Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Archives will focus on digitisation of paper records.

"The crucial documents need to be preserved. Over six lakh records in shape of volumes, loose sheets, files, old gazettes, maps and newspapers housed in the archives would be conserved. These records pertain to the period since 1803. They even include the rule of records of mapping of the state," said institute head Suchismita Mantri.

They contain the most valuable information on the history of formation of modern Odisha such as the freedom struggle, creation of Odisha province, natural calamities, first settlement in the state and account of the social customs prevailing during the earlier time such as sati and human sacrifice. The records also include documents from the pre-Independence era.

The records will also be micro-filmed. The medium has a life expectancy of hundreds of years.

"The cost of maintaining microfilm is small compared with that of digital images," said Mantri.

A delegation, led by National Archives director-general Pritam Singh, visited the site and discussed various programme implementations.

"They expressed satisfaction over the ongoing projects in addition to the smooth running of library and the record centre. The team promised to provide more central grant under their head for such activities in the archives," she said.