4 MoUs Signed under Adopt a Heritage Scheme

4 MoU are signed under Adopt a Heritage scheme & 6 more are at advanced stage- Ministry of Culture. Scheme, implemented by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture & Archaeological Survey of India, is reported to be making good progress. Around 31 more Adarsh Monuments are enlisted for coverage under scheme.

Adopt a Heritage

Details on 4 MoUs

  • Mount Stok Kangri Trek Route, Ladakh: MoU for adoption was signed b⟋w Ministry of Tourism, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) & state govt. of J&K.
  • Gangotri Temple Area & Trail to Gaumukh, Uttarakhand: MoU was signed b⟋w Ministry of Tourism, ATOAI & Uttarakhand Govt.
  • Red Fort, Delhi: MoU was signed b⟋w Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, ASI & Dalmia Bharat Limited.
  • Gandikota Fort, Andhra Pradesh: MoU was signed b⟋w Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, ASI & Dalmia Bharat Limited.

Objectives of Adopt a Heritage Project

  • Developing basic tourism infrastructure in & around heritage monuments & any other tourist sites.
  • Creating inclusive tourist experience for heritage site⟋monument or tourist site.
  • Promoting cultural & heritage value of country to generate livelihood for local communities living around identified heritage sites.
  • Enhancing tourist attractiveness in sustainable manner by developing world-class infrastructure at heritage site⟋monument or tourist site.
  • Creating employment thru active involvement of local communities.
  • Harnessing tourism potential for its effects in employment generation & economic development.
  • Developing sustainable tourism infrastructure & ensuring proper Operations & Maintenance therein.

Key Highlights of Adopt a Heritage

  • Develop synergy among all partners to effectively promote responsible tourism.
  • Involve public sector companies, private sector companies & corporate citizens⟋individuals to take up responsibility to make India՚s heritage & tourism more sustainable thru development, operation & maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure & amenities at ASI⟋State heritage sites & other imp. tourist sites.
  • Selected agency would become Monument Mitras thru innovative concept of “Vision Bidding” , where agency w⟋best vision for heritage site will be given opportunity to associate pride w⟋their CSR activities.
  • They would get limited visibility in premises & Incredible India website. Aim is to enhance enhancement of tourist experience & promote incredible heritage sites, in order to bring them on tourism map.
  • Govt. has carried out Critical Gap analysis in respect of heritage monuments of importance & has identified public conveniences & civic amenities that can be provided in these monuments w⟋involvement of corporate sector & PSUs under CSR activities to enhance visitor experience.
Monument Mitra

Project Focuses to Provide

  • Basic amenities such as public conveniences, drinking water, cleanliness, ease of access for differently abled & senior citizens, standardised signage & illumination.
  • Advanced amenities such as surveillance system, night viewing facilities & tourism facilitation center.
  • Enhanced tourism experience that will result in more tourist footfall, both domestic & foreign.

Adopt Heritage Project

  • Project is key initiative of Ministry of Tourism in close collaboration w⟋Ministry of Culture & Archeological Survey of India (ASI) , to develop heritage sites & monuments & make them tourist-friendly to enhance tourism potential & their cultural importance in planned & phased manner.
  • Several agencies including public, private, individuals, schools & law firms have come forward to adopt heritage moments falling under project.
  • Under project total of 31 agencies are approved, so far, to adopt total of 95 monuments located across India.

Monuments Identified under Project

  • While list of active projects for adoption under Phase I included 14, Phase II included 22 & Phase III included 20.
  • List of heritage sites will get amended in further phases of project.

Monument Mitra

  • Successful bidders selected for adopting heritage sites⟋monuments by Oversight & Vision Committee shall be called as Monument Mitras.
  • MoU will be signed b⟋w Monument Mitra, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India & concerned stakeholder from state.

Examrace Team at Aug 21, 2021