The Hyderabad City Grandhalaya Samastha (HCGS) has remained a headless body for the last three months. The reason: the secretary, who headed the society, retired in May and the government has not filled the post hampering the day-to-day work.
There are more than 80 branch libraries under the HCGS and the secretary looks after the overall administration. After the retirement of the secretary, the higher authorities issued orders directing a senior librarian to hold additional charge of the post for some time.
But the temporary arrangement has been continuing from the last three months. As a result, routine inspections have not taken place in any of the 80-odd branch libraries located in twin cities. Also, funds for purchase of books have not been released. “There are even instances of payment of newspaper and magazine bills being delayed causing a lot of discomfort among the vendors,” a librarian pointed out.
Several important works, including minor repairs to the library buildings, are pending leave alone urgent repairs to forty per cent of the library buildings. The situation is worse at Dabeerpura, Chudi Bazaar, Jangamet, Uppuguda, Mangalhat, Riyathsatnagar and Maisaram (Barkas) to name a few. “There is no one to look into our complaints. A person holding additional charges will have limited powers and is no match to a person holding complete charges,” said another librarian on condition of anonymity.
With no one to approach, the staff at a few libraries are carrying out repair works. Otherwise, there is a risk of books getting damaged, they pointed out.
When contacted, a senior official from Directorate of Public Libraries said: “The issue has been brought to the notice of the government and an official is expected to be posted soon as secretary of the HCGS.”
