Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member and former Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the denial of grant to libraries in the State is no different from setting books on fire.
Presenting the library awards instituted by the State Library Council at Velam here on Sunday, Mr. Vijayan said those who deny rightful grant to the libraries could be equated to those set libraries on fire. Accusing the government of stifling the library movement, Mr. Vijayan said the library movement that had enlightened villages in the State were now being destroyed by the government entrusted to protect it.
Referring to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s recent comments that were critical of the functioning of the Library Council, Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Chandy had no right to criticise the council, as he had done little to support it. The libraries in the State are struggling because of the government’s failure to release the grant, he added.
The P.N. Panicker Award for best library activist was presented at the function to Pirappankode Murali at the function.
Awards
The EMS Award for the best library in the State was presented to Velam Public Library at Mayyil. The DeeCee award for best village library was bestowed on the Vijnana Poshini Library, Keezhara, and the N.E. Balaram award was presented to the Samanwaya Libarary, Kummil.
State Library Council president P.K. Harikumar presided. James Mathew, MLA, and district panchayat president K.A. Sarala, were also present.
Chief Minister has no right to criticise Library Council, says Pinarayi Vijayan.