Lok Sabha Question No. 209 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Preservation and Digitisation of Manuscripts in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION No.209

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## Preservation and Digitisation of Manuscripts in Tamil Nadu

## *209 Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government proposes to take special measures to document, digitize, and conserve manuscripts from Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
- b) the  details  of  the  number  of  manuscripts  from  Tamil  Nadu  already  surveyed, documented, or digitized under the previous National Manuscripts Mission and to be prioritized under the revamped Gyan Bharatam Mission;
- c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  address  the  concerns  of  private  manuscript holders who are hesitant to share their collections due to lack of access  policy  and legal clarity;
- d) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  under  this  Mission  specifically  for  Tamil  Nadu, Institutions-wise; and
- e) whether any regional centres or digitization hubs are being planned in the State and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) to (E) TO LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NUMBER  209  FOR  REPLY  ON  04.08.2025  REGARDING PRESERVATION  AND  DIGITISATION  OF  MANUSCRIPTS  IN  TAMIL  NADU ASKED BY SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

- (a) Yes, the Government is taking special measures to document, conserve, and digitise manuscripts from Tamil Nadu.These efforts include the identification of manuscripts, training of personnel in conservation techniques, and establishing strategic partnerships with academic and cultural institutions across the States including Tamil Nadu.
- (b) Under the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), 213902 unique verified numbers of manuscripts were surveyed and documented. However, digitization work has  not  happened  in  the  past.  Under  the  Gyan  Bharatam,  a  National  Digital Repository has been announced in the Union Budget 2025(Annexure A).
- (c) Yes, the Government is actively engaged with all manuscript stakeholders to address their concerns including their rights over the manuscripts.
- (d) An  amount  of  Rs.1,64,79,000/-  has  been  dedicatedly  allocated  for  institutions  in Tamil Nadu. The details are given as per (Annexure B).
- (e) Multiple  institutions  across  the  country  including  in  the  state  of  Tamil  Nadu  have been associated under the Gyan Bharatam.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.209 for 04.08.2025

Manuscripts Resource Centre (MRC) Tamil Nadu

| Sl No.   | Name &Address ofMRC                                                         | Total Data Documented   |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1        | CPR Institute of Indological Research 1 Eldam Road, Alwarpet, Chennai       | 17                      |
| 2        | Govt. Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras Univ. Campus, Chennai            | 67,611                  |
| 3        | Institute of Asian Studies CemenceryTambaram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu       | 2,398                   |
| 5        | Sri ChandrashekharendraSaraswatiViswamahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu | 55,810                  |
| 6        | Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji'sSaraswati Mahal Library, Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu     | 35,901                  |
| 7        | Survey Data of Tamil Nadu                                                   | 52,165                  |
|          | Total No of Data                                                            | 2,13,902                |

## Annexure - B

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.209 for 04.08.2025

The details of funds allocated for Tamil Nadu institutions under this Mission

(Rs. In Lakh)

| Financial year   | For Documentation of Manuscripts                 | For Documentation of Manuscripts   | For Documentation of Manuscripts                                 | For Documentation of Manuscripts                                   | For Conservation of Manuscripts                   | For Conservation of Manuscripts   | For Conservation of Manuscripts                                  | For Conservation of Manuscripts   |
|------------------|--------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Financial year   | Government Oriental Manuscript Libarary, Chennai | Government Museum, Egmore          | Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji'sSa raswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur | Kanchipuram, Sri Chandrashekh arendraSaras watiViswama havidyalaya | Governme nt Oriental Manuscript Libarary, Chennai | Government Museum, Egmore         | Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji'sSaras wathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur | Tamil University, Thanjavur       |
| 2002-03          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2003-04          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 3.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2004-05          | 0.00                                             | 2.40                               | 3.00                                                             | 3.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 1.50                              | 1.50                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2005-06          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 3.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 2.50                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2006-07          | 0.00                                             | 2.17                               | 3.00                                                             | 3.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 2.68                              | 1.50                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2007-08          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 3.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 1.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2008-09          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 3.00                              | 1.50                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2009-10          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 3.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 1.50                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2010-11          | 0.00                                             | 4.50                               | 0.00                                                             | 2.96                                                               | 0.00                                              | 1.50                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2011-12          | 10.11                                            | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 2.27                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2012-13          | 3.50                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2013-14          | 4.50                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2014-15          | 9.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2015-16          | 9.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2016-17          | 12.00                                            | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2017-18          | 4.50                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2018-19          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 2.50                              |
| 2019-20          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 7.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2020-21          | 1.50                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 2.50                              |
| 2021-22          | 2.45                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 5.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                              |
| 2022-23          | 1.50                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 9.70                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 3.60                              |
| 2023-24          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 0.00                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 4.00                              |
| 2024-25          | 0.00                                             | 0.00                               | 0.00                                                             | 0.00                                                               | 7.95                                              | 0.00                              | 0.00                                                             | 8.00                              |
| Total            | 58.06                                            | 9.07                               | 9.00                                                             | 17.96                                                              | 29.65                                             | 15.95                             | 4.50                                                             | 20.60                             |

Total = 164.79 lakh