Bathinda's New High-Tech Library Attracts Rural Students with Modern Features
Bathinda's educational scene just got a major upgrade. The District Digital Public Library opened its doors to the public in September last year. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann formally inaugurated the facility on January 11. He revealed the project cost ₹9 crore to complete.
A Spacious and Well-Equipped Facility
The library stands on 1.26 acres near City Centre Mall. This G+2 building with a basement offers a covered area of 23,456 square feet. It can seat over 350 students at one time.
The collection impresses with over 25,000 books. These cover academic subjects, reference materials, and preparation resources for various competitive exams. Students can find study materials for clerical cadre exams, NDA, CDS, UPSC, and other state and central services.
Student-Centric Amenities and Technology
The fully air-conditioned building includes several thoughtful features. It has study booths, a stationery shop, a cafeteria, and multiple reading halls spread across four floors. Each floor has dedicated seating areas and separate exit gates.
Librarian Swarnjit Kaur shared exciting details about student response. "We have around 900 registered members so far," she said. The seating capacity at a time is 350. Students may carry their own study material inside because an RFID system ensures security.
One unique feature involves lunch facilities. Every floor has ovens where students can heat their lunch boxes free of cost. They can then eat outside in open gazebos or the cafeteria. Eating inside the library is not permitted.
Advanced Digital Infrastructure
Designed as a technology-driven space, the library provides high-speed Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity on all floors. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system manages book issuance and return efficiently. It also prevents theft and handles inventory through the Koha Library Management System.
Entry to the library uses biometric verification. Digital kiosks allow for automated book transactions. The digital setup lets students check real-time seat availability, register online, pay fees, and browse the catalogue through a public dashboard.
Administrative dashboards help district officials and librarians monitor daily footfall, seat occupancy, revenue generation, and book usage patterns. This enables data-driven decision-making for better management.
Membership Details and Rural Reach
Membership requires a monthly fee of ₹600 plus a one-time security deposit of ₹1,000. Of this deposit, ₹500 is refundable when surrendering membership. Members can issue up to three books at a time for 14 days, with reissue options if needed.
Kaur noted that most students using the facility come from rural backgrounds. "Students travel daily from villages in Bathinda, Muktsar, and Mansa districts, which are 40-50 km away," she explained. Some students have moved to PG accommodations in Bathinda while preparing for competitive exams. They use the library as their primary study space.
Political Credit Tussle
The Aam Aadmi Party government projects the library as a major achievement in strengthening education infrastructure. However, former Bathinda Urban MLA and ex-minister Manpreet Singh Badal claimed credit for the project. He called it his dream initiative.
Badal, who joined the BJP in January 2023 after leaving the Congress, laid the foundation stone on June 5, 2021. In a social media post dated August 31, 2025, he expressed pride in the completed library. He described it as a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the city.
Public Works Department records show actual execution began in May 2022. The library opened for public use in September 2025. Formal inauguration occurred more than four years after the foundation stone ceremony. Officials stated that maintenance will use Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
Mission Pragati Launch
The Punjab government launched its flagship free coaching programme, Mission Pragati, at the Bathinda District Library. Speaking at the inauguration, CM Mann said the initiative supports meritorious students from rural areas. These students often lack access to quality and affordable coaching facilities.
Mann explained the programme structure. The first batch enrolled 40 students. Along with academic coaching, students receive physical training from experienced instructors. These instructors come from the Punjab Police and the Centre for Training and Employment of Punjab Youth (C-PYTE).
Students will prepare for various competitive and recruitment examinations. Those enrolled under Mission Pragati get essential study material and expensive competitive exam books free through library membership. Mann described it as a 'youth helping youth' model where mentors are themselves candidates who have appeared in competitive exams.
The library operates from 8 am to 10 pm on all days, barring a few holidays. It represents a significant step toward modern educational infrastructure in Punjab.
