Experts snap at ASI outsourcing
March 24, 2023
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • My States
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • My States
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • My States
  • Vocal4Local
  • Subscribe
Home General

Experts snap at ASI outsourcing

Archive Manager by WEB DESK
Mar 11, 2007, 12:00 am IST
in General
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

The Archaeological Survey of India is drawing flak for its apparent unilateral decision to outsource the digitisation of its century-old archives of thousands of photographs to an American-funded organisation. The contract has been awarded to the American Institute of Indian Studies, Gurgaon, that is funded primarily by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, the US State Department and other US government bodies.

This is despite the procedural cautions stated in a report (presented to Rajya Sabha on November 25, 2005 and tabled in Lok Sabha) by a standing parliamentary committee chaired by former MP Nilotpal Basu. The report questioned the locus standi of the AIIS in this project, based on media reports. It observed that ?adequate care should be taken while finalising such kind of deal (sic) so the expenditure to be occurred? is spent in the best interest of the nation and valuable information about Indian antiquities and monuments are not handed over to foreign hands.? It further stated that ASI ?would prepare estimates and compare the estimates with other eligible parties after the sanctions are obtained.? The report also highlighted the demoralisation of ASI'sown professional cadre and the urgency of having a professional archaeologist head the organisation.

But despite this report, the ASI awarded the contract to AIIS (F.No. 6/1/2006 ? letter from RS Fonia, director, June 30, 2006) in response to the AIIS letter of proposal. ASI agreed to pay Rs 40 per negative and stated that AIIS could take away its negatives in batches of 1,000. ?We will process as many as they give us, it could be two million, I am not concealing anything,? says Dr Pradeep Mehendiratta, vice-president, AIIS.

?This decision is shocking for several reasons,? says Professor Nayanjot Lahiri, who teaches archaeology at Delhi University . ?One, due process does not seem to have been followed despite the parliamentary committee'sreport: no advertisement or tender was floated. Two, competent Indian institutions like the Alkazi Foundation, Banaras Hindu University or National Museum could have done the job. Three, the ASI archives are the labour of generations of photographers of proven calibre. ASI'sbudget is the largest under the Ministry of Culture. Our policy-makers talk constantly of ?capacity building?. Why could the money spent on outsourcing not have been invested long-term to train ASI personnel to handle their own archives??

Says Dr Dilip Chakrabarti, professor of South Asian archaeology, Cambridge: ?This is incorrect from a national perspective, because ASI is a national concern and it is improper to hand over its resources to a foreign interest. ASI should be headed by an Indian archaeologist who would understand, unlike a bureaucrat, the sensitivity of the issue and also the dangers of allowing unlimited access on what is where to the international antiquities market. The process should have been done in-house. It is like the National Archives allowing a foreign agency to take its documents outside its premises.?

But ASI director-general C Babu Rajeev says, when asked about the logic in choosing AIIS, ?I don'towe you an explanation!? Whatever happened to RTI?

Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Andhra Pradesh A new assurance among swayamsevaks

Next News

Conservative Estimates The myth of empowerment

Related News

Balidan Diwas: They sacrificed their lives so that today’s youth can imbibe the values and love for Bharat Mata

Nation pays tribute to Bhagat Singh on ‘Balidan Divas’; Khalistanis call him a ‘Traitor’

Nagaland Governor, rebel groups pitch for early solution to insurgency issue

Nagaland Governor, rebel groups pitch for early solution to insurgency issue

Anti-India Agenda ploy of the West: World Happiness Index ranks India in the bottom rung

Anti-India Agenda ploy of the West: World Happiness Index ranks India in the bottom rung

Kangana-Diljit row: Kangana slamming Khalistani supporters took a jibe on Diljit saying ‘Pols agayi’ quoting the recent Swiggy advertisement

Kangana-Diljit row: Kangana slamming Khalistani supporters took a jibe on Diljit saying ‘Pols agayi’ quoting the recent Swiggy advertisement

Tamil Nadu: After Church Priest Benedict, now police arrests pastor of Sivakamipuram church for sexually abusing women

Tamil Nadu: After Church Priest Benedict, now police arrests pastor of Sivakamipuram church for sexually abusing women

Israel’s Anti-Conversion Bill: Members of Knesset proposed to null and void Evangelisation

Israel’s Anti-Conversion Bill: Members of Knesset proposed to null and void Evangelisation

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Balidan Diwas: They sacrificed their lives so that today’s youth can imbibe the values and love for Bharat Mata

Nation pays tribute to Bhagat Singh on ‘Balidan Divas’; Khalistanis call him a ‘Traitor’

Nagaland Governor, rebel groups pitch for early solution to insurgency issue

Nagaland Governor, rebel groups pitch for early solution to insurgency issue

Anti-India Agenda ploy of the West: World Happiness Index ranks India in the bottom rung

Anti-India Agenda ploy of the West: World Happiness Index ranks India in the bottom rung

Kangana-Diljit row: Kangana slamming Khalistani supporters took a jibe on Diljit saying ‘Pols agayi’ quoting the recent Swiggy advertisement

Kangana-Diljit row: Kangana slamming Khalistani supporters took a jibe on Diljit saying ‘Pols agayi’ quoting the recent Swiggy advertisement

Tamil Nadu: After Church Priest Benedict, now police arrests pastor of Sivakamipuram church for sexually abusing women

Tamil Nadu: After Church Priest Benedict, now police arrests pastor of Sivakamipuram church for sexually abusing women

Israel’s Anti-Conversion Bill: Members of Knesset proposed to null and void Evangelisation

Israel’s Anti-Conversion Bill: Members of Knesset proposed to null and void Evangelisation

Shocking videos making rounds on internet, where a pro-Khalistani media network calls Punjab as ‘Indian occupied Punjab’

Shocking videos making rounds on internet, where a pro-Khalistani media network calls Punjab as ‘Indian occupied Punjab’

Akshay Gour alias Faheem Khan reverts to the Sanatan fold admitted to the hospital; attempted suicide following threats from Alims and Muslim clergies

Akshay Gour alias Faheem Khan reverts to the Sanatan fold admitted to the hospital; attempted suicide following threats from Alims and Muslim clergies

Punjabi Singers and Khalistan 2.0: Musical puppets of Pakistan’s ISI

Punjabi Singers and Khalistan 2.0: Musical puppets of Pakistan’s ISI

Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Birth Anniversary: Why all Lohiates must revisit the article of their Guru ‘Ram, Krishna and Siva’

Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Birth Anniversary: Why all Lohiates must revisit the article of their Guru ‘Ram, Krishna and Siva’

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • My States
  • Vocal4Local
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies