The ‘Adopt a Heritage: ApniDharohar, ApniPehchaan’ scheme is a program initiated by the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India. The scheme was launched on World Tourism Day in 2017, and its aim is to promote the cultural and heritage significance of India and create awareness about them. Under this scheme, public and private sector enterprises can acquire top heritage areas of India and enhance tourism activities there.
Selection of Monuments and Objectives of the Scheme
The sites/monuments are selected on the basis of tourist footfall and visibility and can be adopted by private and public sector companies and individuals known as Monument Mitras, for an initial period of five years.
The main objectives of the scheme are the development of basic tourism infrastructure in and around historic sites, monuments, natural sites, and tourist attractions, enhancing tourism experience by developing facilities and amenities at historic sites, monuments, natural sites, and tourist attractions, and creating awareness about India’s cultural and heritage significance.
Advantages of Adopt a Heritage Scheme
One of the advantages of the Adopt a Heritage Scheme is that corporate control of some monuments and heritage sites ensures that their maintenance and operations can be handled more professionally. This facilitates sustainable tourism infrastructure and ensures proper operation and maintenance within it.
An agency with the best vision for the heritage site will be given an opportunity to associate pride with their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. The company would also get limited visibility on the premises and the Incredible India website, thereby creating employment opportunities and supporting community livelihoods in and around historic, natural, and tourist destinations.
Challenges Involved
One of the challenges involved in the Adopt a Heritage Scheme is that it may undermine local communities and their relationships with historical sites. It is essential to retain the ethical values of the monuments while doing the beautification and conservation. There are some monuments selected for the scheme that are not protected by the ASI and are in states without Archaeology Directorates.
In this case, businesses that sign agreements with the Union Ministry of Culture to adopt these monuments will be able to alter their historical character without much opposition. Monitoring of progress on various development initiatives undertaken by adopters is also essential.
Suggestions
Conservation activities must be ensured to be carried out by professionals only. Industrial houses can support the meaningful conservation of heritage buildings by using their CSR funds to purchase new equipment that releases fewer noxious gases that darken and corrode marble buildings and discharge fewer effluents into rivers.
Monument Mitras can help citizens understand why monuments matter by earmarking CSR funds for grants for researching, writing, and publishing high-quality textbooks and developing imaginative ideas.
Case Study: Dalmia Bharat Group’s Contribution to the Red Fort
The Dalmia Bharat Group has developed the Red Fort and set up a museum, a sound, and light show inside the 17th-century monument to narrate its history to visitors. The company has spent over Rs. 5 crore to conserve and maintain the monument under the Adopt a Heritage Scheme. The company’s efforts have included:
- Setting up a museum that showcases the fort’s history and its significance.
- Setting up a sound and light show that narrates the fort’s history to visitors.
- Cleaning up the fort and its surroundings.
- Restoring the fort’s fountains and gardens.
- Setting up information boards that provide information about the fort’s history and significance.
MCQs on Advantages and Challenges of Adopt a Heritage Scheme in India
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What is the Adopt a Heritage Scheme?
A. An initiative of the Ministry of Tourism to acquire top heritage areas of India and enhance tourism activities there.
B. A scheme launched by Dalmia Bharat Group to develop the Red Fort and set up a museum as well as a sound and light show inside the 17th-century monument.
C. An initiative of the Ministry of Culture to promote the cultural and heritage significance of the country and create awareness about them.
D. A scheme launched by the Archaeological Survey of India to maintain and conserve heritage sites in the country.
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What are the objectives of the Adopt a Heritage Scheme?
A. Development of basic tourism infrastructure, enhancing tourism experience, promoting the cultural and heritage significance of the country.
B. Facilitating sustainable tourism infrastructure and ensuring proper operation and maintenance.
C. Creating employment opportunities and supporting community livelihoods in and around historic, natural, and tourist destinations.
D. All of the above.
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What are some challenges involved in the Adopt a Heritage Scheme?
A. Undermining local communities and their relationships with historical sites, monitoring of progress on various development initiatives undertaken by adopters.
B. Retaining the ethical values of the monuments while doing the beautification and conservation.
C. Some monuments selected for the scheme are not protected by the ASI and are in states without Archaeology Directorates.
D. All of the above.
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