Lok Sabha Question No. 3197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Development of Public Libraries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: V. PANNEER SELVAM, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, BHOLA SINGH, SHASHI THAROOR, MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA, KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3197 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.12.2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES

3197.  SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  functional  and  non-functional  public  libraries  in  the  country,  State/UTwise;
- (b) the  annual  expenditure  made  on  such  libraries  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to revamp, develop and strengthen the public libraries  in  the  country  including  those  which  are  closed  and  lying  in  dilapidated condition and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to rope in private sector or social organizations for digitalization  and proper maintenance of such historical libraries and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Public Library in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in one of the oldest public building in the State and has multitude of priceless books of great historical significance and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  whether the Government would consider the allocation of urgently needed funds for the renovation of the building and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Culture Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

## ANSWER

- (a) There are six Public Libraries under administrative control of Ministry of Culture namely National  Library,  Kolkata,  Central  Reference  Library,  Kolkata,  Central  Secretariat Library, New Delhi, Delhi Public Library, Delhi, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna  and  Rampur  Raza  Library,  Rampur.  Data  regarding  State  wise  number  of functional  and  non-functional  Public  Libraries  in  the  Country  is  not  maintained  by Ministry  of  Culture  as  Public  Libraries  function  under  the  administrative  control  of respective State/UT Library Authorities being State Subject.

- (b) Financial assistance rendered to various Public Libraries under the matching and nonmatching  schemes  of  Raja  Rammohun  Roy  Library  Foundation,  an  autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, during last three years and the current year is at Annexure-A.
- (c) Ministry of Culture through matching and non-matching schemes of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation and through National Mission on Libraries is providing financial assistance  for  various  purpose  e.g.  construction/renovation  of  library  buildings,  upgradation of infrastructure with furniture and equipment, modernization, procurement of books and reading resources, organization of seminar/training and capacity building of library professionals/workshop/outreach programmes, establishment of children corner, opening of various sections, creating facilities for specially-abled, brail corner etc.
- (d) No Madam
- (e) Public  library  in  the  city  of  Thiruvananthapuram  functions  under  the  administrative control of the State Library Authority.
- (f)  Rupees 116.61 lakh has been sanctioned for State Central Library, Thiruvananthapuram under Model Library scheme of National Mission on Libraries on the basis of proposal received from State Library authority of Kerala.

## Annexure-A

Annexure in reply to part (b) of Lok Saba Unstrarred Question No.3197 for reply on 31.12.2018.

## Financial Assistance provided to various Public Libraries under the matching and non-matching schemes of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation.

## Amount in Rs.

| Year                       | Total Matching   | Total Non-Matching   |
|----------------------------|------------------|----------------------|
| 2015-16                    | 53,53,39,219.00  | 8,29,93,610.98       |
| 2016-17                    | 34,25,02,687.00  | 25,01,98,177.00      |
| 2017-18                    | 67,21,52,687.00  | 12,80,37,256.02      |
| 2018-19 (as on 24.12.2018) | 14,78,43,801.00  | 12,98,89,559.00      |

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