Panaji: In a significant move to safeguard India's rich manuscript heritage, the Goa government has constituted a state-level standing committee to systematically identify, document, digitise, and scientifically conserve manuscripts across the country, many of which remain scattered in private collections, temples, institutions, and archives. The committee will facilitate the implementation of the national manuscripts survey.
With this initiative, Goa joins other states in operationalising the national programme. The committee will be responsible for ensuring administrative support, coordination, and monitoring of the survey at both the state and district levels, in line with the operational guidelines issued by the Centre.
Committee Composition and Leadership
The committee will be chaired by the chief secretary of Goa and includes officials from departments linked to heritage and culture, such as the secretary of archives, secretary of art and culture, director of archives, director of museums, director of art and culture, and the director of the Goa State Mission for Manuscriptology.
National Survey Under Gyan Bharatam
The national survey under Gyan Bharatam is designed to locate and catalogue manuscripts for long-term preservation through digitisation and scientific conservation techniques. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in the Goa Budget 2025 that to preserve handwritten scripts and digitise them, a special wing would be created in the archives department. Sawant also stated that the Goa State Mission for Manuscripts will be established to use advanced technology to preserve ancient and historical manuscripts.
According to a Times of India report on June 18, 2025, the department expects to find literary treasures such as correspondence that once passed between neighbouring kings, letters exchanged with freedom fighters, and texts that capture the essence of Goan life through the centuries.
