Room to Read India

Room to Read India Room to Read India was established in 2003.Working on Foundational Literacy and Gender Education

Room to Read was founded on the belief that “World Change Starts with Educated Children.® We envision a world in which all children can pursue quality education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world. Room to Read India is a part of a global network that includes program operations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania. Since our inception in 2003, we have touched the lives of millions of young children across nine states: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra. To ensure our programs have the greatest reach and impact, we build strong partnerships with local governments, communities, and non-governmental organizations. Targeting children in the age group 6-18 years, in both rural and urban settings, our partners help us implement our work and contribute to our success. Room to Read’s literacy initiatives are designed to address a range of educational needs for turning children into independent learners with a promising future. Our Girls’ Education program (GEP) seeks to ensure that girls complete secondary school and have the skills to negotiate key life decisions.

09/09/2026

When we help a child discover the joy of reading, we give them tools to shape their own voice.

Under our flagship campaign India Gets Reading 8.0: My Words, My Story | मेरे शब्द, मेरी कहानी, education leaders and sector allies have come together for a collective commitment: Pledging Reading Time.

Reading is far more than decoding words on a page; it is a foundation for agency, self-expression, and lifelong learning. From reflecting on how early stories shaped our perspectives to ensuring children have access to books in languages they call home, building a culture of joyful reading requires the whole ecosystem to show up.

Hear from sector leaders and young ambassadors—including Poornima Garg, Country Director, Room to Read India; Saktibrata Sen, Senior Director Programs, Room To Read India; Dr. Geeta Malhotra, Country Director, Read India; Urmila Chowdhury, Co-founder & Chief Academic Officer, Peepul; Rajesh Soundararajan, Executive Director & CEO, Katha India; Dr. Jayanti Prakash, Director – Education, Content and Curriculum, Sesame Workshop - India; Lavanya Ashok, Regional Board, Room to Read; Shreya Raheja and Saarth Sohum, Young Global Ambassador, Room to Read — on why prioritizing reading is essential for every child.

A reading habit begins with just a few dedicated minutes every day. Will you take the pledge with us?

Drop a 📖 in the comments to commit 15 minutes of shared reading today, or tell us: What book first gave you your story?

Room to Read Giant Twoe and 100 Beanstalks

Read-A-Thon 2026 Unites States! Across classrooms, community centers, government offices and living rooms in 9+ states, ...
08/09/2026

Read-A-Thon 2026 Unites States!

Across classrooms, community centers, government offices and living rooms in 9+ states, shared a moment at 11:00 AM today. A moment of pause and then the sound of millions turning pages together. Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) moment!

To mark , Room to Read India mobilized students, educators, communities and readers for our nationwide Read-A-Thon challenge under India Gets Reading 8.0.

Under this year’s theme, "My Words, My Story | मेरे शब्द, मेरी कहानी!", learners in Delhi NCR, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, paused their routines for 30 uninterrupted minutes to read in the languages they speak, dream, and learn in.

A glimpse of what happens when a nation makes foundational literacy a shared priority.

Swipe through to see DEAR moments captured across our operational states!

A massive shout-out to our state teams, local education departments, frontline literacy coaches, and systemic leaders working tirelessly to realize the vision of NIPUN Bharat and NEP 2020 on the ground every day.

What did you read during DEAR today? Drop the title of your book in the comments below!

Listen to the Read-A-Thon Message: https://youtu.be/9JCo7S5TH9Y

Room to Read Room To Read India

08/09/2026

Read-A-Thon 2026 | 30 Minutes | One Nation | One Moment

This International Literacy Day, take a conscious pause with us and join the Read-A-Thon. As part of Room to Read India’s flagship campaign, India Gets Reading 8.0, we invite every learner, parent, educator and reader to Drop Everything and Read!

Hear from Saktibrata Sen, Senior Director, Room to Read India, as speaks on the importance of reading and sharing that joy.

Whether you are at home, in the office, at school, or on the move: pick up a book, slow down, and immerse yourself in 30 uninterrupted minutes of reading joy.

Date: September 8, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Where: Online (Join from anywhere across India!)

How to Participate:
📖 Grab your favorite storybook or novel.
🔗 Join us online via the live link in our bio/comments and read alongside a nation-wide community of passionate readers. https://youtube.com/live/nNOP784L0yY?feature=share
📸 Share a photo or video of you reading by tagging and using hashtags below!

Let’s Get India Reading Together!

Strengthening the literacy ecosystem across Uttar Pradesh, one district at a time. Under Room to Read India’s ongoing ...
07/09/2026

Strengthening the literacy ecosystem across Uttar Pradesh, one district at a time.

Under Room to Read India’s ongoing initiative, district teams are actively collaborating with local administrations to build vibrant, book-rich learning spaces for early grade learners. The energy on the ground reflects a shared commitment toward foundational learning and joyful reading.

A glimpse into the ongoing field engagements and district rollouts led by dedicated administrative and education leadership:

Moradabad: Dr. Rajendra Pensiya, IAS (DM) & Mr. Amit Kumar (BSA) leading the local charge.
Basti: Key sessions and kick-offs driven by Mr. Sarthak Agarwal, IAS (CDO).
Amethi: On-ground rollout guided by Ms. Pooja Sahu, IAS (CDO) & Mr. Sanjay Tiwari (BSA).
Ayodhya: Program rollout anchored by Mr. Shashank Tripathi, IAS (DM), Mr. Lal Chand (BSA), and local education teams.

Grateful for the steadfast support of the Government of Uttar Pradesh as we continue working alongside educators to ensure every child learns to read and reads to learn.

