This young woman is setting up community libraries in Delhi’s Mustafabad to battle child labour

MUSTAFABAD/NEW DELHI: “I don't want children from my community to face the kind of problems I went through,” says Shabnam Nafisa Kalim, founder of the newly-opened Amma’s library on the edge of Mustafabad in North-East Delhi, and Khair-H Foundation which helps women.

Amma’s Library is the third library Kalim has helped set up. The first was started on the site of a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) held in 2020 and in which Kalim had participated. That was later demolished. The second one, Mashaal Library, was set up in Mustafabad in 2023 and is still going strong.

Kalim, 25, graduated from Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Delhi University, but grew up in Seelampur, a neighbourhood similar to Mustafabad, with large families, grinding poverty and few opportunities. She and her eight siblings grew up working in handicrafts manufacturing units; she hopes for a different future for the next generation.

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Students studying at Mashaal Library, Mustafabad, New Delhi

Two libraries

“About 70% of families in Mustafabad and Seelampur areas live on rent and cannot afford private schools or libraries. Most families earn their livelihood as rickshaw pullers, working kirana stores, handicraft factories or doing scrap work. Even children of these families work to make ends meet,” said Kalim. “I have had a similar life and I know the value of a proper study space.”

Kalim has been running her first community project, Mashaal Library, for more than a year in the Mustafabad area with the support of MA Anwar, the director of Al Hind hospital. Kalim said that so far her library has more than 250 registrations with around a daily turnout of 30-40 readers. She charges Rs 50 for registration.

When she faced a fund-crunch, Anas Tanwir, a Supreme Court advocate introduced Kalim to some people who wanted to support a library project. In May, Kalim together set up another community library called Amma’s Library.

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Students studying at newly-opened Amma's Library at Chandbagh, Mustafabad, New Delhi

No space for learning

Till Kalim joined college, she, her eight siblings and parents, who worked in factories, shared two rooms in Seelampur. “Until my first year, my family lived in the Seelampur area where people don’t even have a place to take a bath, let alone study. All my siblings, including me, have spent our childhood working at the handicraft factories,” she said.

Kalim said that in areas like Mustafabad, where every building has large families but no proper income, children do not have access to education. Eventually, most of them get into daily-wage labour or handicraft work. Despite the situation, at least 50% of students want to study further but have neither space nor guidance.

“A majority of families live in single rooms. Where will a child study?” she asked.

Kalim stated that she has always wanted to support others. “I had pledged that I would support those who face challenges after I complete my studies. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, it all started rolling out. I was helping in providing essentials to people in our area which helped create a network.”

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Mashaal Library

When Kalim first floated the idea of a community library, the idea was met with scepticism, was even rejected. “Many were reluctant to provide financial support. Others were not impressed with the idea because they felt if there was a lack of space for studying, there are government schools and homes," she said.

“It was difficult to explain that community libraries are for people living in low-income colonies where space is a constraint. Only people who have lived such a life can understand its value,” added Kalim.

But after much hustle, she finally got support and in February 2023, the library was inaugurated. Other than a space to study, the library has books that were donated and also wifi for students in the area. “We have been conducting seminars, weekly workshops on career counselling, competitive exams, voter rights, and English coaching, to increase engagement,” said Kalim. Though the coaching and education initiatives are yet to show results, there is an increase in interest with many students joining the library every day. Some of the students are preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, she added.

“When Tanwir addressed a session on January 26 at the library, he suggested to collaborate with others to start a library,” stated Kalim. Tanwir connected her to some otehr people and together they set up a new library in the Chandbagh area of Mustafabad. It has facilities similar to that of Mashaal.

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Future plans

When asked about her inspiration, Kalim came up with an anecdote. “Once during a workshop on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), we came across a shy and introvert aspirant. He wasn't able to speak a sentence during the event. However, helping him through, we witnessed a sea-change in him. There are many others like him who, after some support and guidance, are not afraid to speak up now. Students like him are our inspiration,” she explained.

Mustafabad has a Muslim-majority population. “Only 10% of students get admission in regular colleges and a massive 90% don't have access to regular college or are not interested. Around 50% of students dropout of school after Class 12,” Kalim said. Those who are willing to pursue further studies are focused on receiving guidance and securing a job.

Further, many don't have access to coaching. We want to provide them with coaching classes for CUET [Common University Entrance Test] and other exams,” Kalim stated. “We aim to create a free coaching centre with minimum fees for underprivileged students, especially for competitive exams.”

Kalim wants at least one child from each family in the community to focus on education.