National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property

In view of the vast Cultural heritage of India, there is a great need for research in the field of conservation of cultural property and technical study of objects of art, archaeology, anthropology, etc. The Department of Culture has accordingly formulated a plan scheme for establishing a National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property. The Laboratory will eventually have divisions for scientific analysis and for research in methods of conservation of wall-paintings, museum-objects, paper-materials, bio-deterioration of objects, etc. The Laboratory is in the planning stage now.

Cultural Scholarships

Scholarships to Young Workers in Different Cultural Fields

Under the scheme 25 scholarships are awarded to young artists of outstanding promise in the age-group 18 to 28 years for advance training within India in the fields of Hindustani and Karnatak music, Western Classical music, classical forms of Indian dances, traditional theatre, drama, painting and sculpture. The value of the scholarship is Rs. 250/- p.m. and the

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duration is two years. In exceptional cases scholarship is extended by another year. A provision of Rs. 1,70,000 has been made during the current year for the scheme. This scheme has so far been operated as a non-plan item but it is proposed to award from the current year 25 additional scholarships annually under the Fifth Five-Year Plan. A provision of Rs. 1 lakh has been made for 1974-75 for awarding the additional scholarships.

Cultural Talent Search Scholarships Scheme

This is a plan scheme under which facilities are provided to outstanding young children of the age-group 10-14 years to develop their talents in various cultural fields, i.e., music, dance, painting and sculpture. During the current year, besides renewing 39 scholarships awarded last year, it is proposed to award 75 fresh scholarships under the scheme. The duration of the scholarships is one year at a time and it is renewable from year to year till the completion of the secondary stage of education or till the scholar attains the age of 18 years, whichever is earlier. During the current year a sum of Rs. 2,50,000 has been provided for this scheme. The value of the scholarship is Rs. 600 per annum for children receiving training at their normal place of residence and Rs. 1200 per annum for those who have to go out to another station. Besides, the actual tuition-fee paid is reimbursed to the scholar subject to a ceiling of Rs. 1000 per annum.

Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Promotion of Indian Languages

The Scheme has been in operation from the middle of the Second Five Year Plan, and grants under this are sanctioned upto 50 per cent of the expenditure on approved items for bringing out publications like encyclopaedia; dictionaries, books of knowledge, publications bringing out the similarities among the different languages, catalogue of manuscripts and books of cultural, literary, indological, linguistic and scientific subjects. The scheme also provides for purchase of copies of the printed publications in Regional Languages, and grants for holding multilingual literary conferences, seminars, book exhibition etc.

Gazetteers

Volume I-Country and People-and Volume II-History and Culture-of the Gazetteer of India have already been published.

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All the copies of Volume I were sold out. Its second edition has also been brought out. Some of the chapters of this volume have been brought out separately in the form of booklets such as People, Languages, Physiography, etc. The major part of Volume III-Economic Structure and Activities has been printed and is likely to appear in published form shortly.

2. The Scheme for the Revision of District Gazetteers; has been taken up by all the States and Union Territories. The drafts of 216 districts gazetteers have been completed, of which, 207 have been approved for publication.

3. The project of 'Who's Who of Indian Martyrs' has been completed and all its 3 volumes have since been published.