WhatsApp (Power of Social Media) @ Library created for small zilla parishad school at Jalna
Appeal on WhatsApp gives Jalna school a library
Marathwada appears in news generally because of the drought and water scarcity. But a small village in Gundewadi near Jalna city is witnessing a transformation in school children. The transformation was driven by an appeal on WhatsApp that lead to the establishment library in a Zilla Parishad school in the village.
An enthusiastic teacher started a book-collection drive through an appeal on WhatsApp and in a year, he has created a library of more than 1,000 books for a small Zilla Parishad school in Gundewadi, 5 km from Jalna in Marathwada. The availability of books has resulted in the habit of reading being inculcated among school children who, otherwise, did not even read books from their curriculum.
Santosh Musale, a teacher at the Zilla Parishad school, was transferred to Gundewadi in June 2015. Musale told DNA that after joining Gundewadi school, he found that children were not interested in reading. He said, "Since they were not interested in reading they used to feel that studies are boring. I gave them a few story books, which, of course, were not boring.'
Musale said that he has a seven-year-old, and he being an avid reader, would bring several books for her to read. Musale said, "When I introduced the school children to a few good books, they started reading. I felt that a library would do them good and sent several appeals on WhatsApp."
Musale is a part of many teacher groups on WhatsApp. The teachers' in the groups forwarded Musale's appeal to their acquaintances. Many of the teachers knew about Musale's enthusiasm for doing things differently and they responded by donating books. Musale was surprised to see books donated even by social worker Prakash Amte.
Gundewadi Zilla Parishad school management committee chairman Arjun Gajar said that after the library, named Pustak Pedhi (Book Bank), was developed, children are not only reading books but, according to several parents, they often tell the stories at home too.
Musale also said that children have started spending less time in front of the TV and more time reading books.
Musale made the first appeal on WhatsApp in May 2017. He has received books from donors from Pune, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Yavatmal, Sangli and other places. Musale said that he wants the library to have 5,000 books and would be trying to avail books on preparations for competitive examinations. Musale wants children from his small village to compete at the national-level and enter the decision-making process of the country.
Source | Mid-Day | 21st May 2018
Regards
Mr. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library & Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge Repository
Khaitan & Co
Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978
Mobile @ 9665911593
salute to Santosh Musale
ReplyDelete