TNSF - Tamil Nadu Science Forum

Project Brief: Initial funding for library setup in 1500 villages.
Project Type: Resource Centers (description)
Primary Focus: creating resources (description)

Secondary Focus: children from slums

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Boston
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Anu Raghavan
Project Partner(s):
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , Balaji Sampath, C2 Ratna Apts.,AH 250, Shanti Colony, Annanagar,Chennai,
TAMIL NADU  600040
Tel: (044) 6213638
Stewarding Chapter: Boston
Dec 2002SeattleUSD 4200
Dec 2001BostonUSD 100
Dec 1999BostonUSD 1155

Total = $5455

The TNSF works in areas of literacy, health, education, women's empowerment, science popularization, agriculture, enterprise development, water management, ecology, environmental issues, rural technology and application of information technology in villages.
TNSF is initiating 1500 village libraries across TamilNadu. To help the programme get off the ground and reach a minimum critical size of 1500, TNSF is planning to subsidize the first round of books to these libraries. Asha-MIT is covering part of the subsidy by purchasing and gifting some of the books and magazines with $1155 per year.




TNSF is initiating 1500 village libraries across TN. The villagers who use the library will join as members and pay Rs.10 initially and Rs.2 each month there after. Every six months, the library will send Rs.120 to the central library office run by the TNSF and the office will send them books worth Rs.200. The subsidies will be collected through local donations and volunteer time. To help the programme get off the ground and reach a minimum critical size of 1500, TNSF is planning to subsidize the first round of books. For Rs.120, TNSF will send the library books and magazines worth Rs.320. We hope AID will cover a part of the subsidy by purchasing and gifting some of the books and magazines.

Tamil Nadu Science Forum was started in 1980 as a Forum for scientists. Now it has grown into a peoples movement and has a membership of 12000 including scientists, Farmers, Teachers, Women - people from almost every walk of life.

Its programmes include science popularization and publication, literacy and continuing education campaigns, intervention in primary education, women’s development, and development interventions in health and income generation.

bsampath@eng.umd.edu