Rs 9.66-cr central grant to 138 govt schools for libraries

The central government has released a grant of Rs 9.66 crore for 138 government schools in Ludhiana under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) for construction of libraries. Each school has been granted Rs 7 lakh for the purpose.

The central government has released a grant of Rs 9.66 crore for 138 government schools in Ludhiana under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) for construction of libraries. Each school has been granted Rs 7 lakh for the purpose.

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Most government schools are running their libraries from staff rooms or laboratories.

Now they would get a separate room to house the school library. It is the responsibility of the school management committee to oversee the construction of libraries for students.

Last year, government schools in the district had received grants to purchase library books but there was no space to keep them in the absence of proper reading rooms.

Government primary schools in Lduhiana had received Rs 3,000 each and high and senior secondary schools Rs 10,000 to purchase books.

Gurjot Singh, district education officer, secondary, said, “There is a need to provide proper reading rooms to students for holistic development. So for this purpose we have received grants to construct library rooms for students to study in. Apart from school textbooks, there is a need for students to read other books to improve their knowledge and for that they need a proper environment.”

Singh further said this year, a book fair was organised under RMSA for two days for students to develop a reading habit. Students of 329 government high and senior secondary schools of the district purchased books for school libraries.

In Ludhiana district, there are 185 high schools and 144 senior secondary schools, out of which 138 schools have got grants for construction of library rooms.