T’puram: The Union ministry of culture and tourism has given funds to set up only one new museum in the state in the last five years, while applications for seven museums are pending.The new museum, set up with a funding of Rs 2 crore, is a ‘mind museum’ run by an NGO in Vellanad, Thiruvananthapuram.In contrast, five museums in Tamil Nadu and four in Andhra Pradesh received funding.The revelation came in a reply by Union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to a question in Lok Sabha. The minister added that applications from Kerala for setting up or for developing existing museums remain pending.The pending grant applications include proposals for a new state assembly museum; a ‘National Museum for Performing Arts’ at Varkala; museums by Gandhi Seva Sadanam Kathakali and Classical Arts Academy in Palakkad, Aranmula Heritage Trust and Art Outreach Society; and a photography museum. A proposal has also been submitted to develop the existing museum at Krishnapuram Palace in Kayamkulam.The Union minister said that of these, three proposals including the one filed by Vision Varkala Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd had deficiencies. These issues were communicated to the applicants but there was no response, Shekhawat said. The photography museum proposal was not accepted by the expert committee.The ministry operates Museum Grant Scheme, under which financial assistance is provided for setting up new museums, developing existing museums, digitising museum collections, establishing virtual museums and training museum professionals. The scheme covers museums managed by central and state govts, societies, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings, local bodies, academic institutions and trusts registered under Societies Act at the regional, state and district levels across the country.
