Government following PPP model to protect historical sites

The government is encouraging the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model through the National Culture Fund (NCF) to protect, restore and develop the historical sites and monuments of the country.

Till now, 29 MoUs have been signed with different private companies and public sector undertakings, government bodies, trusts under the Culture Ministry's NCF scheme for the maintenance and development of the centrally protected monuments and museums under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The Ministry said that out of the 29 projects, 11 has already been completed while the remaining 18 are going through the developmental works.

Companies like Indian Oil Corporation, NTPC, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, GAIL, Steel Authority of India, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, Sony India have come forward in restoring and preserving the historical sites and monuments like Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, Vikramshila in Bihar, Kanheri Caves in Maharashtra, Khajuraho Group of Temples in Madhya Pradesh and many others.

"There is no as such fund allocated or dispersed under this initiative. It is mainly the CSR money that an individual private company or PSU contributes toward the maintenance or restoration of a monument and the company decides their budget. It may be from three lakh to one crore," an official from the NCF told IANS.

According to the official, the Culture Ministry and the NCF are trying to encourage participation of more companies, both private and public to contribute their CSR money.

"Usually ASI works on their own but at times even they face financial crunch. In those situations we approach for the CSR fund and NCF provides with the fund to the ASI. There are few companies who have approached us and few whom we have approached. We want more companies to participate in this," the official added.

The NCF was established in November 1996 as a funding mechanism distinct from the existing sources and patterns of funding for the arts and culture in India. It enables institutions and individuals to support arts and culture directly as partners with its government.

--IANS

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