It is not surprising that in a state with a literacy rate of over 96 per cent, you can find free-to-use book stalls along the road. Nest-like structures on a stilt are placed not in a developed city but in a remote village. Many of these boxes are waiting for their readers in Perumkulam, a small village in Kerala. It is the first “Pustaka Gramam” or Book Village in the state. Books and newspapers are neatly kept in these nests and people can choose any book of their choice and read comfortably. Then, they put them back in these boxes. Kerala Tourism today shared the video of “Pustaka Kudu” to mark World Literacy Day.
The video shows a man picking up a book from the nest and reading on a bench beside it. The tourism department said the public bookcase is a “unique concept” and allows villagers to freely exchange or borrow books.
#did you know That Perumkulam, the first Pushthaka gramam or book village in Kerala, has many ‘Pustaka kudu’ or nests of books? The Book Nest is a unique concept where public bookcases allow villagers to freely exchange or borrow books. #world literacy day
©️ All India Radio News pic.twitter.com/pbOFnU5HTq
— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) September 8, 2021
It also highlighted the fact that Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India.
This reading culture is not surprising in the state with an overall literacy rate of 96.2% (97.4% male literacy and 95.2% female literacy). #world literacy day#Kerala Tourism
— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) September 8, 2021
Many people appreciated the concept of “Pustika Gramam” or book village as a “brilliant idea” to raise the level of education in the villages.
Great idea for education!
— Paul Grant (@123southwind) September 8, 2021
Another person said that watching the video made him understand the reason for Kerala’s incredibly high literacy rate.
Now we know the reason for high literacy in Kerala
— Suryanarayanan (@4ssuri) September 8, 2021
A third user thanked the government, saying that he had seen nests of this book in western countries, but did not know that it was present in his own state.
Western countries have seen this great concept. Never knew it existed in our state. Thank you @Kerala Tourism
— Jayakrishnan (@jayakrishnan_r) September 8, 2021
Some users lauded the Kerala Tourism initiative and said that these Book Nests looked “very cool”.
So cool
— Subhash Eshwar (@subasheswarpt) September 8, 2021
Good initiative ????
— ????iiii (@IMviis) September 8, 2021
great ️
— Ramsundar Ifs (@ramsundar_ifs) September 8, 2021
The United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 8 September as World (International) Literacy Day in 1966 and it is being celebrated since 1967. This year, the event is Celebrating with the aim of bridging the digital divide.
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