Context

In a view to conserve the cultural heritage in the country, the government aims to include ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) for business in India.

Background

• The President of India launched the Adopt a Heritage Scheme on World Tourism Day i.e., 27th September 2017.
• The scheme will allow private and public sector corporations to adopt most of India’s top heritage sites and improve tourism in such sites.
• It is clarified that ‘The Adopt a Heritage’ is essentially a non-revenue generating project.

The agency will be selected on the basis of the unique concept of vision bid and no financial bid is involved in the scheme.

About the scheme:

• Private firms, companies, and public sector units can enter into agreements with the Union Ministry of Culture to adopt and maintain State-owned archaeological sites or
• Businesses that enter such agreements are going to be known as Monument Mitras.
• The scheme can lead to the adoption of 500 protected sites by August 15 2023, and the adoption of another 500 sites shortly thereafter.
• Fund allocation: Businesses may use their Corporate Social Responsibility funds at select sites to construct and maintain ticket offices, restaurants, museums, interpretation centres, toilets, and walkways.
• The Ministry of Tourism has the power of termination of MoU of Monument Mitras in case of noncompliance of guidelines and expression of interest (EoI), or any other reason of non-performance.