Jamtara in Jharkhand has become the only district in the country where all gram panchayats have community libraries.
This district, which has a population of about eight lakh people, has 118 gram panchayats divided into six blocks, and each panchayat has a well-equipped library open to students from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Career counselling sessions and motivational classes are also held free of cost here. Sometimes, IAS and IPS officers also visit these libraries to guide students. Everyone is welcome to visit these innovative sites.
Gradually, libraries were set up in panchayats such as Chandradeep, Panjaniya, Menjhia, Gopalpur, Shaharpura, Champapur, and Jhilua. The villagers elected a President, Treasurer, and Librarian from amongst themselves, to run these libraries.
