29-Nov-2021: A searchable digital repository developed by M/o Tribal Affairs to preserve and promote rich tribal cultural heritage

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is administrating the schemes of “Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)” and “Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution” for promotion of tribal education. Total 740 EMRS schools have been proposed, one in every block having ST population of 20000 or more and with 50% tribal persons. These schools will provide quality education to tribal students in their own environment besides having special facilities for preserving local art and culture, training in sports and skill development.

Further under the schemes of “Support of Tribal Research Institute” and “Tribal Festival, Research, Information and Mass Education” various activities are undertaken preserve and promote tribal culture as detailed below:

1. Research studies/publication of books/documentation including audio visual documentaries on promotion of rich tribal cultural heritage. The details of these projects sanctioned can be seen at website of Ministry (tribal.gov.in)
2. Tribal cultural exchange programmes
3. Research and documentation of Indigenous practices by tribal healers and medicinal plants, Adivasi Languages, agriculture system, dances and paintings etc.
4. To acknowledge the heroic and patriotic deeds of tribal people, Ministry has sanctioned setting up 10 Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum. These museums will also exhibit rich tribal cultural heritage of the region.
5. To preserve and promote rich tribal cultural heritage and also to create awareness among others, a searchable digital repository viz. Tribal Digital Document repository (https://repository.tribal.gov.in/) and Tribal Repository (https://tribal.nic.in/repository/) have been developed where all research papers, books, reports and documents, folks songs, photos/videos with their metadata are uploaded. The tribal repository currently has more than 10,000 photographs, videos and publications which are mostly done by TRIs.
6. Development of bilingual Primers for preservation of tribal languages and enhancement of learning achievement level amongst the Scheduled Tribe Students. Many language primers have been developed by various State Governments.
7. Ministry gives funding to TRIFED for organizing Adi Mahotsav festival. State level festivals like Hornbill festival of Nagaland, Pawl-kut festival of Mizoram, Medaram Jatara of Telangana are funded through TRI. Tribal craft melas, painting competitions and festivals are being organised to promote tribal culture. Details can be seen at Adi-Prasaran portal (https://adiprasaran.tribal.gov.in/).

27 Tribal Research Institutes (TRI) have been set up across country with an objective to act as a think tank and become repository of information on tribal communities.

16-Mar-2021: The 28th MoU under the “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” project has been awarded for Dara Shikoh Library Building

The 28th MoU under the “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan”  project has been awarded on 15th March 2021 for Dara Shikoh Library Building, Delhi. The project will be implemented by the government stakeholders including  Ministry of Tourism Government of India ; Art, Culture & Language Department (through The Department Of Archaeology) Government Of National Capital Territory Of Delhi and the private entities i.e. Monument Mitras, The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TAACHT) and the Museum & Arts Consultancy (MAC) acting in a joint consortium.  

Under this MoU, the Monument Mitras plan to take up development, operations and maintenance of basic amenities such as cleanliness of building and outdoor area including provision of garbage bins, benches, toilets, interpretative signs and directional signage, drinking water facilities, illumination (interior & exterior), landscaping, provision for ease of access/ barrier free monument/ accessibility for all (differently abled friendly toilets, ramps, wheelchair facility, braille signages), setup of galleries including interactive and experiential curation (projections, photo booths, touch screens & walls), set up Room for reserve collection of Antiquities /Artefacts, Security & Advanced surveillance system (Like PTZ based CCTV cameras)etc. and advanced amenities such as cafeteria (outdoor café), souvenir shop, brochures and leaflets, library and reading area, art installations, website designing, App based Multilingual Audio-Guide, Wi-Fi etc. 

The duration of the MoU is for an initial period of five years, extendable based on performance of the Monument Mitra.

