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Today, Mitra foundation opened doors to the first ever library of books for 500 Adivasi students from the far-flung tribal hamlets of Dahanu studying at the Ashram Shala at Kosbad Hills run by Deccan Education society.
After receiving enthusiastic response to Mitra’s library initiative at Zarli Primary school (2008) and Ganjad Primary School ( 2010) in Dahanu, Mitras have been in dialogue with the students, teacher and management of the Kosbad Ashram Shala to lay foundations for a library and reading program that will have more books, will reach out to more students and will be part of a larger reading and learning program.
Mitras are excited because the school has been able to dedicate a room for the library ( yeah, the Zharli and Ganjad schools are so small, we run our library out of a packed cupboard) and more importantly the Principals of both Primary and Secondary school have committed to dedicating a young teacher for the reading and learning program that Mitra will run at the school.
The Kosbad Ashram Shala , like all the other schools, colleges and vocational institutions in the Kosbad-Bordi stretch , is known for it's pioneering and progressive approach for educating the Adivasi students.
In fact at the inauguration today we discovered from Mr.Damankar, former Principal of the Kosbad schools, that Angan wadi (play schools for underprivileged children ) and Ashram shala (residential schools for tribal students) both concepts were conceived , tested and adapted based on experiments done in Kosbad Hills by the famous educationists and icons of women's emancipation Tarabai Modak and Anutai Wagh.
Tarabai and then later Anutai made Kosbad their home and dedicated their lives to the education and development of the local adivasi population.
Mitras are mighty proud to be able to build on the legacy of the great ladies and why lie, our eyes were kinda moist, when the ribbon was cut, under a brand new sign proclaiming ' Granthalaya', at todays colourful program conceived by students and attended by former staff and students, distinguished Dahanu residents and Panchayat members, local journalists and even the local police.
All of you are welcome to come read with us at Mitra Library at Kosbad School. If you want to donate books, cupboards, or even time - just write to choices@mitrafoundation.org and we will give you lot of choices to share our joy, to join our journey, to dance the Warli dance.
