Children are taught in the library by a volunteer in the village of Pazhaveli | Photo credit: Special arrangement
320 square feet. library in Pazhaveli village of Chengalpattu district, which has a population of 1,337, has now become the fulcrum of an ambitious program to ensure that every child completes at least school and, if possible, becomes a graduate, thanks to the efforts of the local panchayat president, residents and a gentle nudge from former sub-collector S. Malathi Helen, who is now district collector S. Malathi Helen.
The village is the most backward in Kattankulathur block, which has 39 panchayats. It has 317 scheduled caste families and 35 Irula families. Among them are 12 graduates who work in nearby companies.
Mala Kamaraj, president of the village panchayat, said these graduates came together to volunteer in the library and attend classes for 50 students, 37 of whom are from the Irula community. “There have been many changes since Madam Malathi came here last year. She told us that it is our responsibility to use the facilities that she can help provide. She has arranged more books, some tables and chairs, a big TV, a computer and internet. We also get two daily newspapers,” Ms Kamaraj said.
Vincent, who runs the business, said every child in the village attends school after materials were arranged and volunteering began. “Two children are now in class 11. We are sending them to a private school in Chengalpattu town. We have employed a disabled person to look after the library,” he added.
Venkat A., a volunteer who works as an HR in a private company, said that for the past year, children have been going to the library every day. “They stay longer on weekends and exams. There are books for people of all ages. Sometimes I take my laptop to the library and finish office work during evening classes.”
K. Shivani, who is in Class 11, said the library is a great place to do homework and study with her classmates in the evenings. “We use the computer to get details for school projects. The TV is used to send notes and lessons. If we have doubts, the annas (brothers) are there in the evening to clarify them and teach us the concepts,” said the aspiring IAS officer girl.
Ms. Helen said that when she visited the library more than a year ago as a sub-collector, there were only a few books after the gram sabha meeting and the library was not functioning as it should.
“I told them that the government can provide facilities, but if the community does not step in, it will be of no use. I visited the place recently and was pleasantly surprised that the library was well maintained by the community members themselves,” she said.
“Hats off to them for taking ownership. This was the change I expected. They have now shown that any human-owned project will be sustainable,” she added.
Published – 05 March 2026 17:31 IST
