Lok Sabha Question No. 89 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Development of Libraries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.89 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARIES

## 89. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has taken any measures to increase the number of libraries under its purview during the last ten years, if so, the details thereof;
- b) the details of all libraries under the Ministry of Culture; and
- c) whether any funds have been allocated for the development of the existing libraries and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- a) Library  is  a  State  subject  as  per  the  Seventh  schedule,  under  article  246 th of Constitution of India, and public libraries function under the administrative control of the respective State/Union Territory Authorities.

Ministry of Culture through Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), an Autonomous  Body  under  this  Ministry,  provides  financial  assistance  to  public Libraries 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.

Number of Library Assisted by RRRLF in last 10 years: -

|   Sl No. | Year    | No. of libraries Assisted   |
|----------|---------|-----------------------------|
|        1 | 2014-15 | 19,707                      |
|        2 | 2015-16 | 23,306                      |
|        3 | 2016-17 | 22,744                      |
|        4 | 2017-18 | 19,084                      |
|        5 | 2018-19 | 12,070                      |
|        6 | 2019-20 | 6,735                       |
|        7 | 2020-21 | 24,831                      |
|        8 | 2021-22 | 24,106                      |
|        9 | 2022-23 | 4,675                       |
|       10 | 2023-24 | 7,010                       |

National  Mission  on  Libraries  (NML)  Scheme,  under  this  Ministry  also  provides Financial  Assistance  for  i)  Up-gradation  of  Infrastructure,  ii)  Modernization  of Technology & Modernization of Services,  iii)  Creation  of  Facilities  for  Specially abled users and iv) Subscription of E-journals/ E-books for selected Libraries under NML, v) Network Connectivity for District Libraries, vi) Procurement of Reading resources and Advocacy & Outreach programs etc. to 35 State Central Libraries, 35 District  Libraries  selected  by  the  State  Government  of  each  State  /  UT  and  6 libraries  identified  by  this  Ministry.  Under  this  Scheme,  State  Governments  are required to share the expenditure with National Mission on Libraries (NML) in the form of Central Fund in the ratio of 25%: 75% for the other States and in the ratio of 10%: 90% for NE States.

- b) There are 7 MoC libraries/organizations under the Ministry of Culture as follows:-
- i. National Library, Kolkata
- ii. Central Reference Library, Kolkata
- iii. Central Secretariat Library, New Delhi
- iv. Delhi Public Library, Delhi
- v. Rampur Raza Library, Rampur. U. P.
- vi. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, Bihar
- vii. Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata
- c) With reference to (b) above, grants are given to these organizations by the Ministry to meet their administrative as well as development needs. The details of funds allocated to these organizations during the last 5 years may be seen at Annexure-A .

Annexure-A

Annexure referred to in Reply to Part (c) in respect of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.89 to be answered on 03.02.2025: -

Expenditure details of Libraries from 2019 to 2024

(Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Organization   | Financial Year   |      BE |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------|---------|
|         1 | National Library, Kolkata  | 2019-20          | 5277.33 |
|         2 | National Library, Kolkata  | 2020-21          | 4724.68 |
|         3 | National Library, Kolkata  | 2021-22          | 4628.86 |
|         4 | National Library, Kolkata  | 2022-23          | 6189.5  |
|         5 | National Library, Kolkata  | 2023-24          | 6449.5  |

(Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Organization           | Financial Year   |   BE |
|-----------|------------------------------------|------------------|------|
|         1 | Central Reference Library, Kolkata | 2019-20          |  513 |
|         2 |                                    | 2020-21          |  545 |
|         3 |                                    | 2021-22          |  558 |
|         4 |                                    | 2022-23          |  561 |
|         5 |                                    | 2023-24          |  618 |

## (Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Organization   | Financial year   |   BE |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------|------|
|         1 | Central Secretariat        | 2019-20          |  210 |
|         2 | Library, New               | 2020-21          |  186 |
|         3 | Delhi                      | 2021-22          |  166 |
|         4 |                            | 2022-23          |  213 |
|         5 |                            | 2023-24          |  295 |

## (Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Organization   | Financial Year   |      BE |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------|---------|
|         1 | Raja Rammohun              | 2019-20          | 5129.06 |
|         2 | Roy Library                | 2020-21          | 5338.4  |
|         3 | Foundation,                | 2021-22          | 2707    |
|         4 | Kolkata                    | 2022-23          | 2752    |
|         5 |                            | 2023-24          | 3367    |

## (Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Organization   | Financial Year   |      BE |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------|---------|
|         1 | Delhi Public               | 2019-20          | 2957.84 |
|         2 | Library, Delhi             | 2020-21          | 3167.69 |
|         3 |                            | 2021-22          | 3627    |
|         4 |                            | 2022-23          | 3367    |
|         5 |                            | 2023-24          | 3558    |

(Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Organization   | Financial Year   |     BE |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------|--------|
|         1 | Khuda Bakhsh               | 2019-20          | 583.25 |
|         2 | Oriental Public            | 2020-21          | 586.89 |
|         3 | Library, Patna,            | 2021-22          | 632.5  |
|         4 | Bihar                      | 2022-23          | 580.5  |
|         5 |                            | 2023-24          | 622    |

## (Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Organization   | Financial Year   |     BE |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------|--------|
|         1 | Rampur Raza                | 2019-20          | 650.97 |
|         2 | Library, Rampur,           | 2020-21          | 646.05 |
|         3 | U.P.                       | 2021-22          | 702    |
|         4 |                            | 2022-23          | 672    |
|         5 |                            | 2023-24          | 662    |