The ‘Adopt A Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’, scheme launched on September 27, 2017 is a collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments and envisages development and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites and making them tourist friendly, to enhance tourism potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner. The project primarily focuses on providing basic amenities that include cleanliness, public conveniences, safe drinking water, and ease of access for tourists, signages, illumination, Wi-fi etc.
No fund is given by Ministry of Tourism. The Project envisages involvement of Private/Public Companies / Organizations and Individuals to adopt Monuments, Natural Heritage Sites and other Tourist Sites in the country, primarily under CSR. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed specifies installation of one signage at the monument indicating that monument has been adopted by respective firm/organization.
Providing basic facilities/amenities (e.g. drinking water, toilet blocks, facilities for physically challenged, pathways, cultural notice boards/signage, vehicle parking, cloak rooms, etc.) to tourists visiting centrally protected monuments and sites are the regular activities which the Archaeological Survey of India undertakes. Improvement and upgradation of these public facilities/amenities is a continuous process. Basic public facilities are available at all World Heritage Sites and ASI’s ticketed monuments, as also at majority of those protected monuments that are visited by a large numbers of tourists. Further, Archaeological Survey of India has identified 100 monuments as “Adarsh Smarak” for upgradation of existing facilities/amenities like Wi-Fi, cafeteria, interpretation centre, brail signage, modern toilets etc. on the basis of actual requirement and feasibility on case to case basis.
LIST OF MONUMENTS/SITES IDENTIFIED AND ADOPTED BY COMPANIES (MONUMENT-WISE, COMPANY-WISE AND STATE-WISE) UNDER THE ADOPT A HERITAGE: APNI DHAROHAR, APNI PEHCHAAN, PROJECT
The above information was given by Minister of State (independent charge) for Culture and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, in reply to an Unstarred Question in the Lok Sabha today.
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