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Transforming Gram Panchayat Libraries A grant of 264 crore rupees from the Ministry of
Finance, Government of India, resulting from a
in Rural Karnataka CRISP proposal, supports these initiatives.
Future Plans
In the upcoming months, the team is planning
to conduct a comprehensive outcome evaluation
of the libraries and to pilot certain best practices.
This includes facilitation of establishing Library
Management Committees, supporting the
committee in organizing digital literacy and
financial skill development sessions to Self-Help
Group members, and conducting constitutional
literacy sessions for students.
Rooted in the Karnataka Libraries Act of NGO Partnerships
1965, the state boasts a robust network
of public libraries across various NGOs like Sikshana Foundation,
administrative levels, including Gram CMCA, Akanksha Trust, and others
Panchayats. In 2019, these libraries were actively support library services by
shifted to the Department of Rural providing infrastructure, librarian
Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) training, and organizing various
to ensure direct oversight of libraries at activities. with support from Sikshana
the Gram Panchayat level. Currently, Foundation and various grants from
with 5895 GP libraries, these institutions Taluk Panchayats/Zilla Panchayats,
contribute significantly to literacy, 5447 libraries have undergone
education, and cultural enrichment in digitization, equipped with digital
rural areas. tools such as computers,
smartphones, laptops etc. and
Department Initiatives accessibility features for Empowering Mothers and Nurturing
differently-abled individuals. Futures:
RDPR actively promotes library services Provision of effective day care for young
through campaigns like Oduva Belaku CRISP's Impactful Evaluations children is essential as it provides support to
(The Light of Reading - focused on both mothers and young children. Lack of
reintegrating children into studies post CRISP conducted two concurrent proper day-care services (crèches) is, often,
Covid pandemic), Gatti Odu Abhiyana evaluations, studying the impact of a deterrent for women to go out and work.
(aimed at nurturing reading habits NGO interventions and the Expanding quality childcare can yield
among students), and Chinnara Chithara effectiveness of digitization. The multi-generational impacts by promoting
Abhiyana (geared towards encouraging findings led to significant actions, equity and improving women’s employment
creativity and imagination among including plans for new libraries in and productivity, child outcomes, and over-
children through artworks). These villages located way from the main all economic development.Recognizing this,
programs, addressing post-pandemic Gram Panchayat village where the the Government of Karnataka introduced
learning, reading habits, and creativity library is located, extension of library "Koosina Mane," an initiative to pilot 62
among children, have seen substantial hours to accomodate student users crèches in Gram Panchayats, aligning with
participation, with over 4.5 million beyond school hours and extensive the National Rural Employment Guarantee
children enrolled through Oduva Belaku. training programs for librarians. Act (NREGA) and the Women and Child
Development (WCD) Department.
CRISP MAASAM | JAN | PAGE 13
operational. Each district is actively
involved in worker training, aiming
for immediate crèche operations
post-training.
CRISP's Role:
CRISP will provide valuable field
insights on crèche operations,
worker training, service demand,
convergence between departments,
and overall crèche functioning. The
team plans to conduct process moni-
toring, attending weekly review
meetings to address challenges and
recommend adjustments.
Scale-Up and Budget Allocation: Anticipated Impact:
With a target of establishing 4000 crèches by As the initiative unfolds, CRISP's
the end of the current financial year, Karnata- involvement ensures effective imple-
ka allocated 40 crores in the annual budget mentation, contributing to the
2023-’24. CRISP was assigned the responsi- success of Koosina Mane in trans-
bility of conducting concurrent evaluation of forming childcare and fostering
the pilot crèches. The team presented its holistic development in Karnataka.
recommendations, which were integrated
into the implementation of the expansive
phase involving 4000 crèches.
Current Progress:
As of December 22, 2023, 3117 crèches have
set up infrastructure, 11,153 workers com-
pleted training, and 891 crèches are already
