Mon Jun 30 12:00:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Chennai Book Bank Project Celebrates 61 Years of Empowering Students
**CHENNAI, June 30, 2025** – For over six decades, the Rajasthan Youth Association’s Book Bank project has been quietly revolutionizing access to education in Chennai and surrounding districts. Tucked away in Vepery, the association provides free textbooks to college students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring that the cost of books doesn’t hinder their academic pursuits.
Founded in 1964 by 29 students from Rajasthan, the project initially served 25 students from two Chennai colleges. Recognizing the prohibitive cost of textbooks, the founders aimed to bridge the gap and make education more accessible.
“There was no organization providing textbooks at the time,” explains Rajesh Kumar R. Jain, a member of the project for over 30 years. “Libraries couldn’t address the long-term needs of college students.”
Today, the Book Bank boasts over 80,000 books and has assisted over 150,000 students. Currently, 9,000 students are benefiting from the initiative, borrowing textbooks for arts, science, and engineering courses. Students submit an application with a refundable ₹500 deposit and their college fee receipt, receiving the necessary books for each semester.
The project relies on donations to cover its annual operating costs of ₹35 lakh. Kailash Kumar D. Jain, Chairman of the Rajasthan Youth Association, emphasizes the importance of the project’s mission. “We plan to partner with more colleges so that every student gets textbooks. The project needs to reach every student to ensure that books are not a deterrent for their education,” he stated.
The Rajasthan Youth Association Book Bank project stands as a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives in fostering education and empowering future generations.
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