RDD establishes District’s First 24×7 Public Library cum Reading Room at Shopian

• District's unique initiative empowers youth, shaping their future

SHOPIAN: In a significant step towards youth empowerment by way of career development, the Rural Development Department, through Block Shopian, has  established a Public Library cum Reading Room at Gagren at  Shopian, the first facility of its kind in the district. The library, named Noori Public Library, has been functional since April 2025 and is operating round the clock (24×7).

Currently running at full capacity with 100 enrolled students, the facility has emerged as a vital academic space for aspirants preparing for competitive examinations and other academic studies. Executed under the District Capex Plan at a cost of Rs 35 lakh, the facility is equipped with modern amenities including uninterrupted electricity, heating arrangements, high-speed internet connectivity, and a conducive study environment.

This initiative reflects the evolving role of the Rural Development Department, which is now extending beyond its conventional mandate of infrastructure creation to actively invest in education, youth empowerment, and intellectual growth. The library is largely free of cost, with only a nominal maintenance charge paid by students, and is entirely managed by the students themselves, fostering ownership, discipline, and collective responsibility.

Students have widely appreciated the initiative and expressed gratitude to the District Administration Shopian and RDD for creating a platform that enables them to shape their careers. The facility stands as a model initiative demonstrating how targeted investments in education can bring transformative change at the grassroots level, said BDO Shopian, Shakil Bhat, who is supervising the operation of the facility. He further added that the project has set a new benchmark for rural development by placing knowledge, aspiration, and youth at the center of governance.