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The External Affairs Minister Shri Natwar Singh had underlined the need to develop policies, guidelines and regulations for villages and towns to protect our unprotected heritage. Delivering his valedictory address at the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage – INTACH here this evening, he said that for this it will be necessary to train and involve our panchayat leaders to lead the way in protecting and respecting heritage at the grass root level.
The Minister also laid emphasis on international cooperation particularly fostering relationships and building bridges with our neighbouring countries especially the SAARC nations and the countries of East and Central Asia. This, he said, would help in forging partnership with many countries and getting their support for conservation work in India as we are a country with many cultures and home of many religions and as such widely connected with the entire world. By having MOUs with other countries and promoting exchange of experts in the field of conservation, we can acquire the best technologies, the most efficient methodologies and trained professional conservators who can address this question of conservation and preservation of our natural, cultural and living heritage, he added.
Shri Natwar Singh said in order to become a major heritage tourism destination, we, in India, should recognize that the international tourist is looking for safe, clean and interesting sites to visit on holiday and for pleasure. We have also to recognize that India has much to offer – magnificent natural beauty and exotic heritage sites. Since our heritage can bring significant economic gains to our country – funds must be made available for infrastructure development, roads and tourist facilities at heritage centers and circuits. It would also be imperative to enhance our cities, clean our rivers, lakes, mountains and villages so that the domestic and international travelers feel pleasure in visiting these places, he added.
The three-day celebrations concluded today with a number of experts and academicians, besides leaders of tourism industry taking part in various specialized sessions discussing different aspects of heritage conservation.
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