Question : MANUSCRIPT OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

(a) whether the Government have launched a National Mission for manuscript for identifying accessing, conserving and compiling a comprehensive directory of institutions and individuals holding the manuscripts of national importance;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether these manuscripts which were repository of ancient wisdom were not adequately preserved and thus decaying;

(d) if so, the details of efforts are being made to preserve them properly;

(e) whether an estimated two or three lakh manuscripts have been taken out of the country; and

(f) if so, the efforts being made to recover them ?

MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE ( SHRI ANANTH KUMAR )

(a) to (d): Preparatory work is on to launch a National Mission for Manuscripts. Manuscripts are in the possession of innumerable institutions, both private and public and their state of conservation varies. A Scheme of financial assistance for preservation of Manuscripts is being operated by National Archives of India since 1980-81 under which grant-in-aid is given to voluntary Organisations for preservation, publication, cataloguing etc. of Manuscripts. So far, 739 organisations were assisted under the Scheme for preservation/cataloguing/publication etc. of Manuscripts.

(e)&(f): No such information is available with the Government.