Reading materials from the bicycle library

Illiteracy is particularly prevalent in Bhadohi, a region in India’s carpet belt. Women working in the carpet industry there have learned to read, write and do basic arithmetic in two Label STEP projects. Villages in the Bhadohi region now receive regular visits from a bicycle rickshaw library, so female course participants continue to be provided with reading materials even after their lessons have finished.

The mobile book and information trailer stays for one day in each village. The women themselves organise how the books are lent out and returned. For the users it’s extremely important that the rickshaw service also offers official documents and forms rather than just books. The knowledge which the women acquire makes everyday life easier in the villages. For example, the female carpet knotters can work out the wages they are owed for knotting carpets and spinning wool.

Label STEP is launching the rickshaw library as a pilot project between April and December 2009. From January 2010 it will be funded by the Dr. Shambhoonath Singh Research Foundation (SRF).