Jaipur, Feb 9 (NationPress) The Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, V. Srinivas, recently led a review meeting concerning the Atal Gyan Kendra Scheme at the Secretariat in Jaipur, as reported by government officials.

He emphasized that the Atal Gyan Kendras, to be set up at the gram panchayat level, must evolve into strong centers dedicated to quality education, digital literacy, and preparation for competitive exams, particularly aimed at rural youth.

The Chief Secretary insisted that all necessary infrastructure, digital amenities, and educational resources should be ready at the centers within the specified timeframes, and that consistent oversight of the implementation progress is essential.

Moreover, he instructed that both ongoing and finished projects at the targeted gram panchayat headquarters under the initial phase of the scheme should be continuously evaluated, ensuring that all outstanding tasks are prioritized for completion.

He mentioned that the Kendras should operate in a way that allows students from rural and isolated regions to take advantage of modern educational facilities.

During the session, Joga Ram, the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Department, mentioned that each Atal Gyan Kendra is being outfitted with an e-library, current affairs publications, competitive exam preparation books, materials to enhance logical and critical thinking, literature pertaining to the freedom struggle, multilingual newspapers, and e-Mitra services.

He also pointed out that Atal Gyan Kendras are being rolled out in a phased approach at every gram panchayat headquarters.

In the first phase, 2,056 gram panchayat headquarters with populations exceeding 3,000 have been targeted.

Financial clearance has been granted for 1,687 Atal Gyan Kendras, with work currently in progress at 508 centers, while 243 centers have already been completed.

Joga Ram further highlighted that each Atal Gyan Kendra will include a building of about 36×20 feet, a minimum of four digital workstations, internet access, furniture, and study facilities capable of accommodating at least 20 students.

These centers are also being established as hubs for activities, including training and other development initiatives, he added.

He mentioned a proposal to assign Atal Mentors to manage the Kendras.

The primary roles of these mentors will include empowering rural citizens digitally, advocating for e-governance services, and aiding individuals in accessing various government benefits.

The Atal Gyan Kendra Scheme was introduced by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on 'Good Governance Day' on December 25, 2024, and has been incorporated into the State Budget 2025–26.

Officials from the Panchayati Raj Department also attended the meeting.