Date:10/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/10/stories/2008081056740100.htm

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32 panchayats to get libraries

L. Renganathan

The project will be taken up under Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam

KARUR: A total of 32 panchayats in Karur district are to get brand new storehouse of knowledge in the form of rural libraries.

Rs.1.04-crore project

The project, taken up under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam, would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.04 crore during the current year and would benefit a population of over 10,000.

A sum of Rs. 5 lakh would be placed under the disposal of the identified village panchayat president to be spent for the work he values as priority while Rs. 15 lakh would be spent on jobs identified by a panel comprising block development officer, panchayat union engineer and panchayat president.

The works would include laying of cement concrete roads, installation of sodium vapour lamps, creation of a playground, digging or desilting fishpond, desilting temple tank and construction of a reading room that would double as a library, according to Collector T.N. Venkatesh.

The Collector said that a panel comprising the panchayat president, Panchayat Union Engineer and the Block Development Officer would identify works under the scheme.

Under the scheme, 32 panchayats have been selected in Karur district for the year and several infrastructure development works were being carried out.

As part of the scheme, construction of rural libraries would be undertaken at a cost of Rs. 3.25 lakh each. In addition, those libraries would get books worth Rs. 22.40 lakh.

Mr. Venkatesh directed officials to expedite the works after inspecting construction of a library at Veerarakkiam in Balarajapuram panchayat.

He exhorted the public especially the youth to make full use of the rural libraries for career betterment and expanding the horizon of opportunities.

The scheme would allow them to keep abreast of developments around the world, he added.