Children Toy Foundation runs 485 libraries across India

Founded by 83‑year‑old Devendra Desai in 1986, the NGO now runs nearly five hundred static libraries and a handful of mobile vans to bring play to underprivileged kids.

An 83‑year‑old visionary has turned a single toy library visit into a nation‑wide network of play spaces. The Children Toy Foundation, founded by Devendra Desai in 1986, now runs 485 permanent toy libraries and 11 mobile vans that travel to construction sites, schools and slums.

Desai’s journey began in the 1970s when, as a keen chess player, he wandered into the Chacha Nehru Toy Library in Bandra. He tried a memory game, lost to a child, then moved on to a mechanical toy that delighted him. A puzzle that refused to yield at first taught him that play could be as challenging as any board. “What affected me even more was the contrast outside the library,” he recalled, pointing to street children who scraped the pavement for fun while their peers enjoyed shelves of games inside.

That stark divide sparked the idea of a library without walls. Desai imagined a model where anyone could pay a modest fee, while those who couldn’t would still get a turn. The solution? A van packed with board games, puzzles and toys that could roll into neighbourhoods that lacked any facility. Today, the mobile units are a familiar sight for children of construction workers, who line up excitedly as the doors swing open.

The foundation’s libraries operate on a simple schedule: groups of age‑matched children enter, play for a set period, then make way for the next batch. This rotation ensures every child gets a fair share of the resources. Partnerships with NGOs, schools and local councils provide the spaces, while volunteers manage the day‑to‑day flow.

Experts say the benefits stretch far beyond a few minutes of fun. “Over more than four decades, Devendra Desai and his team have created social value that is hard to measure,” says Rukaiya Joshi, retired professor at SP Jain Institute of Management & Research. She adds that in an era dominated by screens, hands‑on games keep young minds agile and foster problem‑solving, concentration and creativity.

Numbers speak for themselves. With 485 libraries dotted from Delhi to Kochi, the foundation reaches tens of thousands of children each week. The 11 vans add another layer, delivering toys to remote pockets where even a basic playground is a luxury. Parents report that their kids are more willing to share, take turns and express emotions after regular visits.

Looking ahead, Desai says the next goal is to double the mobile fleet and introduce digital‑free learning kits that blend traditional play with modern storytelling. He invites donors and corporate CSR teams to join the cause via play@childrentoyfoundation.org.

In a country where mobile phones often replace crayons, the Children Toy Foundation proves that a simple game can still be a powerful teacher.