India Gate will soon be witness to a different revolution. End-August, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will open the first free municipal library called At Home With Books at Children’s Park. Stacked with over 700 books, the library will cater to children between ages six and 14 years, who do not have access to reading material.
So far the inauguration had been delayed because of the imposition of prohibitory orders by Delhi Police post the December 16 gang rape.
To sensitise children about gender, the administration has decided to not stock fairytales as it promotes stereotypes. Instead, folklore, poems and history books are on shelves after a tie-up with publishers Pratham and Tulika.
“We have mainly focussed on books which highlight the diversity in our cultures. There are books on Delhi and other tales with a moral fibre running through them,” said Vidushi Chaturvedi, director, Education, NDMC.
One of the primary objectives is to dissuade underprivileged children from begging. The idea is to inculcate the reading habit in children. The facility also aims at helping children with their school project work. The library also comes equipped with an lCD television and computers to facilitate e-learning.
The NDMC’s education department also plans to hold movie screenings, meet-the-author events and plays.
With rugs and rocking chairs, the cheery ambience of the library promises to infuse fun and excitement in the learning process.
The hall can accommodate nearly 70 children at a time and will remain open from 11 am to 6 pm from Tuesday through Sunday.