps

 

[East or West India Best]

Aren't tribals illiterate though?

 

[dray]

Aren't tribals illiterate though?

Not all! Otherwise who get the ST quota?