Kerala saw one of its worst crises in August this year when the devastating floods wreaked havoc almost all across the state. And the rebuilding process is still continuing, with the state picking up the pieces post the disaster.
For schools, which were destroyed in the flood and those which were converted into relief camps, the task of rebuilding is equally tough. Sahridhaya, a Thiruvananthapuram-based social- environmental group, along with the Indus Cycling Embassy, an organisation which promotes cycling, have begun a campaign to collect books to restore libraries for two government-run schools in Alappuzha- Government Upper Primary School Arattupuzha and Government Vocational Higher Secondary school Aranmula. The Facebook campaign titled Library Challenge began on Tuesday.
The aim is to restore the libraries by January 1, 2019 by collecting as many as 5,000 books each for both the libraries. “The response we are getting is overwhelming. People have come forward to donate books. We will accept new books as well as those which are not worn out. We mostly prefer Malayalam books, novels, fiction, books on history and the like,” says Prakash Gopinath, Managing Trustee of Indus Cycling Embassy. If the endeavour proves to be a success, they are planning to extend it to other flood-hit schools.
The campaign asks people to donate one book and then spread the message to at least 10 friends- ‘Let each one donate one book’.
The Green Army is also part of the campaign. The Green army is a group of selected school students trained to work on environmental-friendly activities. It was formed by the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation with the support of green NGO-Thanal. “In both the schools, the library shelves were completely destroyed, but since the task of buying or constructing them is difficult, the campaign as of now is focusing only on collecting books. We will look to replace the shelves if we get substantial financial assistance from someone,” Prakash says.
Books for the campaign may be sent to Indus Cycling Embassy, Cycle Street, Deepthi, T.C.16/545, EVRA 539, Easwara Vilasom Road, Vazhuthacaud,Thycaud P.O., Thiruvananthapuram or can be handed over in person.
On Sunday, December 23, collection of books will happen at Thiruvananthapuram’s cultural corridor Manaveeyam Veedhi in the evening. For details, Prakash can be reached at 8089494442.