Andhra Pradesh Grandhalaya Parishad gets ₹3 crore Central funds to develop libraries in the State

Andhra Pradesh State Library Planning Committee (SLPC) met recently to discuss utilisation of the funds allocated to it by the Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), Kolkata.

The RRRLF has allocated funds to the tune of ₹3 crore to the State for the financial year 2025-26.

The RRRLF is a Central autonomous organisation established to support public library services and systems and promote public library movement in the country. The Foundation renders assistance under matching and non-matching scheme. Under the Matching Scheme, assistance is rendered on the basis of 50:50 between the Foundation and State governments and under Non-Matching Scheme 100% financial assistance is provided to the State concerned.

The SLPC meeting, presided over by Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Grandhalaya Parishad G. Koteswara Rao, decided to utilise the funds for development of Sri Gowtami Regional Library, Rajamahendravaram and Regional Libraries at Guntur, Kurnool and Visakhapatnam.

Proposals have been prepared for modernisation of 50 Grade-I and Grade-II libraries across the State. Under the RRRLF’s Non-Matching Scheme, the committee is seeking funds to develop facilities like Knowledge Corners, children’s libraries and for conduct of events like centenary celebrations, workshops and training programmes.

The meeting was attended by the Director General of RRRLF Ajay Pratap Singh, Director of Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries A. Krishnamohan, member of Andhra Pradesh Grandhalaya Parishad M. Padmaja and other members.