ADOPT A HERITAGE SCHEME - ART AND CULTURE

News: A thumbs down for the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme

 

What's in the news?

       Private firms, companies, and public sector units can enter into agreements with the Union Ministry of Culture to adopt and maintain State-owned archaeological sites or monuments.

 

Key takeaways:

       The central government is eager that this scheme, which began in February, leads to the adoption of 500 protected sites by August 15, and the adoption of another 500 sites shortly thereafter.

       This number represents a tenfold increase in the number of sites being brought under the ambit of the controversial ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme of 2017.

 

Revamped Scheme:

       The government has set the target to hand over 500 sites under the revamped Monument Mitra scheme by the end of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on 15th August 2023.

       The revamped scheme would be based on the Corporate Social Responsibility model and a new website having the names of all the heritage sites, would also be launched.

       The Culture Ministry would be projecting India as a “cultural superpower” during the year-long presidency of the G20.

 

Monument Mitra Scheme (Adopt a Heritage Programme):

       It envisages developing monuments, heritage and tourist sites across India and making them tourist friendly and enhancing their tourism potential and cultural importance in planned and phased manner.

       It was launched in 2017.

 

Objective:

       Developing basic tourism infrastructure in and around heritage sites, monuments, natural sites and tourist sites.

       Develop facilities and amenities to improve the tourist experience at heritage sites, monuments, natural sites and tourist sites.

       Promote cultural and heritage value of the country and develop avenues to create awareness about the heritage/natural/tourist sites in the country.

       Develop and promote sustainable tourism infrastructure and ensure proper operations and maintenance therein.

       Develop employment opportunities and support livelihoods of local communities at the heritage, natural and tourist sites.

 

Features:

       Under it, Private, Public Sector Companies and Corporate individuals were invited to adopt heritage sites and to take up responsibility for making them and promote sustainable tourism through conservation and development under their CSR activities.

 

Administrative Control: Archeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture.

 

Monument Mitras:

Successful bidders selected for adopting heritage, natural, tourist sites/ monuments by the Oversight and Vision Committee shall be called Monument Mitras.