Eleventh Five Year Plan

Youth Affairs and Sports and Art and Culture 49Museums and Visual Arts2.2.4 Modernization of museums involved layingemphasis on digitization and documentation of artworksas part of Plan activities and on strengtheningof networking among Central museums. The schemeof financial assistance for strengthening of regionaland local museums has been revised with a view towidening its scope for assisting smaller museums.The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)has been engaged in popularizing Science and Technologyamongst students through a wide range ofactivities and interactive programmes implementedby 26 Science Museums/Centres.Archaeology, Anthropology, and Ethnology2.2.5 Successive Five Year Plans focused on preservationand development of heritage sites and monumentcomplexes. Major strategies included (i) involvementof university departments of History and Archaeologyin survey of heritage sites; (ii) modernization ofgalleries, digital documentation of antiquities, publicationof catalogues, museum guides, and picturepostcards by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI);(iii) publication of excavation reports; (iv) setting up anew Underwater Archaeology Branch; and (v) demarcationof protected limits of archaeological monumentsand provisions to safeguard against encroachments.Archives, Libraries, and Literature2.2.6 The National Archives of India (NAI) has beenthe custodian of Central Government records of enduringvalue for permanent preservation and use byadministrators and scholars. Preservation and conservationof rare books and other documents is oneof the chief activities of the National Library andCentral Reference Library (Kolkata), Central SecretariatLibrary and Delhi Public Library (NewDelhi), State Central Library (Mumbai), ThanjavurMaharaja Serofji Saraswati Mahal Library (TMSSML)(Thanjavur) and Raja Ram Mohun Roy Library Foundation(Kolkata), which are engaged in digitization ofold books and manuscripts and retro-conservationof catalogues. Developing a National BibliographicDatabase in electronic format to encourage resourcesharing, networking and to improve reader servicesis the hallmark of modernization activities in thelibrary sector.Education, Research and Others2.2.7 Achievement of Plan schemes have been substantialunder the education and research fields,viz. Buddhist and Tibetan Institutions, NationalMuseum Institute, Centenary and Memorials, Centrefor Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), etc.Other initiatives included building projects andconstruction activities at National Museum (NewDelhi) and at National Gallery of Modern Art(Bangalore and New Delhi). Under National CultureFund (NCF), projects were undertaken in collaborationwith private houses, viz. Shaniwarwara (Pune),Jnana Pravaha (Varanasi), Humayun’s Tomb (Delhi),Durgapur Children’s Society (WB), five heritage sitesin five States in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation,Taj Mahal (Agra) in collaboration with TajGroup of Hotels, and Jantar Mantar (New Delhi) incollaboration with APJ Group.PROGRESS DURING THE TENTH PLAN2.2.8 The thrust areas during the Tenth Plan includedimplementation of a comprehensive plan for the preservationof archaeological heritage and developmentof monument complexes; modernization of museumsand preservation of archival heritage; promotion ofclassical, folk and tribal art crafts, and oral traditions.Computerization of museums with the assistance ofNational Informatics Centre (NIC), digitization ofcollections, micro filming of manuscripts and theintroduction of equipment for audio tours receivedspecial focus. Networking amongst Central museums,undertaking in-service staff training and organizingexhibitions were other priority areas.2.2.9 The Tenth Plan (2002–07) allocation for Art andCulture was Rs 1720 crore. The total expenditure duringthe Tenth Plan at Rs 1526.30 crore accounted for88.74% of Plan outlay (see Annexure 2.2.1). Lack ofproper phasing of expenditure and activities undervarious cultural organizations hindered full utilizationof Plan allocation. There were cost and time over-runsin some of the major civil work projects.SCHEME-WISE/SECTOR-WISE ANALYSISPromotion and Dissemination of Art and Culture2.2.10 Promotion and dissemination of art andculture have been mainly done through seven ZCCs.