If you have been on a clean-up spree, sprucing up your homes before Diwali; museums in Kolkata too have been on a cleaning overdrive.
Kolkata museums have taken part in the clean-up mission as part of the central government’s Special Campaign 2.0.
The Special Campaign 2.0 was launched to promote organised cleaning, tightening record management, digitally or physically; training employees and more to make visitor experiences pleasant.
My Kolkata checked out what some museums in Kolkata have been doing to clean up their respective campuses.
Before and after cleaning BITM
Birla Industrial and Technological Museum
The much-loved museum, which is a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, undertook cleaning of the outdoor exhibition spaces, pathways and passages open to visitors, indoor laboratories and office spaces. Apart from thorough cleaning, weeding out of old files was also taken up by the administration section.
Subhabrata Chaudhuri, director, Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, Kolkata said, “The Special Campaign 2.0 reiterates the importance of timely disposal of references and a clean workspace. Located in a building of historic importance, cleanliness has always been our priority to maintain the aesthetics of the iconic structure and facilitate our visitors and ensure the well-being of our staff.’’
“The Special Campaign 2.0 will also encourage regular maintenance and ensure that the message of timeliness, cleanliness and upkeep permeates loud and clear to all,’’ he added.
Cleanliness drive at Science City Science City
Science City
Whether you go to see the showcased "template" of dinosaurs or understand the laws of physics through the various interactive installations, Science City, a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, has always been a favourite place for the young and the old. The 25-year-old institution has been working for long towards attaining sustainable practices. Another feather in the cap is the implementation of the Special Campaign 2.0. The clean convention centre, the seminar hall’s rear end and the basement of the main auditorium ensures that the campus is now truly clean even in areas which are usually overlooked.
Director of Science City, Anurag Kumar, said, “This programme was initiated by the Government of India and we (Science City) have been a part of it on both the occasions. We included multiple locations in the campaign. Apart from cleaning, weeding out of old files was high on our agenda. In the basement area under the main auditorium, a lot of scrap had occupied around 700 sq. ft of space. In the garden, an area around the water body was badly impacted by Amphan and during the pandemic we could not clean up the mess. Thanks to the campaign, we have now ‘reclaimed’ the area and are fencing it off. It can be utilised for picnics etc.’’
Cleaning underway at Victoria Memorial Hall Victoria Memorial
Victoria Memorial Hall
The authorities of the century-old Victoria Memorial took an active part in the campaign. They cleared off spaces which are usually left out. Cleaning the space not only gives the museum an aesthetic look but is also a crucial step towards organised maintenance of the premises. The record room, basement, unused gallery spaces, roofs, gates and other areas came under the ambit of the (cleanliness) campaign.