Centre Clears 1229 Library Proposals Under RRRLF in Three Years

New Delhi, August 18: The Ministry of Culture has cleared 1,229 proposals from public libraries across the country under the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) scheme during the past three years, Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

According to a written reply in Lok Sabha by the minister, the proposals were approved under various components of the scheme, which supports library infrastructure, modernization, and resource development. The RRRLF, headquartered in Kolkata, functions as the nodal agency for coordinating public library services nationwide.

The Minister shared that the assistance covered a wide spectrum of activities including building renovation, purchase of books, journals, computers, furniture, and reading material to strengthen libraries in states and union territories.

Among the states, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh accounted for a significant share of the proposals, while smaller states and union territories also benefited from the allocations. The Ministry underlined that all proposals are scrutinized and approved as per established norms in consultation with state governments.

The RRRLF, established in 1972, is the central government’s nodal body for supporting and promoting library services in India. It extends financial assistance to libraries for modernization and acts as an advisory body to state governments for strengthening their public library systems.

Officials said the Foundation’s ongoing efforts align with the National Mission on Libraries, which seeks to provide modern, technology-enabled libraries to citizens, thereby improving access to knowledge and fostering a culture of reading.