MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM & CULTURE (SMT. AMBIKA SONI)
(a)&(b) Yes, Sir. Rare palm leaf manuscripts are preserved and protected
scientifically under the National Mission for Manuscripts, through the network of 33
Manuscript Conservation Centres and their partner centres, spread all over the country.
(c) Under the Mission no state-wise allocation of funds are made. However, the details
of the amount spent under the Mission during the last three years are as under:
Year Allocation (Rs. IN Crore)
2004-05 3.47
2005-06 7.90
2006-07 9.43
(d)to(f) Under the National Mission for Manuscripts, digitization of important
manuscripts in the country are taken up to prepare a national database of important
manuscripts. This is an ongoing process and, therefore, no deadline can be fixed.
However, since the launch of the Mission in 2003, more than 15,000 manuscripts
containing 2.2 million manuscript pages have already been digitized .
(g) A large number of new manuscripts, running into thousands, have been unearthed
under the Mission.
(h) The National Mission for Manuscripts helps in spreading awareness about the
manuscript heritage of India through awareness campaigns, workshops, National surveys,
exhibitions, public lectures and publication of books on manuscripts.
