Lok Sabha Question No. 553 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Corporate Engagement in ‘Adopt A Heritage’ Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.553 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT IN 'ADOPT A HERITAGE' SCHEME

## 553.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of corporate engagement with the Government's 'Adopt A Heritage' Scheme, region-wise;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to ensure higher engagement of private entities with the scheme;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  ensure  that  highquality standards are maintained by private entities that will own monume nts  under  the  'Adopt  a  Heritage'  Scheme  and  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- whether  the  Government  has  safeguards  in  place  to  protect archaeological excavation  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons
- (d) monument grounds that have potential for therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government has ensured the high-quality maintenance of  monuments  not  adopted  by  'Monument  Mitras'  and  if  so,  the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism launched the 'Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar,  Apni  Pehchaan'  project  for  developing tourism  amenities  at heritage/natural/tourist sites spread across India for making them tourist friendly,  in  a  planned  and  phased  manner.  Under  the  project,  29 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were awarded to 15 Monument Mitras for twenty-seven (27) sites and two (2) Technological interventions  across  India.  In  July,  2022,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism transferred  23  Memorandum  of  Understandings  (MoUs)  to  Ministry  of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which were pertaining to  ASI  monuments  and  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  continuing  with  the remaining 6 MoUs, the details of which is at Annexure-I.  Archaeological Survey of India has informed that engagement with corporate stakeholders has taken place/ongoing under 4 MoUs at various Centrally

Protected Monuments as per details at Annexure-II. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  collaborating  with  the  States/UTs  and  the Monument  Mitras  for  ensuring  higher  engagement  in  adoption  of  the monuments  at  the  tourist  sites  under  the  project.  In  order  to  ensure quality  and  standards  in  development  of  the  tourist  amenities  at  the tourist  sites  adopted  by  a  Monument  Mitra,  the  project  guidelines envisage  a  management  structure  to  select  and  shortlist  Monument Mitras,  provide  approval  to  proposals,  monitor  the  project  process  at regular intervals and to ensure corrections in implementation.  Further, Archaeological  Survey  of  India  has  informed  that  revamped  version  of Ministry of Culture/Archaeological Survey of India exclusively for Centrally Protected Monuments titled a s  'Adopt  a  Heritage  Programme 2.0 '  is  envisioned ,  wherein  keeping  in  view  the  feasibility  and  actual requirement, a detailed analysis of amenities for creating a framework for engaging with the private / public sector companies has been done. Under ' Adopt a Heritage Programme 2.0', the role of Monument Mitra is limited to develop, provide and maintain amenities at Centrally Protected Monuments following the best practices involving the latest technologies and best solution and a monitoring mechanism is stipulated under programme to ensure quality standards.

Archaeological Survey of India maintains ancient monuments and sites of national importance as per the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 and rules 1959 made there under.      Archaeological  Survey  of  India  focuses  on  all  the  Centrally Protected Monuments (CPMS) and regular maintenance of the same in the form of archaeological conservation and preservation & provisions of amenities has been taken up as and when needed.

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ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 553 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023 REGARDING CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT IN 'ADOPT A HERITAGE' SCHEME .

List  of  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  awarded to  Monument Mitras

|   SN | Name of Tourist Site                                       | State/ UT                                                                                          | Monument Mitra                                                                   |
|------|------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Gangotri Temple Area & Trail to Gaumukh                    | Uttrakhand                                                                                         | Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)                            |
|    2 | Gol Gumbad                                                 | Delhi                                                                                              | Resbird Technologies Pvt. Ltd.                                                   |
|    3 | Bara Lao ka Gumbad                                         | Delhi                                                                                              | Bird Heritage Foundation                                                         |
|    4 | Development of Multilingual Audio Guide for 4 Iconic Sites | i. Amer Fort, Rajasthan ii. Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar iii. Chandni Chowk, Delhi iv. Somnath, Gujarat | Resbird Technologies Pvt. Ltd.                                                   |
|    5 | Dara Shikoh Library                                        | Delhi                                                                                              | The Art And Cultural Heritage Trust (TAACHT) and Museum & Arts Consultancy (MAC) |
|    6 | Narayankoti Temple                                         | Uttarakhand                                                                                        | Socio-Legal Research and Education (SLRE) Foundation                             |

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ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.553 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023 REGARDING CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT IN 'ADOPT A HERITAGE' SCHEME .

Details of Centrally Protected Monuments where engagement is ongoing as per MoUs under 'Adopt A Heritage' scheme

|   Sl. No. | Name of Site                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | State/UT   | Name of Agency                                                   |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Development of Multi- lingual Audio Guide for 8 CPMS i. Dholavira, Gujarat ii. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi iii. Red Fort, Delhi iv. Purana Quila, Delhi v. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra vi. Taj Mahal, Agra vii. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu viii. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh | ----       | Resbird Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Now 'Bir d Heritage Foundation') |
|         2 | Qutub Minar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Delhi      | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                           |
|         3 | Jantar Mantar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Delhi      | Park Hotels (P) Ltd.                                             |
|         4 | Red Fort                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Delhi      | Dalmia Bharat Ltd.                                               |

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