The Karnataka government has broadened its collaboration with the British Council to enhance English education and library services in rural areas through Gram Panchayat ‘Arivu Kendras’. The partnership will see an increase in British Council Library Corners from 10 to 70, with 60 new centers to be established statewide. This initiative includes providing 3,000 English children’s books and access to the digital library for rural readers.
The agreement was formalized under the leadership of Karnataka’s Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge and Deputy High Commissioner Chandru Iyyar. Minister Kharge emphasized the importance of English skills for rural youth, enabling them to pursue higher education and employment opportunities. The success of the initial 10 library corners led to the expansion of the program to 70 centers.
Minister Kharge highlighted the transformation of Gram Panchayat libraries into vibrant knowledge hubs for rural communities in Karnataka. These libraries, now known as Arivu Kendras, have become essential learning spaces, particularly during the pandemic. The state aims to establish over 6,600 additional village libraries, expanding the network to more than 12,000 rural libraries across Karnataka.
The Gram Panchayat libraries, now managed by the Gram Panchayats themselves, offer various services such as digital learning resources, career guidance, and assistive technologies for persons with disabilities. The state’s focus on building a vast rural knowledge network includes equipping these centers with computers and internet connectivity. The initiative aims to provide educational opportunities to students in thousands of villages across Karnataka.
