Question : Upgradation of National Museums and Children Museums

(a) whether the Government is aware about the pathetic condition of National Museums and Children Museum, Delhi and if so, details thereof;

(b) whether museums in our country lack state-of-art infrastructure and viewer friendly facilities and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there is a need to modernise the museums to bring them at par with museums across the world;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;

(e) whether the Government has any plan/scheme to upgrade the infrastructure of museums in the country and if so, the details thereof including funds sanctioned and works undertaken in this regard during the last three years; and

(f) whether public awareness campaign is required to encourage younger generation to visit museums and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) CULTURE AND
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) and (b) : There are six national level museums, namely National Museum (New Delhi), National Gallery of Modern Art (branches at Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai), Indian Museum (Kolkata), Victoria Memorial Hall (Kolkata), Salarjung Museum (Hyderabad) and Allahabad Museum (Allahabad), which are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture. These museums are providing visitor friendly facilities such as sitting arrangement, drinking water, cafeteria, toilets, lifts, ramp, wheel chairs for disabled persons etc. Ministry of Culture has no Children museum under its administrative control.

(c) and (d) : Upgradation and modernization of the museums under the administrative control of Ministry of Culture is taken up on a continuous basis to maintain them in good condition. The government has taken a number of steps such as storage management, proper display, facilities for visitors, publicity, capacity building, security etc. to keep the museums at par with the museums across the world.

(e) Ministry of Culture operates “Museum Grant Scheme”, under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments, voluntary institutions, Societies and trusts registered as a society under the Indian Societies Act of 1860 (XXI) or a similar legislation of the state governments for modernization and development of existing museums. The details of funds sanctioned during last three years is given below:
Year Funds sanctioned (Rs. in crores) No. of museums in which works undertaken
2014-15 21.50 23
2015-16 27.10 41
2016-17 48.90 38

(f) The public awareness campaign is being carried out by museums under the administrative control of Ministry of Culture to attract younger generation to visit museums through their website and Social Media like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter etc. The museums organize programmes for youth and children such as Summer Camps, Workshops, Seminars, Art appreciation courses, Special weeks etc. which are publicized.