UNESCO has shown an interest in collaborating with the Ministry of Urban Development for the implementation of the 'Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana' (HRIDAY).
Irena Bokova, the UNESCO Director General, today met Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu here and discussed various aspects related to the preservation of the cultural heritage of India. She also complimented the government for the HRIDAY initiative.
Naidu said that under the scheme, the cultural soul of Indian cities and their people would be restored and preserved.
He told Bokova that UNESCO's expertise could be useful in revitalising and conserving the cultural heritage of Indian cities. Seven cities have been initially identified under the HRIDAY scheme: Amritsar, Ajmer, Benares, Mathura, Gaya, Kanchipuram and Vellankini.
Naidu and Bokova expressed concern over the pressures of urbanisation on cultural heritage.
