India needs to upgrade its museums, says Shelja

New Delhi: India needs to modernise and upgrade its museums by employing state-of-the-art technology to make them more interactive and interesting for the public, union Culture Minister Kumari Selja said here Thursday.

"In the 21st century, there is a need to address issues of modernisation and upgradation of museums in the country by employing state-of-the-art technology to make them interactive and interesting," Selja said at the inauguration of the Vivekananda Memorial Programme for Museum Excellence. Museums should also improve their infrastructure, functioning and staff capacities, she added. India has over a thousand large and small museums, according to the minister. She said that Indian museums were becoming inclusive centres of learning and community participation and were "focusing on service to society." The minister said that various steps have been taken to make museums in the country more modern and up-to-date. In this direction, she said, schemes to set up, promote and strengthen regional museums has been introduced. The month-long museum excellence programme has been launched in collaboration with the Art Institute, Chicago, for museum professionals. Under the annual internship programme, Indian museum personnel will get a chance to work at various departments of the Chicago museum. "This would allow hands-on experience to Indian museum professionals, who could apply their new skills successfully in the country," Selja added. IANS