<p class="title">A bright and well-ventilated room with magazines spread across the table and racks in the corner with neatly stacked books may seem as another modest library.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, the library at Gundavupadavu Koraga Colony near Bajpe old airport on the city’s outskirts is unique.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is undivided Dakshina Kannada district’s first-ever community library set up by the members of Koraga community. “We felt the need for a library that suits the needs of school-going children,” informs Ramesh who took up the initiative of setting up a library.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Koraga community, identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the government, has been witnessing a slight increase in literacy levels.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“A library will not only widen children’s knowledge but also instil the reading habit,” said Ramesh, a first-generation literate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With grants from Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), a small room was built next to their community hall in Gundavupadavu. The library presently has a collection of 500 books, mostly for children.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The books in the library were donated by retired lecturers, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy (KTSA) among others. Books worth over Rs 15,000 was donated by Mangaluru Tahsildar T G Guruprasad, says Ramesh with gratitude.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Guruprasad said he was overjoyed when a few youths from the community approached him and revealed their desire to set up a library. “A library by the community for the community is something rare,” said the tahsildar, who throughout his career has been passionately working for the welfare of the members of Koraga community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tahsildar not only donated books from his personal collection but also had racks made for the library.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Guruprasad also visited the library when it was inaugurated in April, a year ago. Today, the tahsildar’s office is a collection point for books, magazines like Competition Success Review.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“At regular intervals, the youth visit my office and collect the books, periodicals for their library in Gundavupadavu,” he said.</p>
<p class="title">A bright and well-ventilated room with magazines spread across the table and racks in the corner with neatly stacked books may seem as another modest library.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, the library at Gundavupadavu Koraga Colony near Bajpe old airport on the city’s outskirts is unique.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is undivided Dakshina Kannada district’s first-ever community library set up by the members of Koraga community. “We felt the need for a library that suits the needs of school-going children,” informs Ramesh who took up the initiative of setting up a library.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Koraga community, identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the government, has been witnessing a slight increase in literacy levels.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“A library will not only widen children’s knowledge but also instil the reading habit,” said Ramesh, a first-generation literate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With grants from Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), a small room was built next to their community hall in Gundavupadavu. The library presently has a collection of 500 books, mostly for children.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The books in the library were donated by retired lecturers, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy (KTSA) among others. Books worth over Rs 15,000 was donated by Mangaluru Tahsildar T G Guruprasad, says Ramesh with gratitude.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Guruprasad said he was overjoyed when a few youths from the community approached him and revealed their desire to set up a library. “A library by the community for the community is something rare,” said the tahsildar, who throughout his career has been passionately working for the welfare of the members of Koraga community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tahsildar not only donated books from his personal collection but also had racks made for the library.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Guruprasad also visited the library when it was inaugurated in April, a year ago. Today, the tahsildar’s office is a collection point for books, magazines like Competition Success Review.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“At regular intervals, the youth visit my office and collect the books, periodicals for their library in Gundavupadavu,” he said.</p>