The Hindu Business Line : Rajasthan Govt's `Adopt a monument' scheme finds takers

Even as tourist inflows to Rajasthan registered a 17 per cent increase during April-June 2006 compared to the corresponding period in 2005, the Rajasthan Government's `Adopt a monument' scheme finds takers among sponsors and corporates.

The Hawa Mahal in Jaipur has been "adopted" by State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, even as the Vedanta Group has taken up sponsorship of the `Sahelio ki Bari' in Udaipur.

Besides facilitating upkeep of the `adopted' monuments, the scheme has provided the tourism department of the State Government an avenue to generate incremental revenue from a non-conventional source, Mr Harimohan Bangur, President of Rajasthan Foundation, Kolkata — an autonomous body instituted by the Rajasthan Government — told newspersons here.

Mr Bangur said that the State tourism department had announced a scheme, whereby corporates and institutions could adopt a monument for a specific time-period for an agreed-upon price.

The adopting party would be responsible for maintaining the monument for the said period. In return, it would be allowed to derive the benefits of sponsorships, including the use of the monument's logo in its letterhead, correspondence, etc.

However, for the maintenance, upkeep and upgradation of the adopted monuments, permission of the Archaeological Survey of India and other agencies would be required, wherever applicable.

Mr Sundeep Bhutoria, Secretary of the Rajasthan Foundation, said the Rajasthan Government was keen to forge public-private partnerships with corporates and individuals for facilitating the growth of tourism in the State.

Earnings from tourism continue to comprise a major portion of the State's gross domestic product (GDP) and its contribution to the State GDP was growing, he said.

Since tourists from West Bengal comprise a sizeable chunk of the domestic tourists that visit Rajasthan every year, the Rajasthan Foundation here is very active in hard-selling the State as a must-visit tourist destination.

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