(a) whether the Government propose to set up National Commission on Museums to review their current status;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government have revised financial assistance scheme for regional and local museums;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the funds provided through this scheme to the museums during each of the last three years and the current year; and
(e) the measures adopted to strengthen the local and regional museums ?
MINISTER OF TOURISM & CULTURE ( SHRI ANANTH KUMAR)
(a) : No, Sir.
(b) : Does not arise.
(c) to (e) : The scheme for financial assistance for `Promotion & Strengthening of Regional & Local Museums` was revised during the year 1999. In the revised scheme, museums under the State Governments have been made eligible for financial assistance. Under this scheme, the funds released during the last 3 years and in the current year (till date), for
(i) renovation/ repairs/extension/modernization of galleries;
(ii) publication;
(iii) conservation laboratory;
(iv) museum library;
(v) purchase of equipment; and
(vi) documentation is as under:
Year Amount released 1997-1998 Rs.56.38 lakhs 1998-1999 Rs.97.87 lakhs 1999-2000 Rs.164.30 lakhs 2000-2001 Rs. 33.30 lakhs (Till date)