Jhargram's library for Kanyashree girls seeing overwhelming response

Kolkata: The Jhargram district administration has come up with a library exclusively for Kanyashree beneficiaries, at Gopiballavpur II block.

The library, that has started functioning barely two months ago, has already evoked overwhelming response.

At present, the library has a collection of school books from class VIII till class XII, reference books and most importantly, books for competitive examinations and career guidance. There is a collection of daily newspapers and also novels, storybooks and poetry books.

"We want our Kanyashree girls to pursue higher education and at the same time, encourage them to sit for competitive examinations. So, we have come up with the Kanyashree library," said Rani A Ayesha, district magistrate, Jhargram.

It may be mentioned that there are a number of Kanyashree girls in the district who hail from poor financial background and cannot pursue higher studies, being unable to buy books. Now, they can use the books of the library for their studies.

Though this library is located at Beliabera in Gopiballavpur Block II, Kanyashree girls from the entire district are using the facilities of the library. At present, there is a collection of 1,000 books in the library.

It may be mentioned that an old community hall at Beliabera was renovated and a Kanyashree stage was set up last year inside the hall, in which trainings under various state government schemes are imparted. The library has come up just adjacent to the community hall.

"We have plans to set up such libraries at every block in the district," a senior official of the district administration said.

It may be mentioned that the Kanyashree project by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been contributing in a remarkable way at incentivising schooling of teenage girls and delaying their marriages until the legal age of 18.

The district administration is hopeful that this library will contribute further towards the education of these girls.