By: Matthew Selvadoray and Harsha MurugesanCHENNAI: Ever since he took over the fair price shop at Kolapakkam in Chengalpet, Velu Chinnasamy has been determined to have people leave the store with something “more than just their ration”.“The first thing we did was get rid of all the liquor bottles strewn about. Then, we put up a roof,” he says. Next, he added chairs, fans, drinking water, and – most importantly – a little community library, Thiruvalluvar Noolagam, and a reading corner.The residents were so excited, says Velu, that they all chipped in. Kumaresan, a painter, sponsored books and volunteered his services to brighten the walls.“I could not study because I had to earn a living. If these books help even a few students succeed, that is enough for me,” says Kumaresan.
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Velu’s co-workers contributed the materials needed to build the library. A social worker in the area sponsored chairs and fans.Panchayat president Vinitha Srinivasan supported flooring, cement seating and a grill gate.“Residents began pouring in with books, new or used. Now, every book is catalogued,” says Velu.The collection includes school textbooks, Tamil and English literature, self-development titles and exam preparation material.“We wanted to make expensive study material affordable to students,” says Velu.Now, schoolchildren visit after classes, senior citizens browse books, and women have become some of the most active readers. Velu says, “The response has been so good that we are adding tables, chairs and lighting for the night.”
