Prayagraj: In an attempt to connect students preparing for competitive exams with modern knowledge resources, the state government is taking up digital literacy in rural areas through digital libraries in Gram Panchayats.Digital libraries are empowering the students with opportunities for education, skill development, and employment. The Yogi government has focused to develop Gram Panchayats into local hubs of knowledge and innovation,a process in which the setting up of digital libraries plays a crucial role.Satish Kumar, Deputy Director (Panchayati Raj) Prayagraj Division, said that digital libraries have been set up in all Gram Panchayats within the division that possess at least two buildings. A total of 979 such Gram Panchayats were selected and digital libraries have been set up in all of them.Within the Prayagraj division, Pratapgarh witnessed the highest number of installations, with digital libraries set up in 319 Gram Panchayats. Pratapgarh is followed by Prayagraj (236), Fatehpur (139), and Kaushambi (103).Additionally, a significant step has also been taken in state to provide rural youth with modern digital knowledge facilities right within their villages. On the directives of CM Yogi Adityanath, high-tech digital libraries have been developed in 11,350 Gram Panchayats across 32 districts during the first phase including all four districts of the Prayagraj Division.Kumar explained that approximately Rs 4 lakh has been spent on each digital library. This expenditure covers books worth about Rs 2 lakh, IT equipment worth Rs 1.30 lakh, and modern furniture costing around Rs 70,000.A total of Rs 31.88 crore was spent on these facilities across the division. The process of installing necessary equipment, such as computers and Wi-Fi, is currently underway.A district-level committee, chaired by the District Magistrate and with the District Panchayat Raj Officer serving as the Member Secretary, has been constituted to oversee their operation and monitoring. Through these libraries, the government is providing children and youth in rural areas with quality study materials, resources for competitive exam preparation, digital content, and e-learning facilities. . It will connect rural youth with computers, the internet, e-books, audio-visual lectures, and digital learning modules, enabling them to benefit from modern technology and study materials just like their urban counterparts. Youth living in villages will have access to free digital and printed study materials for competitive examinations—such as those conducted by the UPSC, State Public Service Commissions, SSC, Railways, and the banking sector—without having to travel to cities or coaching centres. Economically disadvantaged students who cannot afford costly books and reference materials will be able to access textbooks for classes 1 through 12, as well as books from the National Book Trust, right at the village Panchayat Bhawan.
