Lok Sabha Question No. 2460 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Programmes Launched for Promotion of Indian Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Locket Chatterjee, Navneet Ravi Rana, Ramesh Chander Kaushik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2460

ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## PROGRAMMES LAUNCHED FOR PROMOTION OF INDIAN CULTURE

†2460.

SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU: MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE: SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA: SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of ancient heritage sites located across the country, particularly in Jammu district  of  Jammu and Kashmir, Sitamarhi and Bhagalpur districts of Bihar, Hugli in West Bengal, Amravati in Maharashtra and Sonipat in Haryana;
- (b) the details of steps being taken by the Government for protection and conservation of the Indian Culture across the country including Jammu, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Hugli, Amravati and Sonipat districts during the last five years;
- (c) the details of the programmes launched for promotion of Indian Culture and to increase the awareness about the same during the aforesaid period;
- (d) the State/UT-wise details of the funds released to various  Non-Governmental Organisations  in  Jammu  and  Kashmir,  Bihar,  Maharashtra  and  Haryana  including Jammu, Sitamarhi, Amravati, Sonipat and Bhagalpur districts;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government for maintenance and protection of the said heritage sites; and
- (f) the details of the funds allocated and spent during the last five years for this purpose?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  CULTURE,  TOURISM  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) There are 3697 ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains declared as of national importance in the country. The details of ancient monuments and archaeological  sites  and  remains  including  Jammu  district  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir (UT), Bhagalpur districts of Bihar, Hugli in West Bengal, Amravati in Maharashtra and Sonipat in Haryana are available on Archaeological Survey of India website https://asi.nic.in .

- (b) Conservation, preservation and maintenance of centrally protected ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains across the country, including Jammu, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Hugli, Amravati and Sonipat districts is a continuous process undertaken by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).   Providing basic amenities like drinking water, toilet  blocks,  facilities  for  physically  challenged,  pathways,  cultural  notice  boards, signage, parking, cloak rooms, etc. to the tourists visiting the monuments are regular activities which ASI undertakes, as per need, priority and resources.  Improvement and upgradation of these public amenities is a continuous process.
- (c) ASI  organizes  cultural  awareness  programmes  on  various  occasions  like  World Heritage  Day,  World  Heritage  Week,  International  Museums  Day,  Republic  Day, Independence  Day,  Gandhi  Jayanti,  etc.  through  exhibitions,  workshops  and  other programmes involving school & college students and general public.
- (d) There is no provision with ASI to release such fund for the said purpose to any NonGovernmental Organisation.
- (e) ASI  undertakes  regular  conservation,  preservation  and  maintenance  of  all  ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains declared as of national importance. For security,  watch  and  ward  is  provided  through  regular  MTS  personnel,  CISF  and private security.
- (f) The expenditure incurred on conservation, preservation and maintenance during the last five years is as under:

| Year    |   Expenditure (amount in crore) |
|---------|---------------------------------|
| 2018-19 |                          405.02 |
| 2019-20 |                          435.39 |
| 2020-21 |                          260.83 |
| 2021-22 |                          269.57 |
| 2022-23 |                          391.93 |

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