New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS): To commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma Friday released Rs.20 crore to launch a portal, publish his selected works and modernise the Nehru Museum.

"A sum of Rs.20 crore has been released to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) this year for launching a Nehru portal on the lines of Gandhi heritage portal, publication of his selected works, renovation and modernisation of Nehru Museum and other activities of such nature," said Sharma in a statement from the ministry.

At the inaugural function of the year-long commemoration, Sharma elaborated on the "contributions of the first prime minister to independent India".

"Nehru's thrust for science and technology provided India with a respectable identity all over the world. He underlined the necessity to promote a scientific temperament among the people who only recently had the taste of independence," Sharma said.

"His vision of a modern India has been a source of inspiration across the generations," he added.

Union minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh was the chief guest at the function and, according to him, Nehru gave India a "modern identity".

"Nehru envisioned India not only in terms of a developed country but as a country which will lead other nations," said Singh.

Singh also launched the portal carrying a rich collection of oral, audio, visual and archival material.

Commemorative coins of denominations of Rs.5 and Rs.125 were also released to mark the occasion.