Chandigarh-Haryana Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated the ‘Third Panchkula Book Fair’ being organized at Indradhanush Auditorium, Sector-5 in Panchkula today. On this occasion, he also inaugurated Sardar Patel libraries built in village Arunai, district Kurukshetra, village Bara, district Karnal and village Madana Kalan, district Jhajjar through video conferencing. He also went around the Book Fair and released several books.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that our culture and heritage are available in the books. Darkness of life can be dispelled only with the light of knowledge. The purpose of this book fair is also to enhance our knowledge. He said that the Prime Minister has said that where there is darkness, it is not forbidden to light a lamp. If we read even one book today, that one book will light a lamp.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the Fair features thousands of books in various languages. Observing the large crowd gathered, he underlined the significance of books in our lives. "Anyone with an interest in a particular subject can find valuable knowledge in the wide selection available at this fair, " he added.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Mata Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is revered in schools and libraries. He emphasized that by learning under the guidance of teachers and studying in libraries, we acquire in-depth knowledge of various subjects. He said that the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has established over 25 libraries in the past three years through its CSR initiatives. "Today, we inaugurated three more libraries, which serve as an inspiration for other departments, " he stated.
Nayab Singh Saini said that the BJP government has committed to providing 2 lakh jobs for the youth of the state. He emphasized the importance of libraries for preparing for recruitment and competitive examinations. District-level libraries are already operational at district headquarters, and the government is now upgrading digital libraries in colleges and schools. "The government is also opening libraries in villages, equipped with computer facilities, " he said. "Online resources and e-books are being made available, allowing youth to access information about their subjects online." He said that for the past ten years, youth in the state have been securing jobs without the need for bribes or recommendations. "Now, instead of seeking recommendations, the youth are preparing for their future by utilizing library resources, " he added.
Nayab Singh Saini said that under the Mhara Gaon-Jagmag Gaon Yojana, 86 percent of the villages in the State are being provided 24-hour electricity. He emphasized that the state's power utilities have achieved self-reliance in the power sector. The Chief Minister also highlighted the Adarsh Gram Yojana, which aims to transform over 200 villages into model villages. Under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), support is being provided for various initiatives, including poverty alleviation, malnutrition reduction, healthcare, sanitation, environmental sustainability, pensions, education, improving the sex ratio, sports development, and contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. He also acknowledged the significant support from private companies and industries during the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly assisted local communities through their CSR initiatives.
The construction of Sardar Patel Library by UHBVN in Bara village of Karnal, Arunai village of Kurukshetra and Madana Kalan village of Jhajjar has cost Rs 20 lakh each. Computer and internet facilities have been provided in these libraries. The youth of the nearby villages will also be largely benefitted from these libraries.
Among those present on this occasion included MLA Kalka Smt. Shakti Rani Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department Sh AK Singh, Chairman SEIAA Sh PK Das, Managing Director UHBVN Dr. Saket Kumar, former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh Gian Chand Gupta, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Sh Bharat Bhushan Bharti , BJP District President Sh Deepak Sharma and other dignitaries.