In Bhadohi, a region in the so-called carpet belt of India, the illiteracy rate is high. In the past three years, about 200 women, who work in the carpet industry, have learnt how to read, write and calculate in Label STEP projects. Now they are supported to also use those qualifications in everyday life: Among others, reading material is brought in their villages by a rickshaw. Now the library system is being developed.

Since 2005, Label STEP finances projects in which the inhabitants of the Bhadohi region learn to read, write and calculate. Up to now, about 200 women have made use of this offer and have attended the courses – now all of them master the contact with numbers and letters. These courses, which all run for 12 months, have been supervised by the partner organisation Dr. Shambhoonath Singh Research Foundation (SRF) in five villages and were taught by local teaching staff. The next important step is to give participants of the course the chance to embed their acquired knowledge in everyday life and to be able to apply the learned independently.

Application of new knowledge in everyday life

During organised excursions to the nearby town of Varanasi, the women are supposed to apply reading and writing for orientation and in public transport. Such experiences can also be transferred to everyday situations in the villages: They help with contact in public places like at the bank or post office, allow independent calculation of wage for weaving carpets and spinning wool – and, last but not least, strengthen the women's self-confidence.

To supply the course participants with reading materials and information even after the courses are over, the villages are around Bhadohi are regularly visited by a cycle rickshaw library. The mobile book and information carriage is stationed in one village per day whereas the women themselves are responsible for organising the book lending in the villages. In preliminary discussion of the project, it turned out to be an especially important concern of future users that the rickshaw not ‚only’ makes books available, but also offers documents and official forms. The villagers will also newly perform the function of "mediators of information" and thus strengthen their position in the village community.

New: stationary libraries also

The present projects have turned out exceptionally effective and efficient and enjoy great popularity with the local people. Therefore, the system is to be extended: An additional rickshaw library as well as four stationary libraries will be installed in those regions where Label STEP has already run adult education courses. The stationary libraries, respectively the information centres, where books can also be ordered receive a telephone connection and thus become an information centre in the village. Ten other libraries are supposed to be set up in existing schools of partner organisations which are active in carpet weaving regions.