Oxford University Press (OUP) India has partnered with the National Book Trust (NBT) to establish 100 libraries for underprivileged children across Anganwadi centres in

Uttar Pradesh, marking a major step toward strengthening early childhood literacy in the state.

The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with NBT—an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education—has set up libraries in 50 Anganwadi centres each in the Lucknow and Gorakhpur districts. The programme aims to cultivate a love for reading from an early age and aligns closely with the vision of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes foundational learning.

The libraries were formally announced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the state book fairs held in Lucknow in September and later in Gorakhpur. On both occasions, the Chief Minister lauded the efforts of Anganwadi workers and praised OUP India’s role in promoting reading habits among young learners.

Anganwadis, which operate under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, play a crucial role in delivering early childhood education, nutrition, healthcare, and immunization services to children below six years of age—particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Each of the newly established libraries is equipped with dedicated book racks housing a carefully curated collection of nearly 350 books. The selection includes vibrant picture books and engaging learning material on alphabets, numbers, colours, shapes, and storytelling, designed to spark curiosity and encourage daily reading among children.

Through this initiative, OUP India seeks to make reading a natural and enjoyable part of a child’s everyday experience, reinforcing its global mission to expand access to education and learning for communities worldwide.

Sukanta Das, Managing Director of Oxford University Press India:

“We believe that books have the power to change lives, and our mission has always been to make high-quality learning resources accessible to every child. This collaborative initiative with the National Book Trust India, supported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, reflects our commitment to promoting literacy and social development. These libraries are more than just collections of books—they are gateways to imagination, knowledge, and lifelong learning.”

Yuvraj Malik, Director of the National Book Trust, added:

“We were delighted to collaborate with Oxford University Press India to make books more accessible to children in Uttar Pradesh. The libraries at Anganwadi centres will play a crucial role in nurturing reading habits among children, in alignment with NBT’s vision of fostering a reading culture across India. We believe this initiative will have a transformative impact on their cognitive and emotional development.” Photo by Biswarup Ganguly, Wikimedia commons.