Union Government Launched National Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)

- Union government has launched a Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country.
- Union governments ambitious Rs.500 crore HRIDAY project was launched by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. In the initial phase, 12 heritage cities have been identified which will be rejuvenated and developed under HRIDAY.
The identified 12 cities are: Amritsar, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Ajmer, Mathura, Dwarka, Badami, Velankanni, Kanchipuram, War angal and Amaravati.
- HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana aims to bring urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation together for heritage cities.
- It also seeks beautification in an inclusive and integrated manner with focus on cleanliness, livelihoods, skills, safety, security, accessibility and faster service delivery of heritage cities.
- Heritage Management Plan (HMP) will be prepared for the identified cities which will outline heritage resources and develop policies to guide their conservation, restoration, future use and development.
- It will seek to improve lastmile connectivity heritage sites by documentation, conservation of areas, providing more facilities for women, senior citizens and differently abled citizens.
- HRIDAY will be dovetailed with the Tourism Ministry's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme which has an outlay of Rs.100 crore for augmentation of infrastructure at pilgrimage sites across the country.
Highlights of HRIDAY are :
HRIDAY seeks to promote an integrated, inclusive and sustainable development of heritage sites, focusing on maintenance of monuments and on advancement of the entire ecosystem.
In the initial phase of HRIDAY, 12 heritage cities have been identified which will be rejuvenated and developed. Union Government will provide Rs. 500 crore to these 12 cities.
The scheme will be completely funded by union Government to create infrastructure and provide facilities around the heritage sites to attract more tourists