Library Association Pushes for Public Library Bill in Panjab

The Punjab Library Association has renewed its efforts to revive the Punjab Public Library and Information Services Bill, 2011 and secure its speedy implementation. The first Public Library Act was passed in Madras in 1948. 19 states, including neighbouring Haryana, have passed Public Library Acts. The Bill proposed a statewide library network including one state Central Library, 22 District Libraries, 141 Block Libraries, 157 Town Libraries, and 12,282 Village Libraries. This was slated to be implemented in phases over 10 years. It called for the establishment of a Punjab Public Library Governing Board, chaired by the Chief Minister, and a State Public Library Directorate to oversee operations. However, the onset of the 2012 legislative election delayed the implementation of the Bill. According to Makhan Lal Garg, coordinator of the association and member of the Punjab Library and Librarians Council. ‘Since then, the Shiromani Akali Dal–Bharatiya Janata Party alliance returned to power, and we have had an Indian National Congress government. Even the Aam Aadmi Party government has completed three years in power. The draft Bill is gathering dust within the department.’ Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing 'War on Drugs' campaign, the Panjab government is focusing not only on building sports grounds to promote a sporting culture but also on constructing libraries to encourage young minds to reconnect with books. Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal said six libraries are being constructed in different villages in the district. Also, the Panjab govt.has decided to increase the promotion quota for principals from 50% to 75%. This change paves the way for the elevation of 500 teachers as principals in govt. schools across the state. Announcing the change, Panjab Education minister Harjot Singh Bains lamented that the Indian National Congress-led state govt. had reduced this quota from 75% to 50% in 2018. He also said, 'We are ramping up school infrastructure through the ambitious Sikhya Kranti (education revolution) initiative by spending USD 235M for over 12K govt. schools’ (earlier coverage).