Abohar's Aabha Library: Punjab's Ultra-Modern Library Revolution for Rural Youth
Abohar's Aabha Library is equipped with modern amenities.
Abohar’s Aabha Library: Punjab’s Ultra-Modern Library Revolution for Rural Youth
Under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government has established 275 ultra-modern libraries across the state, and 58 more are under construction, a move to revolutionise the rural landscape of Punjab with respect to knowledge and youth. A shining example of this initiative is the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Public Library (Aabha Library) in Abohar, whose facilities compete with those of five-star hotels. Social media videos show public amazement that such facilities are available free of cost for students.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann inaugurated the rural library scheme on 15 August 2024 from Isru village in Khanna. Since then, it has spread across Punjab. Libraries are now operational in Amritsar (4), Bathinda (29), Fatehgarh Sahib (10), Ferozepur (21), Ludhiana (15), and Patiala (18). Construction costs for rural libraries range from INR 30–35 lakh, while district-level libraries cost over 1 crore, reflecting the government’s serious investment in education and youth development.
Abohar’s Aabha Library is equipped with modern amenities such as Wi-Fi, solar power, air-conditioned reading rooms, RO water, CCTV, computers, inverters, and digital-analogue facilities. Each library has an extensive collection of curriculum books, contemporary literature, and competitive exam resources (UPSC, SSC, banking, railway), with some libraries having more than 65,000 books and receiving regular updates.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, at the inauguration of eight libraries in Barnala, highlighted the hope these libraries bring to rural students by allowing them access to global knowledge while staying in their villages. He reiterated this message at the inauguration of 12 libraries in Sangrur district and interacted with students to encourage library use and urged villagers to maintain the facilities.
These libraries are open for seven days a week from 8 AM to 9 PM. Many district-level libraries offer 24x7 study rooms. For instance, Dhuri Library is a two-storey building covering 3,710 sq ft, constructed at a cost of INR 1.59 crore. Some libraries have canteens, parking, green areas, modern landscaping and dedicated women’s study arrangements, creating fully equipped educational complexes.
Students from border districts such as Abohar, Ferozepur, and Bathinda report many benefits. They note that the libraries provide a clean, conducive study environment previously unavailable without costly city memberships. The government has also renovated old libraries, including the Sangrur library (INR 1.12 crore with a seating capacity of 250) and colonial-era libraries in Dhuri and Abohar.
Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond highlighted that these libraries exemplify the government’s commitment to education, empowerment, and social development. For the first time, rural girls, Dalits, backward and economically weaker sections now have access to quality educational resources, making the scheme a model of inclusive growth.
CM Bhagwant Mann has repeatedly emphasised that previous governments were corrupt, whereas the current administration ensures optimum utilisation of public funds for welfare. Following the AAP’s Jalandhar by-election victory, he noted the public’s appreciation for such initiatives which invest in youth and education to tackle social challenges.
Punjab’s library revolution, including the Aabha Library in Abohar, is an example of how public investment in education creates long-term impact and prepares future officers, doctors, engineers, and teachers who will contribute to both Punjab’s and India’s progress.