DC Kishtwar reviews strategy for implementation of Mission Gyan Bharatam in the district

KISHTWAR: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma today chaired a meeting of district officers to discuss the implementation plan for Mission Gyan Bharatam in the district.

Mission Gyan Bharatam is a national initiative launched by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India with the goal of preserving, documenting, digitizing and promoting India’s valuable manuscripts and traditional knowledge systems.

Highlighting the cultural and spiritual significance of district Kishtwar, the Deputy Commissioner mentioned historic sites such as the Ziyarat of Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib (RA), Ziyarat of Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib (RA), Shri Sarthal Devi Mata Temple, Shri Machail Mata Temple, Shri Trisandhiya Hudh Mata, the Buddhist heritage site at Nagseni and other historically significant areas.

During the meeting, the DC emphasized the importance of the mission and directed all departments to work in close coordination. The DC constituted a dedicated committee on the spot, headed by the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) as the Nodal Officer. The committee will include the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) for rural areas, Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council for urban areas and other relevant officers.

Furthermore, a designated supervisory officer will be appointed in each block to oversee the survey process and monitor field officers. The chair directed the concerned officers to deploy their existing workforce, including Village Level Workers (VLWs), Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Lambardars, Chowkidars and other concerned, to conduct a special household survey titled "Har Ghar Dastak."

This initiative is designed to trace and digitize manuscripts, strictly with the prior consent of their owners. To ensure timely completion, the field teams must adhere to the operational goal of "Har Din-Ek Gin," targeting the coverage of at least one Panchayat per day. He also constituted teams for each subdivision, with Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) as Nodal Officers, along with other concerned officers for different areas.

The team consisting of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Panchayat Secretaries, SHGs and other officials will generate awareness about the benefits of these initiatives. These teams will conduct village-level visits across approximately 65,000 households in Kishtwar district to identify, verify and document rare manuscripts and traditional knowledge resources held by individuals, families and institutions.

The DC further explained that the mission focuses on identifying rare manuscripts, ensuring their proper scientific preservation and digitizing them with the help of modern technology, including Artificial Intelligence. The goal is to create a national digital record that will be accessible to scholars, students and the general public.

In addition, he directed the concerned officers to prepare a standard proforma to record the name of the manuscript owner, manuscript details and type for proper documentation of the manuscripts.

Special emphasis was laid on spreading awareness among the public so that people voluntarily share information about important manuscripts and traditional knowledge in their possession.

The Deputy Commissioner reiterated that Mission Gyan Bharatam must be implemented sincerely so that the district contributes effectively to the national effort of preserving India’s rich heritage.

The progress of the mission will be monitored by the Deputy Commissioner on a weekly basis to ensure effective implementation. The meeting was attended by ADC Kishtwar, Pawan Kotwal, CPO Kishtwar, Akhil Thakur, ACD Kishtwar, Manoj Kumar, CEO Municipal Council Kishtwar, Mirza Mumtaz Iqbal, BDO Bounjwah, Aijaz Ahmad, Principal GDC Chatroo, DPM NRLM, Ishaq Dar and other concerned officers.