Developing indigenous knowledge databases in India

The paper seeks to reflect the information environment with emphasis on indigenous science and technology knowledge requirement in developing countries, particularly India.

Indigenous scientific/technical knowledge functions as a critical national resource for any developing country. Literature reflects need and provision of database services that can cater to indigenous knowledge.

The paper discusses nationally developed databases, various aspects related to initiation and creation of these databases in India. The objectives behind development of such databases and some factors such as indigenous knowledge need, strategic culture, managerial capability, technological thrust and organizational interest responsible for developing databases in India are highlighted. Other features such as quality assessment control and network‐based indigenous knowledge database access and information delivery are discussed. Current indigenous knowledge database activities, efforts of NISCAIR and NISSAT, are highlighted along with promotion and marketing of indigenous knowledge databases. Constraints to indigenous knowledge development in India are discussed. Some guidelines are given to keep balance in the collection and distribution of indigenous knowledge in the developing countries. The paper concludes with the idea of pacing in the right direction for developing balanced and information service‐oriented indigenous knowledge system.

The paper gives an overview of indigenous knowledge database development in India and is useful for librarians to discern the gradual change towards indigenous knowledge storage and to find out the information centers on a national level which can be helpful in indigenous knowledge database development in India.