Climate change, global warming, and other natural disturbance have started to affect the historical masterpiece across the world. Though many developed countries take the best conservation measure and restoration of their art and culture, developing countries like India lack funds and willpower to carry out this exercise. While the social and cultural benefits of heritage conservation are important, many communities have discovered that their heritage resources are also valuable economic assets. Investing in the preservation, rehabilitation and ongoing use of heritage buildings and other historic places has economic benefits for both individuals and communities. Heritage conservation can lead to higher property values and increased tax revenue, job creation, revitalized neighbourhood and economic growth. The CSR framework has recently been systematized and structured by the Government wherein a company is required to invest 2% of Net profits towards CSR on projects for 3 years in a particular financial year. However, CSR is one of the many tools that the private sector can utilize to conserve India’s Heritage.
The Ministry of Tourism in 2017 recognised the potential of a collaborative approach and launched the Adopt a Heritage Program, inviting the corporate sector across the country to identify and commit towards developing a heritage site and various Public Private Partnership made a holistic approach towards developing heritage site by luring international and domestic tourism to outreach activities that enable sensitization about the site.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture maintains and regulates the monuments, heritage and archaeological sites of national importance as per the AMASR Act 1958. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has also taken a giant leap towards this. Companies like ONGC, NTPC, TATA group, GAIL have been assisting ASI with grants for the restoration and preservation works. ASI placed 50 monuments in the list of monuments to be protected. Taj Mahal (Agra), Humayun’s Tomb (New Delhi), Lord Jagannath Temple (Puri, Orissa) and few others are in the ambit of the 50 monuments to be restored. Coca-Cola (India) also helped in the restoration of The Sarai Bawari and Kale Hanuman Ki Bawari (Rajasthan) and creating awareness among the local community. Also, Yes Bank, with the help of its think-tank Yes Institute, organized 73 heritage walks and 50 cycle rides at Delhi’s heritage spots like Lodhi Gardens, Purana Qila, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar and Hauz Khas as a part of their CSR activities in 2014. The bank spent Rs 29.52 crore on its CSR in 2015-16 and spent Rs 34 crore in 2017.
IT giant Infosys Ltd is also involved in restore monuments and organizing cultural shows in South India. In 2016, Infosys Foundation restored Somanatheshwara temple complex in Karnataka’s Lakshmeshwar and around Rs 5 crore were spent over last four years.
Not to forget, we have a bewildering number of monuments in India (3650 monuments in 2010) divided among 24 circles across the country. Numerous monuments have been encroached upon and need urgent attention. Sensitivity is slowly increasing, but there are a few hurdles. We need more Public-Private Partnership to save our National heritage and CSR initiatives will certainly help.
About Fiinovation Company
Fiinovation (Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd.), is a global CSR consulting firm operating in multiple disciplines of the social development sector. It’s emphasises on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability initiatives/programmes.
Fiinovation started its journey in the year 2008 under the guidance of Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty (CEO of Fiinovation). Over the past 8 years, it has grown leaps in every aspect of operations in the social sector. Fiinovation has also been successful in bridging the gap between businesses and communities through value based CSR Projects in India by engaging with various corporations and credible NGOs in the field of health,
environment, education, livelihood& skills.
Comments