Lok Sabha Question No. 85 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Monument Mitra Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.85 ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## MONUMENT MITRA SCHEME

85. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- Monument  Mitra Scheme to adopt heritage sites and maintain them to enable private firms  to  become  partners  in  upkeeping  about  one  thousand  ASI monuments  in  the  country  under  the  revamped  Monument  Mitra
- (a) Whether the Government has introduced the scheme; and
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and the present status thereof, State-wise?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                                   (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a):  Yes,  Sir.  The  'Adopt  a  Heritage: Apni  Dharohar,  Apni  Pehchan'  was initially launched on 27.09.2017 by the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration  with  the  Ministry  of  Culture  and  Archaeological  Survey  of India  (ASI)  and  various  States/UTs  Governments  wherein  the  entities, called Monument Mitras were permitted to engage in activities in order to provide and maintain basic tourist amenities. Now, a revamped version of the  program  exclusively  for  Centrally  Protected  Monuments  (CPMs)  is envisioned wherein ASI envisages creating a framework for engaging with the private/public sector companies to develop/provide group of amenities at CPMs through CSR funds to enhance visitor's experience with a view to make them visitor friendly. This revamped version titled 'Adopt A Heritage Program 2.0' was launched on 04.09.2023 by the Union Minister of Culture wherein the entities, now called Smaraka Saarathi and Smaraka Saathi for that matter according to the nature of their participation, are permitted to engage in non-conservational activities viz., cleaning of  monument premises,  besides  to  provide  and  maintain  basic  tourist  amenities  like washroom, drinking water, child care room, benches, pathways, garbage bins,  signage,  SeL  shows,  illumination,  etc.  under  the  guidance  and  due consultation with ASI.

(b): The  entire  process  of  identification,  application  and  adoption  of CPMs  as  well  as  selection  of  these  entities became  completely  online through a dedicated portal maintaining the utmost fairness and transparency. However, the work related to archaeological conservation and preservation of CPMs was exclusively attended by the experts of ASI only under their own allotted budget. State-wise list of 23 MoUs signed under Adopt a Heritage Project for  monuments/sites  under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India with various Monument Mitras,  transferred  by  Ministry  of  Tourism  to  Ministry  of  Culture  is  at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN REPLY TO PART (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.85  ANSWERED  ON  04.12.2023  REGARDING    MONUMENT MITRA SCHEME BY SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU

## MONUMENT MITRA SCHEME

## List of 23 Memorandum of Understandings (MoU's) transferred to Ministry of Culture.

|   Sl. No. | Name of Site                                                               | State/ UT                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Name of Agency (Monument Mitra)                           |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Red Fort                                                                   | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Dalmia Bharat Ltd.                                        |
|         2 | Gandikota Fort                                                             | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Dalmia Bharat Ltd.                                        |
|         3 | Surajkund                                                                  | Haryana                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Bliss Inn (India) Pvt. Ltd. (V-Resorts)                   |
|         4 | Jantar Mantar                                                              | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels (P) Ltd.                    |
|         5 | Ajanta Caves                                                               | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                    |
|         6 | Qutub Minar                                                                | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                    |
|         7 | Hampi & Hazara Rama Temple                                                 | Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                    |
|         8 | Leh Palace                                                                 | Leh                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                    |
|         9 | Development of Multi- Lingual Audio Guide for Iconic Sites (ASI Monuments) | i. Dholavira, Gujarat ii. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi iii. Red Fort, Delhi iv. Purana Quila, Delhi v. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, UP vi. Taj Mahal, Agra, UP vii. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu viii. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh | Resbird Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Bird Heritage Foundation) |
|        10 | Abdur Rahim Khan -i- Khana                                                 | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Interglobe Foundation                                     |
|        11 | Bekal Fort                                                                 | Kerala                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Drishti                                                   |

|    |                                        |           | Lifesaving Pvt. Ltd.                                                |
|----|----------------------------------------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12 | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat   | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                            |
| 13 | Rani ki Vav, Patan                     | Gujarat   | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                            |
| 14 | Sun Temple, Modhera                    | Gujarat   | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                            |
| 15 | Buddhist Caves, Uparkot, Junagadh      | Gujarat   | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                            |
| 16 | Aguada Fort                            | Goa       | Drishti Lifesaving Pvt. Ltd.                                        |
| 17 | Krishna Temple, Hampi                  | Karnataka | Heritage Resorts, Hampi (A unit of Indo Asia Leisure Services Ltd.) |
| 18 | Elephanta Stables, Hampi               | Karnataka | Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd.                                 |
| 19 | Pattabhirama Temple, Hampi             | Karnataka | Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd.                                 |
| 20 | Zenana Enslosure (Lotus Mahal), Hampi  | Karnataka | Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd.                                 |
| 21 | Ugra Narsimha Temple, Hampi            | Karnataka | Hotel Malligi Pvt. Ltd.                                             |
| 22 | Badavilinga Temple, Hampi              | Karnataka | Hotel Malligi Pvt. Ltd.                                             |
| 23 | Mandore Fort                           | Rajasthan | Mehrangarh Museum Trust                                             |

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