Assam: 2,597 Modern Libraries will Improve Reading Habits, Says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam’s library revolution

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: In a bid to make books more accessible to children and adolescents, the state government is constructing 2,597 libraries with all modern amenities across the state. For that purpose, the state government has approved Rs 259 crore in the current year.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We will be celebrating 2025 as the Year of Reading, but before making this announcement, we have already laid the foundation of a society where reading is enabled. We approved Rs 259 crore to build 2,597 libraries replete with all modern amenities.”

Reading habit among the new generation has already been on the wane since the last decade or so due to the proliferation of the internet and the condition of the libraries, which have not been updated for lack of the latest books and periodicals. The reading habit of the present generation, especially in the rural areas, is now much decreased as a consequence of this. Under the rural library scheme of 1985-86, many libraries were set up in the rural areas of the state. The scheme ran successfully for several years, but later, due to lack of funding and other reasons, the condition of the libraries deteriorated.

Sources said, “If the rural libraries are value-added and equipped with modern facilities, libraries are bound to attract the youth of villages, thereby inculcating the reading habit among them. Keeping this in mind, the state government started a new initiative in 2023 and decided to set up these 2,597 libraries. The libraries under construction will cover 2197 village panchayats and 400 municipal wards. The facilities include modern reading material, updated books, furniture, computers, and internet connectivity.”

The CM added, “With the setting up of these libraries, they will provide adolescents and children with improved access to books and learning resources, integration with the national digital libraries, and foster a love for reading and learning among young minds across the state.”

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