Kerala: Library's initiative to fight summer heat

Kollam: The initiative by a rural library here to fight the scorching summer in a drought affected state has grabbed public attention. The group functioning under the unity library in Champakadavu here has called for planting ‘a tree every Sunday’ through online media and to post it as profile pictures. Hundreds of trees were planted after the commencement of the project a few months back, and it has won accolades.

The workers of the library spread the message through social media like Facebook and Whatsapp asking the question, “What about planting a tree this Sunday fighting this scorching summer? Let this picture be our profile picture,” which got a huge response.

“We thought of doing something for fighting the summer using the reach of social media. By changing our profile pictures to the picture of planting trees would encourage others to follow the path. We got responses from eminent personalities, panchayat members, and students at several educational institutions,” Arun Champakadavu, president of Unity Library, told DC.

The library started functioning two years back in memory of Mukesh, a youth from Champakadavu who died in an accident. His friends who gather at the library also involve in social issues to the benefit of the public.

The library has also initiated a free computer training programme for children under 15 years of age in the Panmana panchayath. As per the programme, the children will get free computer training, a day each week.

The programme was launched this Children’s day at the library. The workers also actively intervene in environmental issues and are at the forefront of blood donation in the area.