Schemes for protecting intangible cultural heritage: Minister

The government is implementing various schemes for protecting and promoting the country's intangible cultural heritage, Culture and Tourism Minister Shripad Yesso Naik said Tuesday.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, he said the schemes do not cover heritage sites that are looked after separately by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

"India has been elected to the 'Inter-Governmental Committee for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the period 2014-2018' and will participate in the ninth session of Unesco. With the inclusion in the committee, it is hoped the specific needs and concerns of the country for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage can be raised in the international fora," Naik said.

The minister said being in the committee may help inter-alia to foster awareness and open-ended dialogues with other state parties on issues of Indian interest in culture.

"The country can play a more proactive role for formulating international cultural policies more suited to our national/local needs," he said.