Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai urges citizens to join manuscript preservation drive, calls it shared responsibility
Raipur, April 11, 2026/ “Manuscripts are a living record of our civilization, culture, and intellectual wealth,” Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said as he called upon the people of Chhattisgarh to take part in preserving the state’s cultural heritage and knowledge traditions for future generations.
Referring to the ‘Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey’, initiated by the central government, Chief Minister described it as an important step towards identifying, preserving, and digitising ancient manuscripts across the country.
He appealed to citizens to register details of any manuscripts, handwritten texts, or palm-leaf manuscripts in their possession through the Gyan Bharatam mobile app and contribute to the national effort. He added that even small efforts by individuals can play a meaningful role in protecting the state’s cultural identity.
He expressed confidence that public participation will help bring wider recognition to Chhattisgarh’s knowledge traditions and ensure that this heritage is preserved for future generations.
Chief Minister also urged people to take pride in their roots and become active participants in this cultural initiative.
Meanwhile, the ‘Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey’, launched in March 2026, aims to document and preserve manuscripts and make them accessible through digital platforms.
Chhattisgarh is also actively participating in the nationwide exercise, with district-level committees formed in 26 out of 33 districts and nodal officers appointed. The process is underway in the remaining seven districts.
District committees are identifying collectors and institutions holding manuscripts, while surveyors are being appointed across villages and regions. Training is being conducted at the district level by the Culture Department in coordination with regional teams.
The state had initially received information on 148 manuscripts under the programme from the Union Government. At present, surveys have begun in six districts, and 4,191 manuscripts have already been surveyed through the Gyan Bharatam app.
