In Gujarat, promoting reading and literacy has been a key goal for many years. Back in 2010, then Chief Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Vanche Gujarat’ (Read Gujarat) campaign to encourage people to read more. As part of this effort, the government worked to improve libraries across the state, filling them with books and making reading more accessible.
Now, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat government has revitalized the campaign. The goal is to reach even more people, deepen the reading culture, and make libraries more available to everyone. One big step was the decision to open 64 new government libraries in 50 tehsils of 21 districts and 14 tribal tehsils. So far, 53 of these new libraries are already up and running.
Today, Gujarat has a total of 197 government libraries, including district libraries, tehsil libraries, mobile libraries, and special collections like the State Central Reserve Book Store, State Art Library, and Women’s Library. These libraries serve thousands of citizens daily. Reports say more than 500 people visit the central libraries each day, while district libraries see over 150 visitors daily. The tehsil libraries are also popular, with more than 100 people reading every day.
To make reading even more popular among tribal communities, libraries have been established in 14 tribal-dominant tehsils across seven districts. These libraries aim to encourage tribal people to read, write, and learn, helping bridge educational gaps in remote areas.
Every year, September 6 is celebrated as ‘National Read a Book Day,’ encouraging everyone to take a break from their busy routines and enjoy reading. The day reminds us of the importance of books and helps develop a lifelong love for reading.
Gujarat’s focus on literacy and library development is making a big difference. With more libraries opening and more people reading each day, the state is taking important steps towards a more educated and informed society.
