Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 26 July 2026, joined the '1000 Pustak Dan Abhiyan' (1000 Book Donation Campaign) run by the Rudraprayag district administration, purchasing 50 books authored by writers present at the event and sending them to the Rudraprayag public library.

Context

Posting on X, CM Dhami wrote: '1000 pust​ak daan abhiyaan se judte hue upasthit lekhkon ki rachnaon mein se 50 pustakein kraya kar unhe Rudraprayag ke saarvajanik pustakalay ke liye bhijwaya' — joining the book donation campaign, he purchased 50 books from the works of authors present at the programme and sent them to Rudraprayag's public library. He expressed confidence that 'this small effort will strengthen the culture of book donation and become a medium to inspire new enthusiasm for study, reflection, and knowledge-acquisition among the youth.'

The gesture was made during a public programme in Rudraprayag, a Himalayan district in Uttarakhand known as a pilgrimage gateway to Kedarnath. The district administration's campaign aims to build up library collections through community and official contributions.

Policy Backdrop

The 1000 Pustak Dan Abhiyan is a locally driven initiative by the Rudraprayag district administration to collect and donate books, strengthening public library infrastructure in a region where access to educational resources can be constrained by hilly, remote terrain. Such district-level campaigns have gained traction across Uttarakhand as a practical way to supplement formal schooling.

The drive aligns with the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasised expanding public libraries and fostering reading habits as part of broader educational reform. State governments have been encouraged to build community reading ecosystems, particularly in geographically challenging areas where digital connectivity remains uneven.

Stakeholders and Impact

The direct beneficiaries are the residents of Rudraprayag district, especially young readers who rely on public libraries for access to books beyond school syllabi. Local authors whose works were purchased gain visibility and a formal institutional home for their writing.

The campaign also signals administrative intent to treat cultural and educational infrastructure as a governance priority. By participating personally and purchasing books by local writers, CM Dhami drew attention to both the library's needs and the work of regional literary voices.

What's Next

The Rudraprayag district administration is expected to continue building on the 1000 Pustak Dan Abhiyan, and similar book donation drives could be extended to other Uttarakhand districts. Observers will watch whether the campaign translates into measurable increases in public library membership and usage across the state's hill districts.

The Chief Minister's visible participation raises the profile of the initiative and may encourage other officials, authors, and community members across Uttarakhand to contribute books, potentially scaling the model into a statewide literacy push.