It’s hard to imagine a world class school or a fully equipped library in a village. The image that comes to mind is of students going to government schools that offer minimum facilities, and hardly any will have a library.
So, when an IAS officer does something out of the ordinary, like ensuring quality schools and proper libraries come up in all the panchayats of a district, it reinforces the feeling that the country is surely moving fast on the path towards progress.
After implementing ‘Aadharshila’ initiative, whereby, schools were established in the panchayats with scientific and robotics labs, CDO of Meerut, Mr. Shashank Chaudhary, is now pushing the heads of the panchayats to create quality libraries in their areas.
During an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Chaudhary shared how the gram panchayats are busy creating libraries, while the block level offices are getting a brand new look.
LIBRARY IN EACH PANCHAYAT
Meerut has around 479 gram panchayats and every year these panchayats get fund from the government for the development of their area based on the total population. “What we have done is asked all the panchayats to add libraries in the yearly working plan. We are only acting as the guiding force and letting them create the libraries based on their own vision. Initially, we also shared few designs, but since we didn’t want any centralized theme, so we have left the responsibility on the Pradhan and Panchayat Secretary,” said Mr. Chaudhary.
Every Panchayat Bhawan has some empty space or some room which has not been used for years. The Pradhans are using those spaces to create the libraries.
“We have made it clear that all the libraries should have some basic facilities like good lighting, ventilation, inverter, and separate spaces for sitting. Other than that, it all depends on the village leaders how attractive they want to make the library. Some panchayats have actually created libraries that are astonishing in design and can compete with some of the best libraries in the country,” Mr. Chaudhary said.
GIFT FOR GIRLS
These libraries are of great help for the girls especially, as they usually don’t go to study in the city for security reasons mainly. A new library near their home is like a blessing for them to pursue their dream of higher studies and career.
For the collection of books, the officer has created few teams that connect with big schools in the city and get 1000 to 1500 books as donation from them. These are then distributed among the libraries.
Mr. Chaudhary said, “There are few publications in Meerut like Arihant, which are also helping in the arrangement of books. We are trying to get books based on the demands and preferences of the students going to the libraries. Mostly, they want competitive exams related books, so we are focusing on that.”
Till now, around 300 libraries are up and running and the target is to achieve 100% saturation before the new year. All the libraries charge a fixed minimal charge for entry so that only serious students go to the library and discipline is maintained. The monitoring duty has fallen upon the ‘Panchayat Sahaks’. Along with other tasks, they also look after the libraries. A student committee has also been formed to ensure that maximum students use this facility.
CORPORATE STYLE OFFICES
After setting up and schools and libraries, Mr. Chaudhary has turned to remodeling the block level offices. He said, “Like the panchayats, we have asked the block authorities to add renovation in their yearly plan. The idea is to give a new look and good environment for working. If the officers get good facilities, then they will deliver good services.”
So far, 10 out of 12 block level offices have been renovated so well that it is difficult to differentiate between them and corporate offices.
