Oceanic Library Ground Breaking Ceremony · 2013-06-06 · Deepalaya is working in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and is networking with other organizations on nation wide scale

Oceanic Library Oceanic Library Ground Breaking CeremonyGround Breaking Ceremony

ContentsContentsOverviewOverviewHighlights Highlights Glances of UllonGlances of UllonNext steps and recommendations Next steps and recommendations

OVERVIEWOVERVIEWREAD Global initiated its first project in India at the South 24READ Global initiated its first project in India at the South 24ParaganasParaganas of West Bengal, near the of West Bengal, near the SunderbunsSunderbuns in partnership in partnership with Vivekananda with Vivekananda SevakendraSevakendra O O SishuSishu UdyanUdyan (VSSU) which is a (VSSU) which is a village based local NGO working in the region for last 25 years.village based local NGO working in the region for last 25 years.

The title of the project is The title of the project is "The Oceanic Library". "The Oceanic Library".

VSSU is a well established village based NGO working in 353 VSSU is a well established village based NGO working in 353 villages of South 24 villages of South 24 ParaganasParaganas, and is much acclaimed for its , and is much acclaimed for its achievement in the field of microfinance. VSSU has continued achievement in the field of microfinance. VSSU has continued community development in the regions through community community development in the regions through community

resources without any external funding or support for last 25 resources without any external funding or support for last 25 years. years.

This is the first project in This is the first project in VSSUVSSU’’ss history that it is implementing in history that it is implementing in partnership with and copartnership with and co--funding support of a foreign non profit funding support of a foreign non profit

organization. organization.

Overview Overview –– About the regionAbout the regionSouth 24 South 24 ParganasParganas is, a complex district, stretching is, a complex district, stretching from the metropolitan Kolkata to the remote from the metropolitan Kolkata to the remote riverineriverinevillages villages uptoupto the mouth of Bay of Bengal, Apart from the mouth of Bay of Bengal, Apart from

its staggering size and population, the district its staggering size and population, the district administration has to contend with problems typical administration has to contend with problems typical

of metropolitan living in the urban areaof metropolitan living in the urban area——such as such as high population density and overload civic high population density and overload civic

infrastructureinfrastructure——and in complete contrast, in the rural and in complete contrast, in the rural area the lack of transport and communication area the lack of transport and communication

facilities and weak delivery systems. 84% of the facilities and weak delivery systems. 84% of the population lives in the rural areas, where population lives in the rural areas, where

development is taken care of by the panchayat development is taken care of by the panchayat bodies. The remaining 16% population is looked bodies. The remaining 16% population is looked after by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and after by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and

seven municipalities. The scheduled caste seven municipalities. The scheduled caste comprises 39% of the total population and B.P.L. comprises 39% of the total population and B.P.L.

families constitute 37.21% of the population.families constitute 37.21% of the population.

Overview Overview –– About the regionAbout the regionThe The SundarbansSundarbans, the largest mangrove forests on , the largest mangrove forests on

earth, are spread over thirteen of the twentyearth, are spread over thirteen of the twenty--nine nine development blocks in the district. Due to its development blocks in the district. Due to its

peculiar geographical location and the dictates of peculiar geographical location and the dictates of geography, the means of transport and geography, the means of transport and

communication in this region are not well developed, communication in this region are not well developed, with all the attendant consequences. Lack of with all the attendant consequences. Lack of

irrigation has meant monoirrigation has meant mono--cropped agriculture. cropped agriculture. Breaches in earthen embankments and cyclonic Breaches in earthen embankments and cyclonic storms mean loss of life and destruction of crops storms mean loss of life and destruction of crops and property on a regular basis. Any development and property on a regular basis. Any development

strategy in this ecologically fragile environment strategy in this ecologically fragile environment must be carefully designed and implemented.must be carefully designed and implemented.

HIGHLIGHTSHIGHLIGHTSREAD Global and VSSU entered into a formal READ Global and VSSU entered into a formal contract for implementing project Oceanic contract for implementing project Oceanic Library. Library. The ground breaking ceremony of the project The ground breaking ceremony of the project ““Oceanic LibraryOceanic Library”” was held on Dec 8, 2007 at was held on Dec 8, 2007 at village Ullon. village Ullon. The ceremony was attended by over 150 guests The ceremony was attended by over 150 guests comprising of READ India and VSSU comprising of READ India and VSSU employees, local villagers, 4 schools, panchayat employees, local villagers, 4 schools, panchayat from 2 villages, Block Officer from District from 2 villages, Block Officer from District Administration and 3 other NGOs. Administration and 3 other NGOs.

HIGHLIGHTSHIGHLIGHTSSenator Omer Rains from READ Global was the Senator Omer Rains from READ Global was the guest of honor for the occasion.guest of honor for the occasion.DeepalayaDeepalaya, a reputed NGO from Delhi also , a reputed NGO from Delhi also attended this event to understand more about attended this event to understand more about READ projects so that they can make proposals READ projects so that they can make proposals accordingly for coaccordingly for co--implementing projects in implementing projects in North India. North India. DeepalayaDeepalaya is working in Delhi, is working in Delhi, Haryana, Haryana, HimachalHimachal Pradesh and is networking Pradesh and is networking with other organizations on nation wide scale. with other organizations on nation wide scale.

HIGHLIGHTSHIGHLIGHTS

The Library committee has committed to finish The Library committee has committed to finish the foundation work for the library by mid Jan the foundation work for the library by mid Jan 2008 as far as construction is concerned. 2008 as far as construction is concerned. Library committee has decided to pass Library committee has decided to pass resolutions for any major decisions that it will resolutions for any major decisions that it will make regarding the library. make regarding the library. Senator Omer Rains visited 3 rural schools near Senator Omer Rains visited 3 rural schools near Ullon village to understand the rural education Ullon village to understand the rural education system, facilities available within the school and system, facilities available within the school and also meet the students.also meet the students.

GLANCES OF ULLONGLANCES OF ULLON

Greenery at Ullon

Approach road to Ullon


VSSU Premises at Ullon

Beneficiaries of VSSU


Library committee meeting on 7th Dec 07

Senator Omer Rains with members of library committee


Omer leading the village walk to Library site on 8th Dec 2008 during the ground

breaking ceremony


Welcome of the library committee, Omer and other distinguished guests at Ashok Niloy, near the project site by the villagers


Formal welcome ceremony at Ashok Niloy on the occasion of Oceanic Library’s Foundation Stone laying ceremony


Oceanic Library Building Model Lighting of the lamp during the occasion


Worship at the project site. Omer holding the first stone to be laid.


Omer laying the first foundation stone at the project site


Omer inaugurating the Library Plaque at the project site

Library plaque at the project site


Cultural programme at the project site

Next steps and recommendationsNext steps and recommendationsVSSU will be finishing the foundation laying work for the library by mid of

Jan 2008.

The library construction work will be 70% completed by April 2008

The library management training programme with the library committee and volunteers would be held in mid Jan 2008 and will be conducted by

READ India and experts from READ Nepal

The library operations training programme will be conducted in March 2008. VSSU will recruit the librarian by Feb 2008.

Purchase of books will begin by end Jan 2008.

Cataloguing of the books would begin by Feb 2008.

Order for library furniture would be placed by end Feb 2008.

Shops on rent by April 2008

Part of the library functional by end April 2008

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Oceanic Library Ground Breaking Ceremony · 2013-06-06 · Deepalaya is working in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and is networking with other organizations on nation wide scale