Without Subsidy Amid Lockdown: Employees of Public Libraries in Maharashtra Struggle

Satish Awate, who worked at Adarsha Vachanalay (library), Kalyan, is now selling vegetables in the Kalyan West market. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state government has kept the libraries shut for about five months now and Satish was forced to look for another source of income. He used to receive an honorarium of Rs 3,500 per month at the library.

"We used to get the small amount from the fees of the members. But now, members are not coming; we haven't opened the library since April," said Satish.

Maharashtra has 12,149 public libraries with the Aurangabad region recording the highest number [4,269]. Pune division has 3,945 libraries, Amravati has 2,041, Nasik has 1,670, Nagpur has 1,108, and Mumbai has 622 public libraries.

Another reason for the dire condition of the libraries is said to be the state government's apathy. The state government provides financial assistance to every registered library. There are four main categories to get the subsidy. District level A grade libraries receive Rs 7,20,000 per year. Tehsil level A grade libraries get Rs 3,84,000; other A grade libraries receive Rs 2,88,000. 

For B grade libraries the amount is: Rs 3,84,000 for district level, Rs 2,88,000 for tehsil level, and Rs 1,92,000 for other libraries. C grade tehsil level libraries get Rs 1,44,000. Other libraries receive Rs 96,000. D grade libraries are provided Rs 30,000. This assistance is supposed to be given yearly.

But, despite financial clearance, the subsidy for the year 2019-20 has not been transferred to the libraries; which therefore have been struggling to meet the expenditures.

"The library staff does not get other government [job] benefits. They work for very low wages. The government should frame and implement a basic salary structure for them," said Nandu Bansod, secretary of Public Libraries Employee Union, Maharashtra.

The union claims that all it has ever received is assurances despite their multiple attempts at follow-up on their demands. Rajesh Patil of the Satara Public Library said, "These days, public libraries are being used mainly by senior citizens and the students appearing for competitive exams. Every year, more than five lakh students from Maharashtra appear for different competitive exams. At least 80% of them use these libraries. So, to help these students, upgrading the libraries and augmenting the staff everywhere is necessary. It will ultimately help the students. The government should approach the issues from this point of view," said Patil.

Public libraries fall under the Higher and Technical Education Department. Minister Uday Samant said that the Department is releasing the pending amount of subsidy to the libraries before September. "We have started the procedure. It got delayed due to Corona. But, we will clear it soon," he said. When asked whether his government plans to apply basic wage structure to the staff of libraries, he said, "Right now I can't comment on it. I need to talk to our secretary as well as the library directorate."

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