States » NorthPosted at: Oct 5 2026 7:40PM


Digital libraries reach 57,600 villages today, compared to just 76 before 2017: CM Yogi

Lucknow, Oct 5 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, highlighting the transformation brought about by digital libraries in rural areas, said on Monday that distance from cities can no longer be a barrier to education.
With digital libraries now reaching 57,600 villages across the state, a digital gateway to knowledge has opened up in rural Uttar Pradesh. “When resources came closer, the path to dreams also became easier,” the Chief Minister said.
CM Yogi highlighted the situation before 2017 in a post on his social media account ‘X’. He said that earlier, if a village child wanted to prepare for a competitive examination, they had to travel to cities for books and better educational resources. The distance consumed both time and money.
He cited the example of Khasaha Mohammadpur in Tejwapur block of Bahraich, where a digital library set up at the Gram Panchayat Secretariat is helping bridge that gap.
The library brings books, computers, traditional learning resources and modern technology under one roof. It is equipped with computers, printers, high-speed internet, Wi-Fi, a smart TV and CCTV cameras. Besides books for competitive examinations, it also houses literature from the National Book Trust.
“In other words, whether one needs a book for reading or digital content for preparation, both are now accessible in the village itself,” the Chief Minister said.
“When resources came closer, the path to dreams also became easier. Children and youth are studying here, connecting with e-learning and gaining new momentum in their preparation for competitive examinations. Time and money that were earlier spent travelling to and from cities are now being devoted to their studies,” he said.
CM Yogi said the transformation was not limited to a single village. He noted that before 2017, e-libraries had a presence at only around 76 locations at the state and district levels, whereas digital libraries have now reached 57,600 Gram Panchayats.
He further said that, beyond schools, around 60 lakh youth have been provided smartphones and tablets. Education in more than 32,000 schools across the state is being connected with new technology through smart classrooms, while more than 15,000 schools have ICT labs.
The Chief Minister also contrasted the current situation with the 2012-16 period, saying that despite sufficient government funds being available, 6.22 lakh children did not receive textbooks and 97 lakh children did not receive uniforms.
“From resource availability to access to education, Uttar Pradesh has come a long way. This change has also built trust among parents. Their children no longer have to go far from their villages for modern educational resources,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Uttar Pradesh government's Gram Panchayat Digital Library initiative is delivering results on the ground. Gram Panchayat Secretariats are now serving as centres of knowledge and technology alongside providing administrative services.
He described the digital library at Khasaha Mohammadpur as a reflection of this transformation.
“The village is changing, the learning environment is changing and the light of knowledge is now reaching the doorstep of children,” he said.
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Tags: #Digital libraries reach 57#600 villages today# compared to just 76 before 2017: CM Yogi
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