Blood banks are found everywhere, but not often do you come across a book bank. With books for professional courses costing the earth, the Students Skills Development Association (SSDA), an NGO from Thiruvottiyur, hit upon the idea of starting a book bank and giving textbooks free of cost to poor students who cannot afford them.
And to date it has distributed books worth Rs 12 lakh, to 139 college students pursuing various courses over the past few years.
“We always wanted to start a book bank in North Chennai and have been successfully running one for the past three years,” says Mr A. Kumaraguru, treasurer, SSDA, adding, “I didn’t have enough money to study when I was young and don’t want others to go through a similar experience.”
The young are grateful. R. Chandra Subash, a second year engineering student, says but for for the association he would have had to pay in thousands for the books he needed. To get books from the bank all students need to do is contact 9444124519, 9941357720, and 9884954674.
But the association doesn’t stop here. It guides youth who hope to become self-employed and also plans to train IAS aspirants.
“To make educated youth employable, we offer them personality development classes. Our volunteers also guide students through the procedures of applying for a bank loan,” explains K. Jayakumar, the secretary of SSDA.