How we will utilise these books

As schools continue to remain closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, young children are at risk of losing out on critical learning milestones. Across the state of Karnataka, Gram Panchayat libraries set up by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj provide informal learning spaces for children from 6 to 18 years of age. These libraries are being upgraded to include a children’s section, complete with age-appropriate storybooks in Kannada and other languages.

This innovative programme aims to engage children across the state who have been at home for almost the entire year, with monthly timetables for children to visit the libraries in small groups, where a librarian will be available to help the children engage with the storybooks. The ambitious project seeks to bridge the learning gap by curating age-appropriate storybooks and reading materials, and through read-alouds and interactive sessions to cultivate a reading habit among children from an early age.

We’re crowdfunding for storybooks for 100 Gram Panchayat libraries across Karnataka. Each library will contain 100 delightful storybooks in Kannada and other languages. Join us in building a Reading India, as we celebrate Children’s Day with the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj department, Government of Karnataka.