Punjab releases Rs. 15 crores for school libraries; funds to be used for new books, resources

February 28, 2025

Chandigarh: Books will be purchased in the libraries of government schools before the start of the new session in Punjab. The state government has released an amount of Rs 15 crore for this. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that Rs 5000 has been released for each primary school, Rs 13,000 for each middle school, while Rs 15,000 has been released for each high and senior secondary school.

A state level committee of experts has been constituted to prepare a list of books to be purchased. This committee will closely review and select the books to provide high quality and various categories of reading material to the students, so that it can play an important role in the academic and intellectual development of the students.

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.

District wise 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