• Abhijit Nath, NET Correspondent, Tripura 

Agartala, July 19, 2022 : Tripura Legislative Assembly is going to have a ‘digital library’ soon after the ensuing assembly’s winter session, likely to take place in November and December next.

Speaking exclusively with Northeast Today, a senior official of the Tripura Legislative Assembly in condition of anonymity said that the digital library will be soon introduced after the upcoming winter session of the assembly which is scheduled to take place in November and December next.

“With the introduction of digital library, printed books, reports, assembly debates, gazetteers, periodicals and other documents published by the government will be available online for the readers in phase manner. At first, the reader has to register their names and enjoy the benefits”, the official added.

The official also said “This library in the state legislative assembly was incepted in 1972 and has a collection of about 2 lakh volumes of printed books reports, assembly debates, gazetteers, periodicals and other documents published by government with 25,000 titles. The main users of this are MLAs and MPs, former MLAs and MPs, staff of office, bonafied research scholars, professors, lecturers, etc.”

Citing the available books and documents in the library, he said “At present, about 50,000 books available in this assembly’s library worth few lakhs of rupees, Tripura Gazettes from 1972 is available in binding form, TLA proceedings from 1963 to 2003, 5 titles of periodicals, four daily newspapers in book binding form since 1991 to till date, Constituent Assembly Proceedings since 1928, annual financial statement since 1974 to till date, budget speech by chief minister or finance minister from 1972 to till date, etc.”

“Books are mainly purchased according to the advice of secretary, speaker, deputy speaker and as per the recommendations made by the Library Committee. The collection of the library contains primarily English, Bengali and Kokborok.” – he further added.

Meanwhile, about 8-10 MLAs among the existing 60 members of the Tripura Legislative Assembly borrow books, reports, etc. from the Assembly’s library while a rare number of former MLAs and MPs also visit the library and borrow books.

In this regard, the senior official said “Former MP Ajay Biswas, former MLAs Tapas Dey and Nakul Das borrow books and reports from the library while among the existing 60 MLAs, Dr Dilip Kumar Das (BJP), Dhanajoy Tripura (IPFT) and Ratan Bhowmik (CPIM) collected books in the past two years and Revenue minister NC Debbarma (IPFT) also borrows books.”

At present there are 36 seats in the library for studying. It is known as the richest library in the state after the Bir Chandra State Central Library.