Leasing Out Heritage Monuments

What is the issue?

What is the Tourism Ministry's scheme?

The tourism ministry last year launched the 'Adopt a Heritage' scheme.
Objective - This was an attempt to increase public-private partnership in conservation and maintenance of heritage sites.
It invited private and public sector companies to become 'Monument Mitras'.
Services - The 'friends of monuments' will adopt heritage sites.
The CSR arms of the Monument Mitras will fund the maintenance and upkeep work.
They will develop basic and advanced amenities at the monuments.
Privileges - The Monument Mitras will be given "visibility" on the monument premises.
They will as well get visibility in the tourism ministry's Incredible India website.
Selection - Monument Mitras have been selected through “Vision Bidding”.
It is the process where agency with the best vision for the heritage site gets selected.

What are the checks in place?

The five-year contract can be terminated if the company does not comply with the ASI guidelines.
The legal status of the monument will not change after adoption.
The company will not collect any money from the public unless allowed by the government.
Also, profits, if any, will be used to maintain and upgrade tourism facilities.
An Oversight and Vision Committee will keep a watch.
It is co-chaired by the secretaries of Tourism and Culture, and with the D-G, ASI, as member.
Projects will be evaluated based on:

What are the notable adoptions?

Government-owned NBCC has adopted Purana Qila.
SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of state-owned SBI, has adopted the capital’s Jantar Mantar.
Yatra.com has Hampi, Qutub Minar, and Ajanta and Ellora caves.
GMR and ITC have submitted proposals for the Taj Mahal.
In all, 93 Archaeological Survey of India-ticketed monuments are open for bidding.
30 companies have been selected to “adopt” some of these sites.

What is the recent deal?

As per the MoU, the Dalmia Group will spend Rs 25 crore over the next 5 years.
It will be on the light and sound show, turnstile gates, app-based multi-lingual audio guide, free Wi-Fi.
Besides, a cafeteria and construction of ramps for differently-abled visitors (Tactile Paths) would also be taken up.
The Group will get the privilege of placing their name on signage inside the fort.

What is the significance of Red Fort?

In old times, taking control of the fort was considered a symbolic control of the country.
Thus, for long, the fort has been synonymous with the regime that ruled India.
The Red Fort is seen as a symbol of the country's freedom struggle.
The 1857 War of Independence was led by Bahadur Shah Zafar from the Red Fort.
That is why every prime minister has addressed the nation from its ramparts every August 15.
It is also a world heritage site, one of the three in Delhi.
The other two being Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar.

What are the concerns with leasing out?

Handing over a symbol of the freedom struggle to a corporate entity has raised concerns.
Allowing corporates to become managers of heritage sites raises doubts on credibility in heritage conservation.
Corporates will have only limited “access” to core areas.
Also, there will be “no handing over of monuments”.
Nevertheless, at the sites where there is no ASI involved, the external parties may be allowed to touch the building as well.

What should be done?

ASI has to be cautious in this regard.
It must monitor the process and progress of the maintenance and upkeep work.
India needs a uniform policy about heritage and heritage conservation.
Experts in the field of conservation, senior historians and archaeologists should be involved in formulating a scheme.

Source: Indian Express, Economic Times