A Malabar Hill group has set up a study room for kids who find peace away from the space crunch in Mumbai homes

Like other students of his age, for MD college student Sanjay Pawar, the last few days before the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam are of crucial importance. But unlike most other students who can study in the comforts of their homes, Sanjay finds it practically impossible to concentrate in his ten feet by ten feet room in the slum area adjoining Banganga Tank.

Taking cognizance of the need for a study room for students like Sanjay, the 28-year-old Malabar Hill Kala Krida Kendra has recently started a free reading library. The library that opened less than a month ago has already managed to get over 500 members mostly comprising Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and HSC students.

Nitin Thackeray, manager of the Kendra elaborates, “A lot of needy students have no place to read and study. It is very important for students preparing for SSC, HSC and other competitive exams to have a study room for serious concentration. It was with this intention that we started the library.”

“The peaceful atmosphere here is conducive to concentrating on studies. I usually spend at least three to fours at a stretch and come twice a day whenever possible,” says Sanjay.

From students preparing for CA exams to surgeons opting for higher studies, the library attracts students from as far as Dadar and Girgaum apart from the nearby Malabar Hill, Walkeshwar and Banganga areas.

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