Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

No access to libraries for students

 No access to libraries for students in 75% Maha villages

Extract from the article:
A recent Right To Information (RTI) report has unveiled a disquieting truth about the state of public libraries in Maharashtra. Out of 44,738 villages in the state, an astonishing 33,588 lack even a single government-subsidised library. This glaring void in educational infrastructure points toward a systemic neglect of rural knowledge hubs. Even more startling, only 127 of the state’s 27,951 gram panchayats house libraries within their premises. These numbers highlight the diminishing presence and closure of libraries — at least 1,000 public libraries have shut their doors in the last three years alone. This decline undermines the access of rural populations to literature, research material, and learning resources, compounding educational inequities.

The RTI data underscores not only a loss of cultural and educational anchors in villages but also the erosion of communal spaces that serve as vital intellectual sanctuaries. The closure of libraries is intertwined with larger challenges: lack of funding, minimal policy focus, and insufficient manpower to keep these institutions alive and relevant. Without reversing this trend, the dream of inclusive, grassroots educational development remains elusive. The dearth of libraries must evoke urgent government intervention and inspire public discourse on reclaiming these bastions of knowledge in rural Maharashtra.

My Take:

A. Schools Without Teachers? Not Quite, But Quite Close!
"Approximately 1.1 lakh schools in India operate with just a single teacher, while a staggering 19% of teaching positions lie vacant nationwide—most notably in rural areas. The qualitative gap is equally concerning, with a sizeable chunk of educators under-qualified, impacting the efficacy of rural education. What strikes me as a parallel to the current library crisis is the stark imbalance of educational infrastructure plaguing India’s hinterlands. As I highlighted earlier, ensuring availability and deployment of qualified teachers is as crucial as building physical spaces like libraries. Both are non-negotiable pillars that uphold the edifice of learning."

Reflecting on these intertwined issues, the library closures are symptomatic of a deeper malaise within rural education ecosystems. The lack of teachers and closed libraries both throttle access to knowledge. This dual deficit perpetuates a cycle of educational deprivation, depriving rural youth of multidimensional learning—from classroom instruction to self-guided exploration within libraries. It reinforces my conviction that infrastructural development and human resource quality must advance hand in hand. Without this synergy, our educational ambitions will remain a pipe dream.

B. Next 100 Days: A Blueprint for Educational Reform
"More than a quarter of a billion Indians remain illiterate nearly seven decades post-independence. The root cause? A lack of educational infrastructure—schools, colleges, qualified teachers—as well as insufficient use of technology. I urged robust governance actions, including publishing Ministry project implementation plans within 100 days, focusing on broadband connectivity, e-education delivery through tablets, and ensuring comprehensive educational access at grassroots levels."

The absence of libraries starkly exemplifies the unfulfilled promise of infrastructure development that I outlined years ago. Libraries serve as essential community knowledge centers, fostering literacy, research, and curiosity outside formal classrooms. The systemic neglect of libraries indicates a failure to implement coherent, large-scale educational reforms that encompass both physical and digital infrastructure. If broadband and digital initiatives had been effectively dovetailed with library rejuvenation, rural education could have witnessed transformative change. It perfectly resonates with my earlier call for integrated governance and a strategic roadmap to uplift education in underserved regions.

Call to Action:
To the Honourable Education Minister and the State Government of Maharashtra: The alarming deficit and closure of public libraries demand immediate redressal. I urge the Ministry to initiate a comprehensive audit of existing library infrastructure, swiftly reinstate shuttered libraries, and allocate dedicated funds to establish new knowledge centers in every gram panchayat. Furthermore, incorporating digital libraries and mobile library vans can bridge access gaps in remote villages. Please publish a transparent, time-bound action plan on your official website, inviting educationists, civil society, and citizens to contribute ideas and hold authorities accountable. Reviving libraries is not merely about books; it is about reclaiming the intellectual lifeblood of rural Maharashtra’s communities.

With regards,
Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

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