Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 13: The State Library of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has recently undergone a series of reforms and new initiatives, transforming it into a more accessible and engaging space for students and the public alike.
Speaking to media representatives, Director of Education and Sports, Mr. Vikram Singh, today said that several concrete steps have been taken to make library and sports facilities more inclusive, appealing, and accessible to all sections of society.
The most significant reform is the simplified admission process to the library. Earlier, students had to pay Rs.300, fill lengthy forms, and get them verified by teachers or principals. Now, all students from government, private, and aided schools can become members simply by showing their school ID cards. As a result, over 72,000 students across the Islands are now registered members. No photos, fees, or paperwork are required anymore—students can obtain instant membership by just showing their ID cards.
Two new sections—Children’s Corner and Senior Citizens’ Corner—have been added, with over Rs.28 lakh worth of new books purchased in the past four months. The Children’s Corner now features a wide range of educational and comic books, while the Senior Citizens’ Corner offers books on religion, philosophy, and general interest. A “Read a Book, Enjoy a Free Tea” scheme for seniors and a “Read a Book, Get a Chocolate Free” scheme for children have also been introduced.
Library hours have been extended till 8 p.m., with plans to further increase them to 9 p.m. Wi-Fi and internet facilities have also been made available, and competitive exam aspirants can now study anywhere without room restrictions. Currently, the library houses 1.5 lakh books, including 56,000 new additions covering novels, SSC guides, and clerical exam materials.
In the sports sector, under the guidance of the Chief Secretary, eight new ‘Khelo India’ centres have been established—covering archery (Diglipur), football (Mayabunder & Campbell Bay), hockey (Rangat), athletics (Sri Vijaya Puram), volleyball (Nancowry), badminton (Car Nicobar), and cycling (Sri Vijaya Puram). Each centre has appointed trainers receiving Rs.25,000 per month. Additionally, three ‘Khelo India Excellence Centres’ for cycling, badminton, and swimming have been approved, each with a grant of Rs.1 crore.
Under the ‘Football for Schools (F4S)’ programme, free training is being provided at 41 locations including Netaji Stadium, JNRM, Bathubasti, Dollygunj, and Girls’ School Ground, with special focus on yoga, football, and rope skipping for girls.
A unique monthly event, the “North Marathon”, introduced under the Chief Secretary’s initiative, is held on the 23rd of every month, offering Rs.1 lakh in cash prizes. The event also includes participation from students, athletes, and special children, promoting inclusion and equality.
For infrastructure improvement, Rs.67 lakh has been sanctioned for the renovation of the old cycling stadium, closed for nearly a decade, and the PWD will execute the work. The Table Tennis Training Centre behind DIET has also been reopened with two new tables for regular practice and competitions.
Adding to this, Director of Education and Sports, Mr. Vikram Singh, made a heartfelt appeal to parents and guardians across the Islands to help children break free from excessive mobile phone use and re-engage with books and sports. He said, “There are only two effective solutions to save children from mobile addiction — first, send them to our free evening coaching sessions from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and second, encourage them to spend some time in the State Library after school hours.”
He further mentioned that the Children’s Corner in the library is stocked with new and popular comics such as Champak and other educational books that naturally draw children back to reading. “We must defeat video games with books and sports,” he emphasized. Mr. Singh also highlighted the Administration’s focus on rope skipping for girl students, a simple yet effective fitness activity being promoted across all schools.
