Parliament Question: Digitisation of Tulu and Coastal Kannada Manuscripts and Archives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1244 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2026 Digitisation of Tulu and Coastal Kannada Manuscripts and Archives 1244. Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: a) whether the Government has reviewed digitisation of Tulu and Coastal Kannada manuscripts and archives and the proposals, institutions and locations covered in Dakshina Kannada; b) the details of funds sanctioned, released and utilised along with appraisal stage, beneficiaries, works and outputs, scheme-wise; c) the details of documentation, eligibility, conservation, capacity and State-level action gaps; and d) the details of the technical-assistance, appraisal and implementation timeline? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) During the National Manuscript Survey launched in March, 2026 under the Gyan Bharatam Mission (GBM), repositories in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka preserving manuscripts in Tulu, Kannada and Sanskrit have been identified. However, w.r.t. review of digitization of archives, National Archives of India (NAI) has informed that there is no such development. Based on the survey findings, eligible repositories having manuscripts, are considered for digitization in accordance with the Mission guidelines, subject to physical verification, institutional readiness and availability of resources. The digitization of eligible manuscript collections is a continuous process, executed after execution of the prescribed agreements, creation of metadata, quality assessment and compliance with the operational guidelines of GBM. (b) An allocation of Rs.60 crore has been made for the current financial year under GBM, out of which Rs.4.48 crore has already been utilized so far. The Mission provides project-based financial assistance to institutions holding manuscript collections to undertake activities relating to the identification, documentation, conservation, digitisation and publication of manuscript-based research works. It also supports capacity-building programmes for developing expertise in manuscriptology, conservation and digitisation. Financial assistance is considered on the basis of proposals received from institutions and their appraisal as per the prescribed procedures and guidelines of GBM.(c) Gyan Bharatam envisages the identification, documentation, conservation, digitisation, research, publication and dissemination of India's manuscript heritage irrespective of script, language, dialect, tradition, community or geographical location. Conservation interventions are undertaken based on the physical condition and specific requirements of manuscripts. The Mission also facilitates need-based capacity-building programmes to develop expertise among manuscript custodians and other stakeholders in areas such as manuscriptology, conservation and digitisation. The concerned State Governments and Union Territory Administrations have also been engaged to facilitate coordinated efforts and ensure comprehensive coverage of manuscript heritage across the country. (d) Technical assistance and institutional support are facilitated through the designated technology partners onboarded for various functions including metadata creation and its integration on National Digital Repository (NDR), deployment of equipments, AI-integrated digital platform and long-term data storage etc. Proposals received from eligible institutions are considered on case-to-case basis and in accordance with the applicable framework, operational requirements, availability of funds etc. and implementation is undertaken thereafter in a phased manner as per agreed terms and conditions. *****