New Delhi: Delhi cabinet has approved two research fellowship schemes to promote scientific study, documentation and digitisation of the capital’s vast archival and archaeological heritage under which selected researchers will receive monthly fellowships between Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.The archives research fellowship and archaeology research fellowship, okayed by the cabinet, are aimed to encourage research on Delhi’s history preserved in archives, manuscripts, archaeological sites and monuments, while making historical records more accessible to scholars and the public through systematic documentation and digitisation.Chief minister Rekha Gupta said Delhi is not only the national capital but also a living repository of thousands of years of history, culture and civilisation and the preservation of this legacy through scientific research was the govt’s priority so that it is made available to future generations.Under the archives research fellowship, govt will select 15 fellows every year for a one-year term. The programme will involve archival research, records management, preservation and conservation of archival material, digitisation of historical records and dissemination of archival information.The fellowship is open to researchers, archivists, historians, conservation specialists, linguists and heritage experts. Research areas will include archival science, microfilming and reprography, publications, records preservation and oriental languages, particularly Urdu and Persian.The archaeology research fellowship will support research on Delhi’s archaeological sites and monuments, with a focus on the history, archaeology, architecture and conservation of lesser-known heritage structures. A total of 12 fellows will be selected annually under the archaeology scheme, also for a one-year tenure, with fellows receiving a monthly stipend of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 depending on their category.“The two schemes will help create a pool of trained professionals in the fields of archives, archaeology and heritage conservation while encouraging evidence-based research on Delhi’s historical legacy,” said an official.Detailed operational guidelines including eligibility criteria, application procedures, selection process and other terms and conditions will be notified separately by the departments concerned. The fellowship programmes are expected to be launched soon after the guidelines are issued.
