At the launch, president of 200-year-old Asiatic Society appealed to the government to increase the institute annual grant, as it was becoming difficult for them to meet the daily expenses
Dr Mahesh Sharma, minister of state for culture, visited Asiatic Society for the launch on Monday. Pic/ Datta Kumbhar
AtâÂu00c2u0080Âu00c2u0088a time when the 200-year-old Asiatic Society of Mumbai is struggling to survive with decreasing funds from the state government, the institute launched its first-ever web portal – granthsanjeevani.com. Becoming the first cultural minister to visit the Society, Dr Mahesh Sharma, minister of state for culture, launched the web portal on Monday
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SG Kale, president, Asiatic Society of Mumbai, said, "The institute has been trying hard to survive due to lack of funds. The funds we receive are not enough to meet the day-to-day expenses. Consequently, the society depends on grants from the Ministry of Culture to meet its expenses. For the year 2016-17, the approved grant was R1 crore. However, we received only R88 lakh." He further said that even this year the amount they received from the ministry was less than what they had asked for. "If the society has to constantly look for funds to pay its staffers, for stationery, etc, then it cannot offer scholarships. Please consider increasing the annual grant and declaring the society as an institute of national importance."
Responding to Kale’s request, Sharma said, "I will ensure that the Society gets back its glory. The Prime Minister’s vision is that our culture is our strength and that is what binds us together. Our culture is our treasure and needs to be showcased to the world."
Speaking about the need for increasing funds, he said, "It is our moral duty to see that such institutions are preserved. A team of officials will shortly visit the Society and look into ways of increasing the annual grant. We are committed towards doing this. I am
really proud of the institute and will ensure that it gets back its glory."
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