‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ is a new initiative; its objective is to establish a library in every village to encourage children to read
752 libraries have joined the ‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ app so far
Four libraries containing 2.80 lakh books have been linked with these rural libraries
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today launched the 'Gramin Gyan Setu' app developed to integrate the libraries of Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat through video conferencing.
Addressing the event virtually, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah noted that today marks the birth anniversary of S.R. Ranganathan. He stated that the entire nation is celebrating the birth anniversary of Padma Shri Ranganathan as National Library Day, and that a new idea and concept—‘Gramin Gyan Setu’—has been launched in his Lok Sabha constituency. Shri Shah stated that the objective is to establish a library in every village—located centrally and near the school—to encourage children to engage with reading and learning. He noted that approximately 63 libraries have already been set up. Initiatives have been launched to open small libraries, each housing five to six thousand books, across all villages in the Gandhinagar, Kalol, and Sanand assembly constituencies. Union Home Minister mentioned that he personally curated a list of books for these multi-purpose, multi-dimensional libraries—books designed to spark an interest in reading among children and gradually inspire them to immerse themselves in the vast ocean of knowledge. Additionally, the libraries will stock books beneficial for the career development of adolescents and youth, as well as resources for state and national-level competitive examinations. Arrangements have also been made to ensure the availability of books covering the history of Gujarat, the history of the nation, the story of the freedom struggle, and the Revolution of 1857 right within the village.
Shri Amit Shah stated that cultivating a reading habit in children is not possible without encouragement from parents; however, for children who are motivated to study, four libraries—collectively housing 2.80 lakh books that will benefit them in the future—have been linked to these rural libraries. Union Home Minister mentioned that he has facilitated this service by arranging vans using his MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds. These vans will visit the villages every fortnight to collect previously issued books and deliver books registered on the app to the village libraries. He noted that children who are accustomed to visiting libraries containing 6,000 to 7,000 books will now have access to a collection of 2.80 lakh books.
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah stated that while he had originally proposed the idea, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and the Gujarat government have integrated it with a new scientific approach. He noted that 752 libraries are now connected to the ‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ app. He emphasized that without study, it is impossible to gain even basic knowledge, let alone achieve mastery in any subject. He added that as individuals transition from childhood to adolescence, then to youth, and finally to adulthood, guidance from competent librarians regarding studies and their various dimensions can enable libraries to play a pivotal role in shaping citizens who are valuable to the nation.
Shri Amit Shah stated that the Mahatma Gandhi Library in Mansa has been linked to this library-related scheme. He mentioned that at the Mahatma Gandhi Library, he acquired basic knowledge across various subjects and gained in-depth understanding of some over a period of 16 years. After moving from Mansa to Ahmedabad, he became associated with the Gujarat Vidyapith library. He noted that Kakasaheb Kalelkar had created the Gujarat Vidyapith library as a means for many young people—like himself—to dive into the ocean of knowledge. The urge to gather information on every subject evolved into a habit, which subsequently transformed into a practice of study. He remarked that it was this practice of study that enabled him to contribute to a specific field, and the library played a pivotal role in this process.
Home Minister Shri Amit Shah stated that these libraries and books have now been made available to the youth through the ‘hub-and-spoke’ model. While such facilities did not exist in his time, this program is now scientifically accessible to the current generation. He expressed his aim to have various institutions—such as Sastu Sahitya Mandal, Gita Press, the Bhupen Hazarika Institute, and the Thiruvalluvar Institute—connect online with libraries in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district and at the state level. He expressed confidence that this facility would become available to students and readers through the use of technology.
Shri Amit Shah urged housewives across the country and the state to make productive use of their spare time by acquiring knowledge on various subjects and encouraging their children to study.
