Tax collecting agencies owe Rs 7 cr cess to library department

MYSORE: Tax collecting agencies owe nearly Rs 7 cr to department of public libraries since several years.

Deputy Commissioner P S Vastrad on Tuesday disclosed that Mysore City Corporation owes Rs 5.22 cr, Mysore Urban Development Authority Rs 29 lakh and Gram Panchyaths Rs 1.14 cr to the department. Though these bodies have been collecting library cess from public they have not paid to the department which is affecting smooth functioning of libraries which have to procure newspapers, journals and books.

Vastrad, who is chairman to District Library Authority, told reporters that we will organize a campaign to collect the cess dues from the tax collecting authorities during National Library Week celebrations scheduled between November 14 and November 20.

Drive to collect 40000 books

On the occasion, the district library authority, an apex body of District central library and City central library will appeal its members to return books that they have borrowed from Mysore district and city libraries. Vastrad said nearly 40000 have not been returned by the members of 306 libraries including 25 in Mysore city, since five years. We have records of its borrowers and will get back the books to the libraries during the week long library week celebrations

The authority with an aim to increase reading habit among public will organize drive to increase library members especially in rural areas by way of organizing events and books exhibitions during the week. We have over 88000 members including 45000 in the city.

On the occasion, all libraries will be illuminated, the DC stated.

Library will come up at People's park

Deputy Commissioner P S Vastra said they will start modern library work, which was stalled following protest by a section of Mysoreans, at People's Park shortly.

In June this year, a bunch of students and citizens led by members of Mysore Grahakar Parishat, a body of citizens, opposed the move to construct the library block inside the park premises claiming it is against law governing parks and open spaces. Then the work was temporary stalled.

However, the DC has another version. He says the work was shelved as the soil was loose. We will start the work immediately on an area measures 1500 sq ft to establish a modern library. This is an old project. To a query, Vastrad said many libraries are inside parks. It is for public use and we will continue with our plans with this regard.

News Courtesy: Times of India, 13 November 2012

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation library cess dues go up to Rs. 25 crore

Library cess forms 8 per cent of the property tax paid to Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

Libraries have of late begun receiving funds from the State Government lifting them up from the earlier mess but civic bodies continue to delay payment of the library cess component to them.

According AP Grandhalaya Parishad Chairman and journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao, GVMC owed the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha (ZGS) around Rs.20 crore for the period 2006-07 to 2010-11. With the latest arrears it would come to around Rs.25 crore.

He said he would address a letter to Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu on the issue. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation also owed Rs.18 crore towards library cess two, three years ago but owing to persistent efforts it came down to Rs.9 crore now. Mr. Kutumba Rao told reporters here on Tuesday that the budget for libraries was a record Rs.96 crore for the current year. The government was also likely to allow recruitment for some of the vacant posts. Compared to the situation in 1997 when libraries were sought to be given to voluntary organisations the situation was much better now. After the Rajasekhar Reddy government came to power in 2004 Rs.13 crore was allocated.

Besides meeting staff salaries and bills, wherever necessary, buildings would be constructed and infrastructure provided with the budgetary allocation. He said the libraries were playing a key role in providing books to students appearing at competitive examinations. Under “On demand,” libraries would get books sought by aspirants if they are not already available. Internet connections were also being made available at libraries on hourly payment basis.

On the purchase of books, he said the Parishad was getting Rs.1 crore from Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation and by adding an equal amount was getting books for the libraries in the State. ZGS secretary P. Krishna Rao said contrary to the popular view the number of readers to the libraries was growing partly because of the preparation for competitive examinations.

Mr. Kutumab Rao recalled the contribution of greats like Ayyaki Venkataramanaiah, Gadicherla Hari Sarvottama Rao and Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, among others, to the growth of library movement in the country and the State before the country got freedom after the inspiration provided by Mahatma Gandhi. Former librarian of Mrs. AVN College R.V. Gopala Rao and president of Society for Promotion of Public Libraries P.S.N. Murthy were present.

More News at:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article3576066.ece