With digitisation of coins currently going on, the work of the main curator is being handled by an assistant staffer.
The National Museum in the Capital suffers from a shortage of staff at all junior and senior levels and of these, the most important vacancy has existed since the last two years when the only 'Numismatist' (currency collector and expert, especially coins), retired from the post. With digitisation of coins currently going on, the work of the main curator is being handled by an assistant staffer.
In a recently answered question in the Lok Sabha on the shortage of staff, Mahesh Sharma, Minister for Culture, revealed that almost all the departments and museums under the ministry are facing a staff shortage. The National Museum, for instance, needs 268 people on its staff and there are only 139, an almost 50 per cent scarcity. Dr R K Tiwari, deputy curator, retired in 2016, and the museum has failed to find someone since then.
"The charges of the curator are currently being handled by the assistant curator. The tenders were filed last year and we are hopeful of getting a numismatist. With all these exhibitions in the pipeline, there is a dire need of the curator here," said a senior CPIO at the museum, on the condition of anonymity.
With over 1,30,000 coins in its reserve, the museum is currently in the process of digitisation. Over 50,000 coins have been digitised in the last two years. The National Museum, in its reserve, has some of the rarest coins, ranging from sixth century BC, when coins are believed to have first appeared in the country.
Looking at the shortage in all of the archaeology departments, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has announced to soon start a government recognised post-graduation course to provide training in archaeology, which also includes expertise in Numismatics, Conservation, and Heritage Management. This National Institute of Archaeology will soon be established in Greater Noida to provide higher education in the subject.
To Meet Shortage
- Looking at the shortage in all the departments, the ASI has announced to start a government recognised post-graduation course soon.
- It will provide training in archaeology, which also includes expertise in Numismatics, Conservation, and Heritage Management.
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