Aurangabad: To press long-pending demands, the Library association across the state on Wednesday carried out an agitation seeking a hike in salaries. On Wednesday, members of the association said 31, 611 staffers from 12,148 public libraries along with around 85,000 office bearers participated in a day long agitation, which occurred across the state.“This is the first phase of our agitation. The government has failed to respond to our demands,” said Gulabrao Magar, regional head of the Granthalaya Sangh.Freedom fighter and a key office bearer of the association at the state level, NV Deshpande, said not a single demand that the association has raised for a long time has yet been met. Association members issued an ultimatum, and in a representation to the district collector, demanded that 50% of the inspection grant pending since 2012 be paid, besides offering a hike.Before coming to power, leaders of the BJP had assured members their demands would be fulfilled once the party was in power. However, nothing has been done yet, the protesters said, adding that public libraries are falling to ruin and dying a slow death.Anil Patil, another member of the association, said that with each passing day the rent of properties that house the buildings is increasing. There is also increase in power tariffs and higher prices of books, journals and newspapers to contend with.Members of the association said the government must review and revamp the overall structure of the public libraries and encourage the reading habit. Members said even though books are available online, the reading habit has taken a hit and a society that is reflexive and deliberative and can negotiate differences without resorting to violence must have spaces for culture and deliberation that are inexpensive and accessible.

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