Haryana's Village Libraries Emerge as Stepping Stones to Government Jobs for Rural Youth

At 5 am, before the rest of his family wakes up, Sahil Kumar makes his way to the village library in Pabra. There, he spends the next few hours poring over books to prepare for government recruitment exams for Group C and D jobs, alongside dozens of other aspirants.

“It is centrally located, air-conditioned and open round the clock. We had to go all the way to Hisar before. Now we can study here, cutting commute time,” says Sahil Kumar, a BA graduate and kabaddi player.

Since 2020, a quiet transformation has been unfolding across Haryana’s villages. Libraries and reading rooms, such as the one in Pabra, have mushroomed with the aim of helping students like Sahil crack competitive examinations. Built under the Haryana government’s Atal e-Libraries scheme, these facilities stock books for competitive exams and attract hundreds of government job aspirants, many targeting Group C and D posts.

According to officials, the Haryana government has set up 985 libraries, spending approximately Rs 150 crore. For many rural youths, these libraries symbolise a growing aspiration for stable government employment.

“These libraries have been set up in chaupals and community centres,” an official from the Development and Panchayats Department says. “We’ve provided books, furniture and air conditioners to help students study.”

The libraries have drawn thousands of students across the state. In Gorakhpur, Fatehabad district, two regulars cleared the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) examination for Group D posts recently. This brings the number of library regulars who have secured government jobs since the library opened in October 2020 to 40.

“We set up the library because youngsters, particularly girls, from our village preparing for competitive examinations had to travel either 15 km to Bhuna town or 40 km to Hisar city to study,” says Satywan Numberdar, who played a key role in establishing the facility. “Today, around 70 students regularly study at the library.”

Group C posts include positions such as junior engineers, clerks, excise and taxation inspectors, auditors, assistant managers, patwaris, and male and female police constables. Group D posts comprise entry-level positions in government departments, including peons, animal attendants, helpers, gardeners, cooks and water carriers.

According to locals, the demand for village libraries gathered momentum after nearly 18,000 candidates were recruited for Group D posts in Haryana in 2018.

A typical library has 40 to 100 seats. Some are government-run, while others are privately managed. Most are simply furnished with study tables and chairs, and many have air conditioners to beat the summer heat. The panchayat-supported library in Pabra charges Rs 300 a month to cover maintenance costs, while three privately run libraries in Pabra charge around Rs 800.

Government libraries are funded under the Atal e-Libraries scheme, while private ones are financed by individuals. Most stock books and study material for examinations conducted by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission.

The growing number of libraries reflects changing aspirations among rural youth, says Kuldeep Kundu, who runs a private facility in Pabra. “During the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government, there was a surge in sports because government jobs were offered to sports persons who excelled at national and international levels. During the BJP government, there has been a surge in libraries as people increasingly believe that government jobs are now being awarded on merit,” he explains, offering a factual account of the shift.

The movement is now spreading to neighbouring villages. “Inspired by the success of the library at Pabra, we helped establish a library in the neighbouring Kinala. It was initially meant for both boys and girls, but girls occupied all the available seats almost immediately after it opened. We are now setting up another library,” adds Kundu.