Five-Year Drought: No New Public Libraries Built

In the last five years, the Union government has not established any new public libraries, disclosed Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The Ministry claims no planned libraries either, but supports existing ones through its National Mission on Libraries Scheme, offering financial aid to selected state and district libraries.

In a recent revelation, the Union government admitted to not having built any new public libraries in the country over the past five years. This information was confirmed by the Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday.

Responding to a query by Rajya Sabha MP P V Abdul Wahab, Shekhawat indicated that there are no plans to establish new libraries in the next five years either.

Despite the lack of new infrastructure, the Culture Ministry's National Mission on Libraries Scheme continues to financially support existing state and district libraries, distributing funds based on recommendations from state authorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)