All gram panchayats of the State would have broadband connectivity by 2021, said State Electronics and Information Technology Minister Tusharkanti Behera.
Addressing the Odisha Development Global Forum through videoconferencing, Behera assured of developing digital infrastructure at Panchayat level. Organised by the Odisha Society of Americas’ (OSA) library chapter Odisha Public Library Initiative (OPLI), the forum was attended by experts and library movement lovers across the globe.
Appreciating the library initiative initiated by OSA, guest speaker Odisha Government’s Principal Secretary, Revenue, Disaster Management and Culture, Bishnupada Sethi, stressed the need of popularising the concept of public libraries. Delivering his speech, during the online Conclave renowned litterateur Prof Damodar Acharya asserted that IIT Alumnis will extend allout support to the OSA and the OPLI in sensitising school students to develop the habit of reading.
BDO of Nuagaon in Phulbani Manoj Tripathy, who was instrumental in establishing OSA’s Model Library at Sulipada in Mayurbhanj district and four other libraries under MGNREGAS scheme in Phulbani district, shared his experience.
Additional Secretary of Government of Odisha in charge of MGNREGS Dr Manas Ranjan Debata lauded the effort of OSA in spreading Library culture in the nook and corner of the State. All 139 Panchayat level Libraries in Sambalpur district are going to be functional by January 26 under MGNREGS, Debata informed.
The Chief Organiser of the Summit and president of OSA Kuku Das proposed to set up at least one ICT enabled library each in 30 districts of Odisha.