Post News Network, Bhubaneswar, Feb 18: Around 100 students, most of whom are preparing for some competitive examinations, enthusiastically head to the city-based Harekrushna Mahatab State Library every morning, only to be turned away from its doors.
They want to become members but the authorities of the state library say that there is no room for new members. The present 450 members are above the prescribed limit, they say.
No new member has been enrolled in the last six months. But the students hope the next morning may bring luck. So they turn up every day with books and mats. Denied entry they spread their mats outside the main library, mostly close to the parking lot, the baggage counter and the place where there is a water purifier, enabling them easy access to potable water. They do it day after day because they do not have a space at home where they can study peacefully. Every day they demand membership. But their demands fall on deaf ears. They leave the library premises in the evening only to return in the next morning.
Nilakantha Sahoo, who regularly studies outside the library says, “We have tried to complain to the library authorities several times but nothing has happened. There are many people who come from a poor background and need a proper place to read in peace. We hardly get that opportunity. I request the government to take adequate measures.”
The library, two months ago, started sanctioning temporary membership cards but later they stopped that too. Officials present at the premises say they have exceeded the maximum number of members they can accommodate. The library consists of ten sections where 1,14,164 books are available.
The registered members of the library are also an unhappy lot. They complain that the authorities often turn a deaf ear to their complaints. Most students complain that there are insufficient books for competitive examination in the library.
One of the registered students, requesting anonymity said, “Though I got registration card but I don’t get required books, which will help me prepare for the competitive examinations. Moreover, careless behaviour of the library officials often leads to hassles. Most of the time no official is present at the counter from where we can borrow and return books.”
Books often get misplaced. “If there is no person at the counter, registered students may take books without proper entry and might not return those; such negligence should not happen, else we may lose valuable books,” said Monaj Kumar Maharana, another student.
Bhawani Prasad Ray, deputy director, Department of Culture handles matters pertaining to the library. While talking to Orissa Post, he said, “It is even painful for us that due to limited seats we are unable to accommodate more students. However, we have planned to develop the library further to induct more members. Construction has already begun to construct another floor, so that more students could be accommodated.”