The Asiatic Society in Kolkata has scanned 2,033 manuscripts totaling 1,46,099 pages as part of the Gyan Bharatam Mission. The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, highlighted the safety measures in place at the Society, including a fire safety system and disaster preparedness protocols. Collaboration with authorities like the National Disaster Response Force, Fire Department, and Local Police ensures a secure environment.
The Society has successfully digitized 11,528 manuscripts, amounting to 5,72,890 pages. The Ministry’s Grant-in-aid supports the core functions of the Asiatic Society, with periodic reviews to meet the collection’s preservation needs. The heritage building of the Society falls under the Archaeological Survey of India’s jurisdiction, ensuring necessary repairs and restoration.
Maintaining optimal conditions, the Society employs a temperature and humidity control system in its Museum to safeguard manuscripts, rare books, and artefacts. Regular checks on the collection’s condition are conducted by cataloguers and officials under the Curator’s supervision. The Society also operates a Conservation and Binding Section for conservation tasks and established a Manuscript Conservation Centre in 2022.
