FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
Itagar, Dec 22: The Bamboosa Library building at Tezu in Lohit district was demolished by Vivekanda Girija Kalya Kendra (VGKK)/Karu Trust on Nov 20 last claiming to setup an urban PHC.
The forcible demolition took place when only student volunteers were present in the library. Even though the DDSE Tezu persolly rushed to the venue on the same evening and ordered immediate stopping of demolition, the VGKK/KT group ignored the advice and went ahead to demolish the entire building and forcibly shifted the books to their premises. It is feared that the library has suffered heavily by this forcible eviction.
The Bamboosa House had been the nerve centre of the Lohit youth library movement since May 2007 and was an EGS centre of DDSE Lohit where the library was functioning.
On Monday, meeting the members of civil society and library patrons, DC, Lohit, Tamiyo Tatak has assured all support to ensure that Bamboosa Library gets a permanent site. He instructed officers to initiate necessary action immediately.
A host of NGOs representing ViTAES, ASSET Wakro, CALSOM, Tezu, Emow Katyi Memorial Trust, Roing, Idu Mishmi Govt. Employees Association, Roing and well-wishers in large numbers from Lohit, Anjaw, msai, Lower Dibang Valley and Itagar on Sunday have expressed shock and condemtion at the sudden demolition of Bamboosa Library building, Tezu.
A large number of patrons of Lohit youth libraries from all over India have also conveyed their deep shock at the high handed action of the NGO, throwing out of gear a unique library initiative by and for the youth of Lohit valley.
Outlining the origin and growth of Bamboosa library, Co-coorditor Lohit Youth Libraries, S. Mundayoor, pointed out that Bamboosa library is the first and leading People’s Library of Aruchal Pradesh. It came as a gift from AWIC, New Delhi in March 2007 to the children of Lohit, and was received by then Education Minister at Delhi.
The Bamboosa library has since then been run by volunteers and activists giving their free time and energy. This has generated great interest in several patterns and media in giving wide publicity to Lohit Youth Movement.
Meanwhile, the Lohit Youth Libraries Network has announced the Bhajan Award 2016 to Etalo Mega for outstanding services to library movement for his many years of service for promotion of reading in Anjaw and Lohit valleys.
The Rangatha Award 2016 for dedicated library maintence has been given to Vijay Kumar Limbu, teacher Ap Vidya Bhavan, Wakro.