At a time when the younger generation is increasingly drifting towards mobile phones and digital platforms, the Language Department has launched a unique initiative aimed at reviving reading habits and strengthening book culture across the state.
Under the ‘Book Matching Grant’ scheme, schools, colleges and rural libraries purchasing books from the department will receive additional books of equal value free of cost.
The initiative is being seen as a significant step towards promoting literature and encouraging students and readers to reconnect with books.
Sharing details of the scheme, Assistant Director, Language Department, Tajinder Singh Gill said, it is open to both government and private schools, colleges and rural libraries.
“The primary objective is to enrich libraries and cultivate reading habits among students and the general public. The initiative will help educational institutions expand their collection of books at minimal cost while making quality reading material more accessible to students,” Gill said.
“If an institution purchases books worth Rs 5,000, the department will provide additional books of the same value free of cost,” he added. He said the initiative would not only strengthen libraries but also encourage students to develop an interest in reading beyond the academic curriculum.
Gill further said the department was also offering special discounts on book purchases, enabling institutions to acquire a larger number of books at reduced prices.
District Language Officer Jagdeep Singh Sandhu appealed to schools, colleges and rural libraries to make maximum use of the scheme. He said letters regarding the initiative had already been sent to educational institutions and libraries along with a list of available books so that they could select titles according to their requirements.
“Books are not merely a source of knowledge, but also help in developing values, positive thinking and intellectual growth. In today’s time, it is essential to connect students and youth with books alongside digital mediums. This initiative will play an important role in strengthening libraries in both villages and cities while encouraging reading habits among the younger generation,” Sandhu said.
