Advisor to Chief Minister, Prof Amitabh Mattoo today convened a meeting of senior officers of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and Culture departments to review the functioning of the department.Threadbare discussion was held on issues regarding preparation of action plan for Modernization, Maintenance and Showcasing of Archives, Monuments and Museums of Jammu and Kashmir as per world class standards.It was discussed in the meeting that the department would work in coordination and consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National Archives of India (NAI), National Museum, National Research Laboratory for conservation of Culture property (NRLC), International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACT), United Nations Education, Scientific and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) in ensuring that the records are preserved.It was informed in the meeting that there is lack of manpower which is badly affecting the digitalization of Archives. Several other issues discussed included shifting of Records from Archives Repository from Jammu to Kala Kendra Jammu, Digitalization of Archival and Museum artifacts, shifting, indexing of Toshkhana artifacts which are presently under the charge of Hospitality and Protocol and completion of S P S Museums.
It was also informed that the Heritage Calender of the department would be circulated in and outside the State for wide publicity of Heritage awareness.Commissioner Secretary, Culture Department, Dilshad Khan also briefed the meeting about the overall functioning of the department besides steps afoot for conservation and preservation of heritage of the state.Advisor assured that the issues raised in the meeting would be brought into the notice of Chief Minister for early redressal.Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Mohammad Shafi Zahid, OSD Knowledge Initiative, Cluster University Jammu, Dr Suneet Gupta, Media Analyst Tahir Syed besides other senior officers of concerned departments attended the meeting.