Malkangiri: True, an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. In a bid to inculcate reading habit among the youngsters and dissuade them from engrossing in their smartphones, 'Bada Didi'- a voluntary organisation comprising 20 tribal ladies has started a noble initiative in the district.
The group has opened a library along the National Highway -326 near Malkangiri town. What's more gratifying is that each of the members has contributed money to set up the library.
Currently, the library has 80 books on various subjects like general knowledge, history, short stories and biography neatly stacked on a stand and protected by a shed. The books are available in various languages including Odia, English, Hindi and Bengali. The library remains open from 6 am to 11 am and again from 3 pm to 9 pm.
“We have received a great response for this library. Many people, including students and young kids passing by the area stop here to read books,” said Diparani Nayak, a member of BadaDidi.
“Reading books helps us build our patience and influences us in a positive way. We expect more people to spend the winter evenings creatively by reading good books in our library and enhancing their knowledge,” she added.
Contributing to its growth, few educationists in the area have donated books to the library.
“We have also started a social media campaign seeking more books for the newly built library. Interested persons should chip in few books to increase the strength of the library,” another member of the group urged.
The readers are no less delighted. “I came across the roadside library during a morning walk. It is for the first time that an open library has been set up in our district, and I am really happy with this initiative. I and my friends often visit this place,” said a reader.
(Edited by Devbrat Patnaik)