27-Dec-2018: MoU signed to develop a mobile Audio Guide App for five iconic sites

The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Shri. K J Alphons handed over a Memorandum of Understanding under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project to M/s Resbird Technologies for development of a mobile Audio Guide App for five iconic sites. The five iconic sites for which the mobile Audio Guide App is to be developed are Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Kaziranga (Assam), Colva Beach (Goa), Kumarakom (Kerala) and Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar). During the function, the Minister also handed over the Letters of Intent to seven shortlisted agencies for consideration under the project in presence of Tourism Secretary, Shri Yogendra Tripathi.

The Letters of Intent were issued to seven shortlisted agencies. These agencies would become ‘Monument Mitras’ through the innovative concept of ‘Vision Bidding’, which will give them the opportunity to associate their CSR activities with a heritage site if the Vision Bid is selected.

The “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchan” project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and State/UTs Governments. It aims to involve public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens/individuals to take up the responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/ State heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.

The project had seen an encouraging response from corporate and individuals with over 600 registrations on the project website opting for major and lesser known heritage sites like Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Gandikota Fort, trek to Stok Kangri to name a few. The Ministry has previously issued Letters of Intent (LoI) in five ceremonies to 37 short listed agencies for their interest in 107 sites across India. As on date, ten Memoranda of Understanding have been executed with various Monument Mitras for development, operation and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage and tourist sites across India.

24-Apr-2018: Letters of Intent awarded by Tourism Minister to 9 agencies for 22 monuments under Adopt a Heritage project

The 3rd Award Ceremony of Adopt a Heritage Project was conducted by Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments in New Delhi for awarding the Letters of Intent to the shortlisted agencies under Phase IV of the project. The Letters of Intent were awarded to 9 agencies for 22 monuments of Phase-IV to ‘protect, preserve and market’ the heritage of India.

The scheme “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchan” was originally launched on 27th September 2017 to preserve the rich cultural and natural heritage and to promote tourism across the length and breadth of our country. The Project began with selected ASI ticketed monuments and the scope has now been expanded to include other natural and cultural sites across the country. It was strongly emphasised that tourist experience is the prime parameter to evaluate our performance in the sector.

As on date, the project has received very encouraging response with over 195 registrations as per the project website. Various agencies that have come forward for adoption include not only public and private industry, but also schools and individuals. So far, 31 prospective monument Mitras have been shortlisted by the Oversight & Vision committee for developing tourist friendly amenities at 95 monuments, heritage and other tourist sites including major heritage sites like Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Hampi, Sun Temple, Ajanta Caves, Char Minar, Kaziranga National Park.

Earlier, two MoU’s were been signed between Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir, Govt. of Uttarakhand and Adventure Tour Operators Association of India(ATOAI) for Mt. Stok Kangri, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir and for Gangotri Temple Area & Trail to Gaumukh in Uttarakhand. Further, two MoUs were also signed for Red Fort, Delhi and Gandikota fort, Andhra Pradesh between Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India and Dalmia Bharat Limited.

List of heritage sites opted in Phase-IV of Adopt a Heritage

19-Mar-2018: Taj Mahal is one of the monuments under ‘Adopt a Heritage Project’

Taj Mahal is one of the monuments under ‘Adopt a Heritage Project’, launched on the World Tourism Day, 2017.

Letter of Intent has been issued to 24 agencies for the Submission of Vision Bids for 75 sites, other than Taj. Two expression of interest has been received for Taj. However, no decision has been taken yet.

The private players will undertake gap analysis of the actual requirement of the basic and advanced amenities, within the permissible guidelines of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and prepare a Vision Bid Proposal accordingly for the site opted by them. Once vision bid is accepted, MoU will be signed with the related party for upkeep of the Monument for overall enhanced tourist experience.

Inter- Ministerial Committee would periodically monitor the project through designated officers and Project Management Consultant (PMC). PMC will periodically monitor & review the scheme though ICT (Information and Communication Technology) enabled digital solution for real time monitoring & offline monitoring though analysis of feedback from the tourists.

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