Question : Preservation of Manuscripts

(a) whether there are Government funded research institutes that save and revive old and rare manuscripts and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has collaborated with private or University based research centres to improve research activities in this area and if so, the details of the same;

(c) whether the Government is running certification or graduation programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development related to the preservation of manuscripts and if so, the details of the same;

(d) whether the Government has attempted to digitize these manuscripts and if not, the reasons therefore; and

(e) whether the Government is working towards promoting knowledge of important manuscripts and if so, the details of the action taken and planned so far?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)


(a)&(b) Yes, Madam. Ministry of Culture, in the year 2003, launched a project called National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) for documentation, conservation, digitization and publication of Indian manuscripts.

The NMM has undertaken the documentation and conservation work of manuscripts through registered societies, institutions and universities by setting up Manuscripts Resource Centers (MRCs) and Manuscripts Conservation Centers (MCCs) respectively. At present there are 30 MRCs and 34 MCCs spread all over the country.

(c) No, Madam. The NMM has not conducted any academic courses in which certificates are to be issued or graduation courses are conducted except certificates issued for participation in Conservation workshops and workshops & seminars on Manuscriptology and Paleography.

At present there are 34 MCCs engaged in the conservation of Manuscripts and as on 31.03.2017 conservation of 7,78,05,804 manuscripts folios have been done.

(d) The NMM has undertaken the work relating to the digitization of Manuscripts of the interested repositories through invitation of open tenders from qualified digital agencies. As on 31.03.2017 digitization of 2,63,32,204 pages of manuscripts have been done.

(e) Workshops and Seminars on Manuscriptology and Paleography are conducted by NMM for promoting knowledge of Manuscripts in different scripts & languages.

As on 31.03.2017 eighty four (84) Workshops on Manuscriptology and Paleography and fifty six (56) Seminars imparting training to 2,398 and 1,687 participants respectively were conducted.
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