I remember, Dr Y Suresh Reddy, Director of Shriram Foundation introduced me to Mr. R S Dalal, IPS, former Director General-Police, Haryana. I invited him on the inauguration of the READ Library in Chainnsa, Hathin Block, Palwal, Haryana. He was so convinced by the READ Model that he discussed with his family to dedicate the 100 years old Haveli of Mehndipur village, the ancestral property for holistic development of the community in Mehndipur and surrounding villages.
I remember, 7 years ago, the inauguration was a gala programme, army band, family members, especially his elder brother, retired Army Colonel, police officials, corporate senior officials, READ India Advisory Board members and above all hundreds of community members.For local community, it was a welcome opportunity. Though many affluent families stay in the village and their children go to English medium schools in Bahadurgarh, but many more are in the village, who cannot afford the expensive education and study in the government school nearby, especially girls who go to the nearby government school. The Principal, school teachers and other school staff, local sarpanch and senior citizens always join any event in the READ Library. Though the programme started with books, Early Learning Center, Computer Education, but during the passage of time, audio studio, livelihood programme of women was initiated. While children enjoy the training of sharing stories through their own voice, the elders sung the glory of village and their own lives through audio studio, one of the major attractions for all.
The production unit was started in 2015 with the collective efforts of READ India and enhanced with the network of Mr. R S Dalal to get the cloth, sewing machines and orders for production unit of sewing and stitching. Women came forward with their traditional skills of crochet, knitting and many more. It is still a happening space because every month the retired senior citizens come to get their pension from the CSC within the READ Library. The staff continued their higher education, girls started learning advance computer courses, children started reading story books, women started earning money by enhancing their skills, school teachers came to learn computers, youth prepared for competitive examinations in the library. What else is needed in the village!Mr. R S Dalal, being a passionate personality, involved the local community to clean and green the village and shared the concept with the family members staying abroad to donate to READ India for this work through READ Global.
The beautification of the village has been done no less than a picnic park in urban areas, cleanliness campaign is one of the best practices I have ever experienced. Thanks to Mr. Dalal’s dedication and love for his own village. He is not tired of narrating his past life while he was staying in the Haveli and his hard work to reach to the highest cadre in his life. The purpose is to motivate the youth.
He also arranged a football coach for girls to learn and bring them at the State level competition and practice for national level participation.
The story is endless, the collective efforts are still going on. Here I do not want to mention the numbers but deep impact which has been witnessed is much emphasized.
While Mr. Dalal dedicated his ancestral haveli, he also encouraged the others from the same profession, to dedicate his Haveli in Tandaheri village, just five kilometers away from Mehndipur. Mrs Urvashi Singh, Lecturer by profession in the Government College, Gurgaon, dedicates her time to visit the READ Library in her Haveli and has keen interest to give back to the women and children of her village for holistic development.
READ India is blessed to have these kind of partnerships and networks to join hands for holistic development and to define the ownership of the READ Model.