SCERT UP

This International Literacy Day, we are asking India to drop everything and read. On September 8th, from 11:00 AM to 11:...
07/09/2026

This International Literacy Day, we are asking India to drop everything and read.

On September 8th, from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM, children, teachers, parents, and community leaders across the country will pause their routines for 30 minutes to open a book together — in classrooms, libraries, homes and public spaces. You can join from anywhere!

This year's Read-a-Thon carries forward our India Gets Reading 8.0 theme, "My Words, My Story | मेरे शब्द, मेरी कहानी" — a reminder that when children read in languages reflecting their own homes and communities, books become mirrors of their experiences and windows into new ones.

Share your story by tagging Room to Read India and using

Read-A-Thon 2026. Let’s Get India Reading Together!

The countdown is on. Join us Live.
30 Minutes | One Nation | One Moment

Are you in?

Room to Read

Behind every child who learns to read with confidence is a teacher who believed they could. This Teachers' Day, we celeb...
05/09/2026

Behind every child who learns to read with confidence is a teacher who believed they could.

This Teachers' Day, we celebrate the educators across India who turn classrooms into spaces of wonder, curiosity and joy — the ones who show up every day to nurture a love of learning in the children they teach.

To every teacher who has shaped a young mind: thank you. Your work is the foundation of the change we all wish to see in the world.

Tag a teacher who made a difference in your life. 👇

World Change Starts with Educated Children®

Room to Read

As part of the Palghar District 2.0 inauguration, Room to Read India joined the discussion and shared our work across...
04/09/2026

As part of the Palghar District 2.0 inauguration, Room to Read India joined the discussion and shared our work across all 8 blocks of the district, in support of the state's efforts to strengthen foundational learning.

At the event, Mr. Manoj Ranade (IAS), CEO of Zilla Parishad Palghar, spent time engaging directly with our Library Models, Reading Corners and GROWBY-based book level mapping — a system designed to match every child with books at exactly the right reading level.

"This is the kind of content that will definitely help in achieving NIPUN 2.0."
— Mr. Manoj Ranade, IAS

The event also marked the launch of the nationwide India Gets Reading Campaign 8.0, reinforcing that this is a movement extending well beyond Palghar.

This is what systemic change looks like; government, schools and civil society working from the same playbook to make sure every child has room to read.

Room to Read

03/09/2026

Reading isn't just an activity; it’s the foundation of lifelong learning, critical thinking, and imagination.

Ahead of International Literacy Day on September 8, 2026, Shri. Krishan Kumar Singh, Chief Development Officer of Ayodhya and Shri. Lal Chandra, P.E.S., District Basic Shiksha Adhikari, Ayodhya, shared a call to action for educators, parents, and community leaders across the district. In partnership with Room to Read, Ayodhya is launching a district-wide Read-A-Thon under the central theme: "My Words, My Story | मेरे शब्द, मेरी कहानी"

This initiative is designed to mobilize maximum participation across our entire school network and community to spark a real reading movement. With Room to Read having established active Reading Corners in all 1,523 primary schools in Ayodhya, the physical infrastructure is ready; now it’s time to bring these spaces to life!

Join the Read-A-Thon, join the movement!

Samagra Shiksha, Secondary UP Department of Basic Education Uttar Pradesh Room to Read

01/09/2026

Foundational literacy is our shared national mission. When we read with a child, we nurture their agency, imagination and confidence to find their own voice.

As part of India Gets Reading (IGR) 8.0 – “My Words, My Story: Celebrating Every Child’s Voice”, we are inviting changemakers across the education ecosystem to join — a collective movement where leaders and readers come together to nurture reading habits in children. When we value reading, we normalize it, making it a part of everyday life for families and communities.

Hear inspiring reflections and pledges from Poornima Garg, Country Director, Room To Read India; Joyce Poan, Chief of Education, UNESCO New Delhi Office (ROSA); Ishmeet Singh, CEO, Central Square Foundation; Merlia Shaukath, Founder & CEO, Madhi Foundation; Maulshree Kalothia, Lead, Parag - An initiative of Tata Trusts; and Vinod Karate, Senior Director, Foundational Learning Reforms, Central Square Foundation.

📚 Join the Movement!

🎥 Watch & Repost: Watch the launch video and repost it to spread the word.
✍️ Make Your Pledge: Commit to reading with a child, anywhere, anytime that works for you.
📸 Capture & Share: Post a photo or video of your reading moment. Tag Room To Read India and use
🤝 Invite Others: Tag colleagues, partners, and friends to join the movement.

Click the form and pledge:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9qVD7g3uJUOYKUnxM929g0NZDzixXXlPgQMJxFJRivFUMzhKRlg3MVI3UU5ORTNSUDA0SUQxRTQxUy4u

Room to Read

26/08/2026

"𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗷𝗼𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆."

As part of the nationwide India Gets Reading 8.0 campaign, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻, 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, SCERT, Uttar Pradesh, highlights how schools and communities are coming alive with 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗣𝗠 𝗲-𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗬𝗔 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗜𝗣𝗨𝗡 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝘀.

From classrooms to local communities, our 2026 theme ‘𝗠𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆’ is a shared effort with teachers, librarians and parents to nurture confident, joyful readers.

Join the statewide 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱-𝗮-𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟴, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆! Let us come together to ensure every young learner finds their voice through reading.

Room to Read SCERT UP SCERT UP

Address

Room To Read India Trust, C21, Block C, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi
Delhi
110016

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+911146664999

Website

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