The Tamil Nadu Rural Development department has sanctioned an amount of Rs 84 crore for repairing and maintaining 3,808 rural libraries in the state. The development comes following widespread complaints about the dream project of former Chief Minister, late M Karunanidhi, waning due to lack of proper maintenance and management.
During the last leg of the rule of Karunanidhi, the government had sanctioned the opening of 12,525 libraries under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam (AGAMT) project. The project was aimed at students, women, and senior citizens who are not in a position to go to district headquarters to access public libraries. The government had purchased books worth several lakhs of rupees. However, within two years, the project was not functioning smoothly as fund allocation came down after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government lost power, and the rural libraries which were opened with much fanfare turned into remnants of their old glory.
Gradually, the number of rural libraries that were functioning came down and by 2015, only 2,000 libraries were functioning. Most of the libraries had gathered dust, and the buildings turned into dens for anti-social activities.
After the DMK government returned to power in 2021, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced the revival of rural public libraries and had earlier sanctioned an amount of Rs 91 crore under the AGAMT for repairing 4,116 rural libraries.
The Rural department has now sanctioned an amount of Rs 84 crore for repairing and maintaining 3,808 rural libraries. The library department has also announced sanctioning of Rs 50,000 for each library for the purchase of books. However, the department has directed the honorary librarians in charge of these libraries to rope in some corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds and also support from NGOs for the purchase of weeklies and magazines.
With the rural libraries gearing up for a new facelift with the funds allocated and buying new books and magazines, these libraries could turn once again into vibrant centres of culture and reading in villages.
