National mission on monuments and antiquities

The national mission on monuments and antiquities has been proposed with a view to document the antiquarian and monumental wealth of the country. The mission will develop a comprehensive database for unprotected built heritage, sites and antiquities.

Selected unprotected monuments will be taken up for conservation in a sustainable manner.

Mission would inculcate and promote awareness on built heritage and antiquarian wealth among the masses. The mission will also initiate capacity building among state archaeology departments and NGOs in heritage protection and preservation.

Initiative will be taken to strengthen communication and dissemination levels of information through popular literature and publications.

The work of the mission will be taken up on a project mode by involving state departments of archaeology and museums, professional organisations / institutions, universities, NGOs, etc. The proposed national mission has a five-year term starting from 2006-07 to 2010-11 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs90.00 crore.

The expenditure finance committee has already met on 7 March, 2006, and recommended the mission for approval. The mission is now under consideration of the government for final approval, on receipt of which the mission activities will be launched, she said.