New Delhi: Two years later, since it started, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's project "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" has now got an illustrious list of 25 "adarsh monuments" and a mobile app called - "Swachh Paryatan" giving the mission touristy and cultural direction.
Since the ministers of culture and tourism Mahesh Sharma and minister for rural development, drinking water and sanitation Narendra Singh Tomar, believe that general public and the tourists are the largest stakeholders in keeping the monuments clean, a platform needed to be created for the tourists to complain about any unclean area or garbage piles lying in and around tourist destinations.
At the press conference on Wednesday, media was informed that the citizens can take photograph of garbage at the monument and upload it on the mobile app with their remarks. Through this the ASI nodal officer will be informed, get an SMS about the concerned monument and quickly take remedial steps.
Director General of ASI Rakesh Tewari said, "So far there is no report to show how many complaints have been sent to us – but our conservation assistants are present at the 25 adarsh monuments who will immediately act on the report made through the app and get the garbage cleared."
Archeological Survey of India has ranked top 25 adarsh monuments on the basis of cleanliness parameters, and "Rani ki Vav (Gujarat)" a World Heritage Site has been declared as the cleanest iconic place in the country. The list is not yet complete - 75 more adarsh monuments" protected by ASI have been identified and will be included in the ‘Swachh Paryatan Mobile App’ that was launched by the ministry of tourism.
There will be a total of 100 adarsh monuments protected by ASI and included in the app. The app was launched in February 2016 and is monitored by the project monitoring unit of Swachh Bharat Mission in ministry of tourism.
Tomar, minister for rural development and drinking water and sanitation, said "Our PM had emphasized that tourism is one way to change the picture of the country – it looks into multiple issues at the same time – employment, economy, culture, women empowerment etc."
Hence, the fusion of cleanliness with culture and tourism will yield good results.
Addressing the media, Sharma also spoke about declaring all ASI protected historical monuments and archaeological sites polythene free zones with co-operation of state bodies.
"The 300 meters area of ASI protected sites will be polythene free, also there is a mobile app to inform the ASI officials of litter at the monuments," said the minister of tourism and culture.
The advisory has been issued to all state governments/UTs to support ASI in keeping monuments polythene free up to 300 meters from the protected boundaries of the monuments.
The networks that fall under the ministry of culture – Archaeological Survey of India, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Asiatic Society etc – were belligerently brought together for the dissemination of information and creating public awareness on the message of cleanliness.
Ministry of Culture has sanctioned Rs.350 crores to provide facilities like protected boundaries, toilets and disabled friendly access in all ASI protected monuments.
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