Leh, Nov 04, 2025: The Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Culture Departments, UT-Ladakh, Sanjit Rodrigues, chaired a meeting today to review and discuss the proposal for establishing Model Libraries across the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The meeting was attended by the Director General, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh, along with senior officers of Administration and the Members of the UT-Level Planning Committee.
During the meeting, Khadim Hussain, Junior Engineer, R&B Kargil, delivered a detailed presentation outlining the project’s scope for the new phase of the Kargil library building. The presentation highlighted the vision of creating well-equipped modern libraries with state-of-the-art reading facilities, digital resource access, and community learning spaces to promote reading culture and knowledge-based development in Ladakh.
The meeting also discussed the construction and upgradation of libraries across various zones of Kargil, including the Tehsil Library, Zanskar; Sankoo Library; Shakar Library; and the Border Block Library in Drass. The officials reviewed the status of each site, identified infrastructure requirements, and deliberated on plans for renovation, expansion, and modernisation to ensure that each library meets the standards of a Model Library. They also deliberated on key issues and proposals related to manpower and staffing requirements, as well as the need to enhance accommodation facilities to effectively manage and operate the proposed Model Libraries.
In addition, the board discussed the expansion of the District Library Leh and the procurement of new reading resources to enrich the library collection. The meeting further deliberated on the establishment of new libraries at the border areas, Nyoma and Khaltse, as well as the reconstruction of the library in Nubra to enhance access to modern learning facilities across the region, where officials reviewed the status of each site, identified infrastructure requirements, and deliberated on plans for renovation, expansion, and modernisation.
Director General, Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh, deliberated on and introduced various beneficiary schemes, including the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRLF) and the National Mission on Libraries (NML). He highlighted the financial and technical support offered under these schemes for strengthening library infrastructure, enhancing digital library services, and promoting modern reading and knowledge-sharing facilities across Ladakh.
Similarly, DG Prof. Ajay Singh stressed the need to modernise libraries, increase accommodation capacity, and procure essential furniture to improve library infrastructure. He explained the benefits available under the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRLF) scheme and the National Mission on Libraries (NML). He highlighted the key financial provisions, including 2.23 crore allocated for the Kargil district – 1 crore for furniture, 1 crore for modernisation, and 23 lakhs for accessibility improvements. Additionally, 50 lakhs for infrastructure development, 30 lakhs for IT modernisation and digital access facilities, 5 lakhs for accessibility improvements, 2 lakhs for procurement of reading and learning resources, 15 lakhs for heating systems, and 5 computers to be provided for the District Library Leh to strengthen digital learning services along with the 20 lakhs for the books for all the library across the Ladakh.
Furthermore, he informed that two buses will be provided for each district under the CSR initiative to support mobile library services. He also stressed the importance of the ‘Library on Wheels’ scheme, which will help reach students, residents, and communities in far-flung and remote areas of Ladakh who do not have easy access to library facilities.
The Secretary thoroughly reviewed the presentation and discussed the importance of registering all libraries across Ladakh to ensure eligibility for funding and support under various schemes. He also emphasised the need to conduct regular training programmes for library staff in each district to enhance their skills and improve library management, digital services, and public engagement.
