library programme in mcd schools

The Pratham movement was launched in Mumbai in 1994. The initiative was taken jointly by Dr. Madhav Chavan & Ms. Farida Lambey, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and UNICEF. A national network of Pratham-like initiatives was set up to expand the programmes in different parts of the country. In 1999-2000 Pratham spread to other cities including Delhi, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Patna, Pune, Allahabad and Bangalore. Today, Pratham is an all India movement. Moreover, it is one of the largest non-profit organizations working in the primary education sector. Pratham Delhi Education Initiative (PDEI) was launched by Mr. Vinod Khanna, a former member of Indian Foreign Service during the summer of 1999. Mr. Khanna was supported in his effort by Pratham Mumbai and a small group of volunteers from varied backgrounds in Delhi. The ICICI Ltd. and the HPS Foundation (a development support organization set up by HCL Perot Systems) extended generous support to this initiative.