Lok Sabha Question No. 3054 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Modernisation and Infrastructural Development of Central Libraries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Soni, Rajendra Agrawal, Vijay Baghel, Arun Sao, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Mohan Mandavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3054 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## MODERNISATION AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL LIBRARIES

3054.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SONI:

SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

SHRI ARUN SAO:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI MOHAN MANDAVI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  Central  Libraries  across  the  country  especially  in  Bilaspur Parliamentary Constituency of Chhattisgarh;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated any plan for modernization and infrastructural development of the Central Libraries during the current digital era;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the fresh steps taken by the  Government for introducing new  innovative technologies in all libraries in order to meet the challenges posed by services/products like Google, Wiki, Quora, social media and e-Resources etc.?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM and DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)   Library is a State subject as per the Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India and Public Libraries function under the administrative control of the respective State / Union Territory  Authority.  However,  the  following  7  Libraries  are  functioning  under  Ministry  of Culture:-
- i. National Library, Kolkata
- ii. Central Reference Library, Kolkata
- iii. Central Secretariat Library, New Delhi
- iv. Rampur Raza Library, Rampur, U. P.
- v. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, Bihar
- vi. Delhi Public Library, Delhi
- vii. Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata

There  is no  library under  this Ministry in  Bilaspur  Parliamentary  Constituency  of Chhattisgarh.

(b)  to  (d)  Ministry  of  Culture  through  its  National  Mission  on  Libraries  (NML)  Scheme, under 'Setting  up  of  NML  Model Library'  component, provides financial  assistance  to  1 State Central Library and 1 District Library in each State / UT, as per the recommendation of the State Authority concerned for modernization and infrastructure development.

Also,  Raja  Rammohun  Roy  Library  Foundation  (RRRLF),  an  Autonomous  Body  under Ministry  of  Culture,  through  its  matching  and  non-matching  schemes  provides  financial assistance to public Libraries for various purposes e.g. construction / renovation of library buildings,  up-gradation  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.

The details of these schemes are available on the website of RRRLF (www.rrrlf.nic.in).

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