The Ministry of Culture, through a written reply by Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Rajya Sabha, provided an update on the conservation of cultural heritage and promotion of tourism in lesser-known destinations. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has jurisdiction over 3,688 centrally protected monuments and sites across the country. Their conservation is undertaken as per the National Conservation Policy, which includes periodical condition assessments and day-to-day maintenance carried out on a regular basis, subject to the availability of resources.
For these monuments, including lesser-known ones, the ASI develops visitor amenities such as pathways, signage, drinking water, toilets, benches, cultural notice boards, and site museums wherever feasible. Heritage awareness is promoted through digital initiatives, cultural programmes, exhibitions, outreach programmes, and the dissemination of information on occasions like World Heritage Day and World Heritage Week. The ASI also conducts seminars and workshops for students and scholars.
Concurrently, the Ministry of Tourism promotes these destinations and products, including cultural and heritage tourism, in a holistic manner. Promotional initiatives include organizing events in association with tourism stakeholders, digital promotion through social media handles in collaboration with influencers, and showcasing destinations on the Incredible India Digital portal. Regional stakeholder engagements are also organized by India Tourism offices under the Dekho Apna Desh initiative to raise awareness.
The detailed funds allocated and utilized for the conservation, preservation, and environmental development of these protected monuments over the last five years were provided in a state-wise breakdown in Annexure-I, which was referenced but not included in the provided text.