Lok Sabha Question No. 1727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Accessibility of Heritage Sites to Differently-abled Persons
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Bellana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1727 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020

## ACCESSIBILITY OF HERITAGE SITES TO DIFFERENTLY-ABLED PERSONS

## 1727. SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state :

- a)  whether  the  country  has  38  UNESCO  World  Heritage  Sites  from  which  30  are cultural sites, 7 are natural sites and 1 is a mixed site which makes India a home of World Heritage sites and if so, the details thereof;
- b)  whether the Government is contemplating to make these heritage sites accessible to  differently-abled  persons  which  will  further  strengthen  the  country's  rank  in upcoming editions of the Travel  Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) and also establishing the country as a leading model  of accessibility planning  and implementation in the South Asian Region;
- c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard;
- d)  whether the Government proposes to improve infrastructure in present museums and  art  galleries  for  differently-abled  persons  rather  than  building  separate  art galleries  or  sections  at  museums  to  meet  the  needs  of  such  persons  with disabilities; and
- e)  the  efforts  made  to  develop  inclusive  cultural  spaces,  technologies  and  learning programmes to encourage the participation of differently-abled persons?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a) Yes Sir, India has 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, out of which, 30 are cultural sites, 07 are natural and 01 is a mixed site. The list of world heritage sites is annexed at Annexure-I.
- (b) & (c)Yes Sir, arrangements have been made at most of the World Heritage Sites under  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  to  make  these  sites  accessible  to  differentlyabled persons by providing wheel chairs, ramps, Braile cultural notice boards, etc.

(d) & (e) Visit of differently abled persons is facilitated at museums and art-galleries by  way  of  providing  wheel  chairs,  ramps,  signages  and  brochures  in  Braille.  In addition,  special  section  'Anubhuti'  with  tactile/brail  enabled  narrative  has  been installed at National Museum, Delhi.

ANNEXURE-I

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1727 FOR DATED 02.03.2020

## WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA (38)

CULTURAL SITES:

## Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India (22)

|   S. No | Name of Site                                                                                                                                                                                            | State          |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
|       1 | Agra Fort (1983)                                                                                                                                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh  |
|       2 | Ajanta Caves (1983)                                                                                                                                                                                     | Maharashtra    |
|       3 | Ellora Caves (1983)                                                                                                                                                                                     | Maharashtra    |
|       4 | Taj Mahal (1983)                                                                                                                                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh  |
|       5 | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)                                                                                                                                                              | Tamil Nadu     |
|       6 | Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)                                                                                                                                                                              | Odisha         |
|       7 | Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)                                                                                                                                                                     | Goa            |
|       8 | Fatehpur Sikri (1986)                                                                                                                                                                                   | Uttar Pradesh  |
|       9 | Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)                                                                                                                                                                      | Karnataka      |
|      10 | Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986)                                                                                                                                                                      | Madhya Pradesh |
|      11 | Elephanta Caves ( 1987)                                                                                                                                                                                 | Maharashtra    |
|      12 | Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004)                                                                                                              | Tamil Nadu     |
|      13 | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)                                                                                                                                                                 | Karnataka      |
|      14 | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)                                                                                                                                                                     | Madhya Pradesh |
|      15 | Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)                                                                                                                                                                            | Delhi          |
|      16 | Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)                                                                                                                                                              | Delhi          |
|      17 | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)                                                                                                                                                                       | Madhya Pradesh |
|      18 | Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004)                                                                                                                                                           | Gujarat        |
|      19 | Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007)                                                                                                                                                                          | Delhi          |
|      20 | Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (2013) (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums) | Rajasthan      |
|      21 | Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen's Stepwell) at Patan (2014)                                                                                                                                                      | Gujarat        |
|      22 | Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda (2016)                                                                                                                        | Bihar          |

## Under Protection of Ministry of Railways (2)

|   23. | Mountain Railways of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka- Shimla(2008)   | West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh   |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
|    24 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)                     | Maharashtra                                 |

## Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (1)

- 25 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002)

Bihar

## Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums   (1)

26. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

Rajasthan

## Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration (1)

27. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the  Modern Movement (2016)

Chandigarh

## Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation  (1)

28. Historic City of Ahmedabad  (2017)

Gujarat

## Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation (1)

29.

Victorian

and

Art

Deco

Ensemble

of

Mumbai (2018)

Govt of Maharashtra

## Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (1)

30. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)

Govt of Rajasthan

## NATURAL SITES: (7)

## Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

|   31. | Kaziranga National Park (1985)                               | Assam                                     |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|    32 | Keoladeo National Park (1985)                                | Rajasthan                                 |
|    33 | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)                              | Assam                                     |
|    34 | Sunderbans National Park (1987)                              | West Bengal                               |
|    35 | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) | Uttarakhand                               |
|    36 | Western Ghats (2012)                                         | Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu |
|    37 | Great Himalayan National Park (2014)                         | Himachal Pradesh                          |

## MIXED SITE: (1)

## Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

| 38.   | Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)   | Sikkim   |
|-------|----------------------------------------|----------|