A New Light of Education in Punjab: Bhagwant Mann Government Opening Digital Libraries in Every Village

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab has taken a unique initiative in the field of education. To cultivate reading habits among the youth and connect rural areas with education, the state government is establishing model libraries in villages across the state. The Chief Minister launched the Rural Library Scheme from the village Isdu (Khanna) on August 15, 2024, and called for developing these as “centers of knowledge.”

So far, around 275 rural libraries have been completed, and construction work on 58 more is in progress. Six model libraries are being established in each assembly constituency, for which the government has allocated a budget of ₹64 lakh per constituency. In the Sangrur district alone, such libraries have been built in 28 villages, including one model library constructed at a cost of ₹35 lakh.

These modern libraries are equipped with Wi-Fi, solar power, digital systems, and comfortable seating arrangements. They house books on literature, science, history, competitive exams, and school curricula. The government believes that this initiative will help steer the youth away from drugs and motivate them toward education and employment.

Harkirat Kaur, a student from Majhuke village in Barnala, said, “Earlier, there was no quiet place in the village to study, but now this library inspires us. It provides both internet access and books, making it easier to prepare for competitive exams.”

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that this project is not just about constructing libraries, but marks the beginning of the intellectual and social renaissance of rural Punjab. Through these centers of knowledge, the government is working on a mission to take education to the very roots of the villages.