Project DREAM Transforms Abandoned Buildings Into Digital Libraries In Rural Nagpur In rural Nagpur, a once-neglected landscape of abandoned halls and dilapidated schoolrooms has been reimagined as vibrant centers of learning. The Nagpur Zilla Parishad’s Project DREAM has converted 100 unused structures into digital libraries, blending community input with modern infrastructure to create spaces that reflect the aspirations of local villagers. This initiative, which began with a simple yet innovative approach, has sparked a transformation that extends beyond physical upgrades, reshaping governance and education in the region. The project, an acronym for Dedicated Rooms for Empowerment, Awareness and Motivation, was launched with a unique method: villagers were invited to envision their ideal library. Instead of imposing standardized designs, the Zilla Parishad collected thousands of postcards featuring sketches, written ideas, and aspirations from schoolchildren, women, youth, and sarpanches. These submissions, written in Marathi, Hindi, English, or simple drawings, became the blueprint for each library. “We did not want to impose a design,” said ZP Chief Executive Officer Vinayak Mahamuni. “The idea was simple—ask people what they want, and build exactly that.” Each village’s library was tailored to its specific needs, with residents choosing wall colors, furniture, seating arrangements, the number of computers, and even the atmosphere they wanted the space to evoke. With an investment of approximately ₹8-10 lakh per site, these buildings were transformed into CCTV-enabled learning hubs.#devendra_fadnavis #vinayak_mahamuni #niti_aayog #nagpur_zilla_parishad #belona_sarpanch
