The Network : The Mission has established an extensive network of Manuscript Resource Centres, Manuscript Conservation Centres and Manuscript Partner Centres from among existing institutions around the country. Through this network, the Mission hopes to leave no stone unturned to locate every manuscript in India and document them. Many of these fine institutions are themselves significant repositories of manuscripts. MRCs document their own collections and conduct surveys for collections in and around their areas/districts. MPCs mainly look after the documentation of their own collections. MCCs look after conservation of manuscripts. The Mission provides all with some funds, facilities and organizes training for personnel in some instances.

The Approach : Through a combination of programmes launched by individual MRCs or MCCs as well as programmes by NMM Office, the Mission seeks to combine regional specific approaches with a broader based, national approach. One such programme is that of Surveys. While MRCs and MCCs conduct smaller surveys in their districts and surrounding areas, the NMM Office organizes huge census-like National Surveys with help from the State governments, district officials and local partner institutions .

Capacity-Building : In order to ensure that manuscripts have a future and that the knowledge contained in them is tapped, the Mission organizes intensive two to three-week Manuscriptology and Paleography workshops in which personnel from different institutes as well as students and research scholars learn the nuances of different scripts and languages. As many scripts and languages in which manuscripts were written are today dying, this training is crucial. Already 300 persons have been trained in four workshops. This year, in addition to the general Basic course, there will also be advance-level courses for select participants from the Basic course to enable them. The Mission also provides considerable training in preventive conservation. With over twenty workshops held and about 500 persons trained, the Mission seeks to ensure that there is a pool of persons who can conserve manuscripts in their care or in the care of others.

Conservation : As most of India 's manuscripts are in extremely poor condition, the Mission 's strategy for conservation is of the utmost importance. In addition to the work done by the MCCs, the Mission has also released guidelines for manuscript conservation as well as a document on the Mission standards for manuscript conservation. At present, the Mission is creating a central team of conservators who will assess the state of conservation laboratories at the MCCs and other institutions to standardize conditions and materials, and render training and other kinds of assistance. Through a combination of training on conservation, reorganization of storage of important collections, actual conservation both preventive and curative, the Mission seeks to conserve manuscripts.

Outreach : The Mission feels that without active public participation the movement to save India 's manuscripts and heritage at large will fail. Therefore, to enlist their support and active participation, the Mission initiates lecture series, cultural performances, seminars and media campaigns among other events. The Mission has also, this year, initiated two programmes for school children and college-university students.

Publication : In order to disseminate the knowledge contained in India 's manuscripts and to encourage more people to read and use this knowledge, the Mission has initiated a publication programme to publish rare and valuable manuscripts and books by experts on different aspects of manuscripts as well as a bi-monthly newsletter, Kriti Rakshana.