New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will be converting many of its under-utilised community centres and halls into libraries and reading rooms for students. The decision has been taken in the wake of the loss of three young lives due to drowning in the basement of a private coaching centre in Old Rajender Nagar in July, said an official.
Lieutenant governor VK Saxena had visited the site after the tragedy and assured the protesting students there that he would address the issue of exorbitant fees being charged for reading room facilities at the earliest. “Saxena later convened a meeting with the officers of DDA and asked them to identify community centres inside or close to students’ hubs that could be converted into libraries or reading rooms. People will be able to use these facilities for free,” the official added.
Five such community centres, including one in Old Rajender Nagar, have already been identified and work to convert these into modern library and reading room facilities is in progress. “These upcoming facilities at Old Rajender Nagar, Adhchini, Vikaspuri, Sector-16B Dwarka and Rohini will consist of a library and reading rooms with provisions for the required furniture. Additionally, each location will feature a small cafeteria and a small gym. The significant move will benefit thousands of students apart from senior citizens and residents of Delhi,” said the official.
The Old Rajender Nagar centre was supposed to be completed by this week. However, due to GRAP norms in place, it is now expected to be completed by the end of this month.
“While the centre at Old Rajender Nagar will serve thousands of students from the area, apart from Patel Nagar and Karol Bagh, the one at Adhchini will cater to the needs of students from JNU, Katawaria Sarai, Ber Sarai and IIT Delhi areas. The centres at Rohini will not only benefit students from North Campus, Vikaspuri and Dwarka but will also cater to the needs of senior citizens in the area,” the official said further.
An official from the LG office said that while DDA would undertake the responsibility of infrastructure and furnishing of these libraries and reading rooms, universities will be asked to run them. Books will be sourced through various sources, including CSR and philanthropy.
