₹15-CR RELEASED TO PURCHASE BOOKS FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES: HARJOT SINGH BAINS

• Move aims at inculcating reading habit in school students to enhance their knowledge, says School Education Minister
• State-level committee of experts to curate list of books for purchase
• Bains also asks teachers to motivate students for reading maximum books

Chandigarh, February 28:

With an aim to inculcate reading habit in government school students for their holistic development, Punjab Government has released a grant of Rs. 15 crore to purchase the books for the government school libraries.

Sharing these details today, Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains said that the government has allocated Rs. 5,000 for each primary school, Rs. 13,000 for each middle school, and Rs. 15,000 for each high and senior secondary school.

The School Education Minister said that a state-level committee of experts has been established to curate a list of books for purchase. This committee will meticulously review and select books to provide students with a high-quality and diverse range of reading materials that promote their educational growth and intellectual development.

“My goal is to make Punjab a leader in the education system across the country. I am personally visiting schools, gathering feedback from students and teachers and using that information to shape future policies”, S. Harjot Singh Bains said, while asking teachers to motivate students to read books extensively after their final examinations. He also emphasised the value of books in acquiring knowledge about literature, society, heritage, culture and the world.

He further said that the Punjab Government has been releasing grants to modernise existing school libraries and elevate Punjab's education system to world-class standards, as envisioned by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Box: District-wise breakup of Grant

Amritsar: Rs. 98.44 lakh

Barnala: Rs. 24.99 lakh

Bathinda: Rs. 57.64 lakh

Faridkot: Rs. 33.33 lakh

Fatehgarh Sahib: Rs. 51.22 lakh

Fazilka: Rs. 55.26 lakh

Ferozepur: Rs. 61.51 lakh

Gurdaspur: Rs. 113 lakh

Hoshiarpur: Rs. 128.37 lakh

Jalandhar: Rs. 107.24 lakh

Kapurthala: Rs. 61.44 lakh

Ludhiana: Rs. 123.87 lakh

Malerkotla: Rs. 21.97 lakh

Mansa: Rs. 41.59 lakh

Moga: Rs. 50.41 lakh

Mohali: Rs. 50.13 lakh

Muktsar: Rs. 47.04 lakh

SBS Nagar: Rs. 49.99 lakh

Pathankot: Rs. 39.83 lakh

Patiala: Rs. 97.58 lakh

Rupnagar: Rs. 63.97 lakh

Sangrur: Rs. 60.36 lakh

Tarn Taran: Rs. 62 lakh