Velu Chinnasamy took over the fair price shop at Kolapakkam in Chengalpet with the determination to have people leave the store with something "more than just their ration".
"The first thing we did was get rid of all the liquor bottles strewn about. Then, we put up a roof," he says. He went on to add chairs, fans, drinking water and most importantly a little community library—Thiruvalluval Noolagam—accompanied by a reading corner.
