ALAPPUZHA: Finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac will inaugurate Pratibha Theeram, or shore of the talent, at Blue Star Library, Chettikad, near here on Friday. The project aims at creating an academic ambience in rural libraries of the district for the under-privileged kids. Mr Isaac had introduced a pilot project a couple of years ago using his MLA fund in a few coastal villages.
Cochin Shipyard supported the project at the Blue Star as part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR). He used to visit their homes regularly, and he realised that most of the households had no academic environment for kids as they lived in mixed families in single or double room huts. Elders watch television from dawn, and most of the men consume alcohol.
Children could hardly concentrate on studies, and they gradually drop out of school. Most of them are first generation high school goers, and many had passed with A- Plus in all subjects last year. Mr Isaac initially identified four libraries with the support of volunteers and converted them into temporary learning centres. They built a marquee and facilitated a free environment for students living nearby - every day from 7 pm to 9 pm.
“Our library now has a smart classroom and a computer lab,” said Blue Star Library president Berly Joseph. “If it gets extended to all libraries in the state, it would save many talented children.” Joy Sebastian, a volunteer, believes the holistic approach will open a new dawn in the state's library movement. It would be another feather in the cap of Alappuzha, which recently received national recognition as one of the cleanest cities.
