April 03, 2002

‘13`

    In connection with the 2600^th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, a large number of schemes and programmes have been undertaken by the Department of Culture.

    Giving details of these projects, here today, Shri Jagmohan, Minister of Culture and Tourism said, "Fifty four (54) Jain Monuments which are protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are being cleaned, repaired, restored and conserved. The area around them is being appropriately landscaped and their overall environment upgraded through the ASI. Rs. 9.00 crore has been sanctioned for these 54 projects. These include famous monuments as Udaigiri and Khandagiri caves in Orissa; Udaigiri, Bundi and Khargone temples in Madhya Pradesh, group of temples at Un in Madhya Pradesh; ancient ruins of Krishnavilas, Kota, Baran and Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan, Arthuna/Bansawara in Rajasthan; Satdeul in West Bengal and Bahubali statue in Karnataka."

    He further stated that another set of twenty seven (27) projects for repair, provision of new roads, water supply, electricity, horticulture, other infrastructural facilities and overall improvement have been taken up by the Department of Culture. The total cost of this project is Rs. 11.00 crore and they include such famous sites as Dilwara, Ranakpur, Kesariya and Amer in Rajasthan; Bawangaja in Madhya Pradesh; Bateshwar, Dudhai, Badagaon and Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh; Umata and Kumbharia in Gujarat.

    The Minister informed that in addition to the above eighty on (81) projects, special schemes have been sanctioned. They include Mahavir Vanasthali, New Delhi at the cost of Rs. 5 crores and Pawapuri, Bihar as the cost of Rs.2.5 crores. Another detailed plan for development of Vasokund, Vaishali, where Dr. Rajendra Prasad laid the foundation stone in 1956 for the construction of Mahavir Samarak has been prepared and is under implementation. The cost of this plan is about Rs. 4.50 crores, he added.

    The Minister opined that besides helping the forces of cultural regeneration, the execution of the aforesaid projects would create durable assets and also provide a big boost to tourism, particularly tourism related with pilgrimage. Special tourism cum pilgrim circuits would be developed around these monuments and sites.

    Giving details about the restructuring of the Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) he stated that the Articles of Association of the LKA have been amended to provide 5 year term to the elected council instead of 3 years. This has been done keeping in view the need to reduce expenditure on election and also to bring the tenure of the Council at par with that of Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi. He mentioned that the age limit for the part-time Chairman has been increased from 65 to 70 years. Past experience showed that persons of required stature were not easily available.

    The Minister further stated that the change introduced is that Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Executive members of the General Council would be able to hold Office for a maximum number of two successive terms. These changes,"would provide stability and long terms vision to the growth and development of Lalit Kala Akademi, said the Minister

    The Minister also disclosed that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, through the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMT), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to offer a Joint Degree of Bachelors of Hotel Management and Catering Technology from the academic year 2002. Now the students having 3 year course will be awarded a regular degree by the University. This will help the students in seeking admission for higher education both in India and abroad, besides getting better opportunities for higher jobs."

    There are 22 Institutes of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, under the Ministry of Tourism. The most popular course is a 3-year diploma in Hotel Management. About 2500 students seek admission for this course every year through a Joint Entrance Exams. About 80 per cent of them get employed through campus interviews.