NEW DELHI: With the poor condition of libraries across the country in mind, the National Knowledge Commission has asked the Central government to set up a separate body for the upkeep of these temples of learning. "The government has taken our recommendation for setting up a National Commission for Libraries (NCL) seriously," NKC Chairman Sam Pitroda said. Members of the Commission met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and gave him the recommendations. "Culture Minister Ambika Soni reviewed our recommendations recently. The government is taking steps to implement these measures," Pitroda said. According to the recommendations, the NCL will be the apex controlling body for libraries and will coordinate the development of library activities in the country, Kalpana Dasgupta, Adviser (Library) in the NKC, said. "There is no coordination now between existing libraries as they are under different agencies, including the UGC, state governments, CSIR and MCI. So there is no uniformity in the development of libraries," she said. The NCL will be an autonomous body with financial authority and will provide grants to all libraries for their development. It will address all library-related concerns. To launch the process in a mission mode, the Centre should set up a National Mission for libraries immediately for a period of three years, she said.
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