Vizag Libraries in Dire Need of Funds, Children's Learning Hit

Visakhapatnam: The total 64 libraries in Visakhapatnam district are facing a resource crunch hindering their ability to support children during the summer vacation. These libraries are 16 in Visakhapatnam, 35 in Anakapalle, and 13 in Alluri Sitarama Raju region. While they serve as vital centres for knowledge and inspiration for readers of all ages, they are in dire need of government intervention. The ongoing economic crisis poses a substantial risk to the libraries in Vizag, revealing critical issues related to non-compliance and mismanagement that must be addressed.

According to the Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries Act of 1960, local bodies can collect a library cess of up to eight paise per rupee of house and property tax levied on residents. These funds are intended to be transferred to the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha. However, local bodies have consistently failed to make these payments, resulting in substantial debts owed to the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha.

In 2024-25, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) reported a collection of Rs 510 crore in property and vacant land taxes, marking the highest amount in the state. Of this, Rs 40.8 crore was owed to the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha. The municipal administration and the urban development department awarded GVMC the best position award for its tax collection efforts, a recognition attributed to the contributions of Visakhapatnam’s residents and property taxpayers. Despite this support from the citizenry, GVMC has demonstrated inability to support libraries.

Konda Rajiv Gandhi, former chairman of the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha, emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting, “As of 2023, the GVMC alone owes over Rs 117 crore.” Additional municipalities and panchayats also have considerable debts, ranging from Rs 5 to 18 crore. Moreover, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and the Andhra Pradesh Special Economic Zone have dues.

During Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as chairman of the Visakhapatnam Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha, a general meeting was convened in February 2024 under his leadership, resulting in an approved budget resolution for the Visakhapatnam Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha, which estimated a budget of Rs 25 crore and Rs 90 lakh. However, these funds have yet to be disbursed to the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha. Consequently, the Visakhapatnam District Library Society faces challenges due to insufficient funding, leading to inadequate infrastructure for the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha libraries. Notably, the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha has not acquired new books for a considerable period.

Korupolu Gangadhar, a primary government school teacher from Anakapalle, articulated his concerns: "There is an urgent need for well-maintained Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha libraries. Children in rural areas rely on these libraries during summer vacations. Many of these children come from agricultural families and lack financial means to purchase books. Therefore, the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha must maintain these libraries properly.”