Budgam, August 31: Block Development Officer (BDO) S.K. Pora, Syed Jaasirah Syedain, today inaugurated a library at Government Middle School (GMS) Chairhara, Razwan, marking the establishment of the first school library in the entire S.K. Pora Block.
The library has been established under the Public Development Programme (APDP) with the objective of promoting education, reading habits and the overall growth and well-being of children. Although the basic infrastructure of the library was already in place, special efforts were made to transform it into a complete, functional and student-friendly facility. Books, cupboards, carpets, safe drinking water and other essential facilities were arranged for the students.
Speaking to the media, BDO Syed Jaasirah Syedain said that when she took charge of S.K. Pora Block, she came to know that there was no library in any school across the entire block.
“It was a matter of concern that children were so far away from books. Therefore, I decided that we must take the initiative to establish a library in this school,” she said.
She said the initiative received overwhelming support from her professors, teachers, friends, family members, senior officers, administrative officials and local residents. People contributed in different ways according to their capacity and played an important role in making the library functional.
She said several individuals donated books, while books and other learning resources were also sent from outside the area. Books were also sent from Pune. Dr. Pasal Sheikh, Dr. Maqbool Burhan and several other individuals contributed books and essential resources to the library.
The teachers and staff of GMS Chairhara also played an important role in turning the initiative into reality. They contributed books from their own collections and extended wholehearted support to make the library operational. Syed Jaasirah Syedain particularly appreciated the enthusiasm, hard work and commitment of the school’s teachers and staff.
She said her friends and family members also contributed books. After people in S.K. Pora Block came to know about the initiative, several residents came forward to extend their support. Some provided a water purifier, others assisted with painting and renovation work, while others contributed various essential items. Senior officers also supported the initiative by providing cupboards and other necessary facilities.
Syed Jaasirah said, “This is not the effort of one individual; it is a collective effort. With the small contributions of many people, we have created a small pond, and Insha’Allah, we will turn it into an ocean.”
She said her aim is to establish a library in every school of S.K. Pora Block in the future so that children have regular access to books and develop a lasting relationship with reading.
She appealed to the heads of all schools in the block to dedicate at least one day every week to library activities so that students from different classes can visit the library, read books and develop a regular reading habit.
“This is not merely the beginning of one library; it is the beginning of a larger mission to connect children across the block with reading, learning and knowledge,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of books, the BDO said books broaden children’s minds and perspectives while also nurturing creativity, imagination, wisdom and understanding.
“Through books, children can travel the entire world without even leaving their classrooms,” she said, urging students not to consider books a burden but to make them their friends.
“When books become our friends, we are never alone,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of developing reading habits in the present era of artificial intelligence and increasing distractions. She said that encouraging children to read books and develop a habit of reading has become more important than ever.
On the occasion, a teacher from the school also highlighted the importance of libraries and books by sharing an inspiring incident from his own life.
He recalled that during a difficult phase of his life, when he was worried and uncertain about his future, he visited a library because he did not have books of his own.
He said that at the library he read the story of a child who, despite financial hardships, continued his education and sold water outside a cinema hall for twenty-five paise. The story deeply touched him and gave him the courage to move forward in life.
He said the incident changed his way of thinking and inspired him to work hard for his future. Today, he holds three higher educational degrees and is serving as a dedicated teacher in S.K. Pora Block.
The BDO said the teacher’s experience was a clear example of how deeply a book can influence a person’s thinking and how books have the power to change the course of a life.
The inauguration of the library was warmly welcomed by students and local residents. Locals appreciated the BDO’s initiative and described it as an excellent and commendable step for the benefit of children. They expressed hope that similar libraries would soon be established in other schools across the block.
Students also expressed happiness over the establishment of the library, saying that they now have a dedicated space in their school where they can read books and learn new things.
Syed Jaasirah Syedain said more books would be added to the library in the coming days. She expressed hope that the facility would develop into a centre of knowledge, wisdom, creativity and reading for children and help establish a lifelong bond between them and books.
She said there could be no better companion than books for expanding young minds and nurturing creative thinking. Her message to the children was to make books their friends, because a good book not only imparts knowledge but also teaches a person to think better, understand the world and find a path towards progress in life.
