Bhubaneswar, April 18: Odisha is enhancing efforts to preserve its ancient palm-leaf manuscripts through a review meeting led by Chief Secretary Anu Garg. The meeting focused on the ongoing survey, preservation, and digitisation of these manuscripts as part of the Gyan Bharatam Mission.

Garg urged the public to register ancient manuscripts in their possession for inclusion in a national digital repository. Over 53,950 manuscripts have been registered in Odisha so far. The Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture is conducting large-scale surveys and prioritising religious institutions, heritage sites, and private collections.

The three-month survey, which began on March 16, 2026, is supported by the ‘Bharatam’ app for easy registration. Special focus is on districts like Ganjam, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Nayagarh, and Puri. To ensure efficient management, district-wise inventories will be prepared and district-level committees formed.

Additionally, the government plans to establish a dedicated Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum to ensure long-term preservation and promote Odisha's cultural heritage. Manuscript owners can either lend their collections temporarily or allow digitisation on-site.