(a) whether our country has the highest reserve of manuscripts across the world;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the present policy of the Government regarding the protection/conservation and digitization of manuscript heritage of the country;
(c) the number of manuscripts documented, digitized and conserved so far;
(d) the amount allocated in this regard during each of the last three years and the current year in this regard, state-wise; and
(e) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a & b): Yes, Madam. As per our estimates India has the largest collection of Manuscripts. For documentation, conservation /preservation and digitization of Manuscripts project, National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2003. Till date it has documented about 42 lakh Manuscripts in different scripts and languages. For conservation of Manuscripts, Manuscripts Conservation Centres (MCCs) have been established by NMM all over the country, which conduct preventive and curative conservation of Manuscripts requiring conservation in their region.
Digitization of Manuscripts is done by NMM itself through invitation of open tenders.
(c): 1. Number of Manuscripts documented – 42 lakhs Manuscripts.
2. Number of Manuscripts digitized – 2.80 lakh Manuscripts.
3. Number of Manuscripts conserved – preventive conservation of
733 lakh folios and curative
conservation of 16 lakh folios.
(d)&(e): Funds are not allocated state-wise by the Government. However, Government allocated the following funds to National Mission for Manuscripts during the last three years and the current year.
Year Budget allocation (in Rs.Lakhs)
2013-14 950.00
2014-15 950.00
2015-16 625.00
2016-17 1200.00
State-wise details of the expenditure incurred by the NMM during the last three years and the current year is given at Annexure.
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ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 2921 due for answer on 20.03.2017
State wise expenditure incurred by National Mission for Manuscripts during last three years and current year.
Amount in Lakh
S. No. State Funds allocated 2013-14 Funds allocated 2014-15 Funds allocated 2015-16 Funds allocated 2016-17 upto 28-02-2017
1 Andhra Pradesh 35.43 15.00 9.50 27.55
2 Assam 11.80 9.54 10.50 4.5
3 Bihar 30.00 28.50 33.00 28
4 Delhi 9.29 8.00 16.5
5 Gujarat 7.00 2.5
6 Haryana 18.70 7.00 14.4
7 Himachal Pradesh18.00 23.00 14.00 21.5
8 Jammu & Kashmir 21.50 16.50 21.00 23.5
9 Karnataka 32.90 21.50 27.28 27.9
10 Kerala 15.75 21.00 21.00 24
11 Madhya Pradesh 13.25 11.50 7.00 4.5
12 Maharastra 13.35 4.50 13.15 13.5
13 Manipur 12.00 14.50 7.50 2.5
14 Odisha 57.50 43.50 35.91 37.41
15 Punjab 4.24
16 Rajasthan 24.70 14.50 13.58 14.5
17 Sikkim 3.30 2.64 0.49
18 Tamilnadu 63.70 51.00 14.00 3.04
19 Tripura 5.00 2.50 10
20 Uttar Pradesh 83.85 67.06 50.00 46.58
21 Uttrakhand 5.00 15.00 19.00 15
22 West Bengal 16.00 16.00 26.03
Total 495.26 375.10 321.06 363.9