Minister Tarunpreet : Under the dynamic leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, 196 ultra-modern libraries have been established and are now operational in the rural areas of the state as part of the “Rural Library Scheme.” This initiative aims to cultivate a reading habit among the youth and actively engage them in Punjab’s socio-economic development. Additionally, construction is underway for 135 more libraries equipped with modern amenities.
Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond shared that the scheme was officially launched by the Chief Minister on August 15, 2024, at village Issru (Khanna), where he also inaugurated the first library and interacted with students. The Chief Minister shared his vision of making rural libraries centers of learning and empowerment.
Explaining the goal of the initiative, the Minister said that these libraries are designed to inspire a passion for reading and create opportunities for intellectual growth. He expressed optimism that these knowledge hubs will help shape a bright future for Punjab’s youth, guiding them to become successful professionals in various fields like administration, science, medicine, and technology.
Providing an update on district-wise progress, the Minister noted that Amritsar has 4 operational libraries, Bathinda has 29, and Barnala has 6 functional with 5 more being built. Fatehgarh Sahib has 10 running and 2 in progress; Faridkot has 5 operational and 7 under construction; Fazilka has 21 running and 9 being built; and work is underway on 22 libraries in Ferozepur.
Hoshiarpur has 2 functioning libraries and 13 in the pipeline. Ludhiana boasts 15 operational and 26 under construction; Mansa has 8 running and 10 being developed; Malerkotla has 6 functional and 5 being built. Sri Muktsar Sahib is seeing work progress on 6 libraries. Moga has 13 operational libraries and 1 under construction, while Patiala has 18 functional and 11 in development. Rupnagar has 12 operational libraries and 1 under construction. Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar has 6 operational, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar has 12 libraries currently under development.
Sangrur leads all districts with 28 operational libraries and 5 more under construction. In Tarn Taran, 11 libraries are currently functional, while Jalandhar has 2 running successfully.
These libraries are equipped with advanced features such as Wi-Fi, solar power, and digital systems. They house an impressive collection of contemporary literature as well as academic resources, offering a comprehensive learning environment. This forward-thinking move by the Punjab Government highlights its strong commitment to rural upliftment through education, knowledge access, and youth empowerment.