Dehradun, May 7 -- Chief secretary Anand Bardhan on Wednesday directed the state education department to set up book banks in government schools so that textbooks can be reused by students over several years, officials said. They added that move could save crores in printing costs. At a meeting held to review department works at the Secretariat, Bardhan said students should deposit their textbooks in the school book banks after every academic year. "New textbooks should be printed only to replace copies that are damaged, lost or not returned by students, and to meet the demand created by new admissions," said Bardhan. Bardhan also ordered officials to "ensure that all essential basic amenities are available in every government school across the state". He asked the department secretary to begin working to implement the book bank system and monitor its functioning. At the meeting, the chief secretary also instructed officials to expedite construction work related to classrooms, hostels and other infrastructure in cluster schools. He added that arrangements should be made to secure funding from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to support the infrastructure expansion. He also directed officials to ensure that all schools have access to essential services such as electricity, drinking water and functional toilet facilities. Emphasising the importance of hygiene and sanitation, Bardhan asked the department to devise a sustainable system for maintaining the cleanliness of school toilets. He instructed officials to develop a specific mechanism to ensure regular upkeep of toilet facilities in government schools and said separate funding arrangements should be made to support maintenance and sanitation efforts. The chief secretary also asked the department to establish digital libraries in schools to expand students' access to reading material and learning resources. He said digital libraries would enable students to access a wider range of books and educational material, helping them broaden their knowledge beyond the prescribed curriculum. Officials said the directions issued during the review meeting are aimed at improving basic infrastructure, strengthening learning resources and ensuring better utilisation of public funds in the state's school education system...