Under-used community centres to be turned into libraries, reading rooms

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), following directives from Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena, is all set to convert several under-utilised community centres into modern libraries and reading rooms, benefiting thousands of students, senior citizens, and residents across the city. This initiative comes in the wake of a tragic incident in July 2024, where three young lives were lost in the basement of a private coaching centre in Rajinder Nagar.

Five community centres, including one in Rajinder Nagar, have already been earmarked for conversion. The transformation of these spaces into modern, well-equipped libraries and reading rooms is progressing rapidly, with facilities to include essential furniture, a small cafeteria, and a gym.

These centres aim to address the lack of safe, affordable study spaces, particularly for students attending coaching classes, and provide a valuable resource for senior citizens facing space constraints.

To be used by students, senior citizens

Will address the lack of safe, affordable study spaces, particularly for students attending coaching classes, and senior citizens

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The initiative comes in the wake of three students losing their lives in the basement of a private coaching centre in Rajinder Nagar

The Rajinder Nagar centre is expected to be completed soon after a brief delay due to GRAP restrictions

Additional centres will be developed in Adhchini, Vikaspuri, Sector-16B Dwarka, and Rohini

The DDA will oversee civil infrastructure and furnishings, while universities will be tasked with managing operations

L-G Saxena had then visited the site of the tragedy and met protesting students, assuring them that the government would take swift action to improve the quality of reading room facilities and address the exploitation the students face at private coaching centres. In response, he instructed the DDA to identify community centres in student-heavy areas across the city for conversion into libraries and reading spaces.

The Rajinder Nagar centre is expected to be completed by the end of this month, after a brief delay due to Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions. Additional centres will be developed in Adhchini, Vikaspuri, Sector-16B Dwarka, and Rohini offering facilities not only for students but also for senior citizens. These centres are strategically located near major student hubs, such as the coaching clusters in Rajinder Nagar-Patel Nagar-Karol Bagh, JNU, IIT Delhi, and North Campus.

The DDA will oversee civil infrastructure and furnishing of these centres, while universities will be tasked with managing the operations. Books for the libraries will be sourced through various means, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and philanthropy.