Adaptive reuse, public-private synergy can drive heritage conservation: Report
Jointly made by a leading business chamber and a global consultancy firm, it has also recommended "adaptive reuse" of old buildings through PPP model and "CSR funding" for heritage conservation.
The report 'Building Public-Private Synergies for Heritage Conservation' was released at an international heritage tourism conclave held on the premises of the iconic Lukshmi Vilas Palace in Gujarat's Vadodara on July 25.
Tourism, conservation and industry experts gathered at the conclave and deliberated on leveraging India's rich heritage for economic revitalisation, community development, and cultural continuity.
"Heritage conservation must be seen seen as both a moral obligation and a strategic investment, where country's heritage could be transformed from static monuments to vibrant and living symbols of identity, enabling it to continue inspiring and enriching future generations," the 28-page report says.
It also cited some successful conservation projects in various parts of India, as well as well-known preservation models in the UK, Spain, Italy and other countries.
The report, jointly made by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and KPMG in India, stresses that heritage conservation in India is "at its defining moment".
It must be recognised that the 'cultural landscape' around a heritage site is "critical for the interpretation of the site and its built heritage", and thus is very much its integral part.
Owing to its importance and nature of role in serving as a record for future generations, it becomes imperative to preserve this history and culture, hence requires time-to-time conservation, it says.
The report through succinct examples underlines that heritage conservation means all the processes of looking after a place to retain its historical, architectural, aesthetic, cultural significance and includes maintenance, preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adoption or a combination of more than one of these.
It also lays emphasis on adaptive reuse of heritage buildings as cafes, museums, galleries or other cultural spaces, and creating synergy through public-private-partnership models, citing the case study of Uttar Pradesh.
Besides, the report also recommends funding through Corporate Social Responsibility and underlines coupling it with community outreach for best results.
The report acknowledges the role of technology in this sector, and pitched for using Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality for immersive storytelling and smart management tools for visitors' analysis and climate-responsive monitoring.
On digital preservation, it emphasised on using technology to document, conserve and promote heritage and create inventories, especially for sites vulnerable to climate threats or human conflict.
It also pitched for combining state and private funds to increase the overall funding available for heritage conservation projects.
By combining state and private funds, heritage conservation projects can "reduce their dependence on a single funding source", access a wider range of resources, expertise, this ensuring greater financial stability and sustainability of conservation efforts.
As travellers increasingly seek authentic, immersive experiences, heritage tourism has emerged as a "cornerstone of cultural identity, community empowerment, and regional branding, the report says.
India, with its vast inventory of monuments, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historic towns, palaces, forts, and intangible traditions, is "uniquely positioned to lead this space".
India is endowed with iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, ruins of old Nalanda university, ancient temples, medieval tombs and colonial-era structure and relics, which draw both awe and interest and intrigue among travellers.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India's annual report , cultural and heritage tourism is an important and evolving concept within India's total tourism economy, with growth potential fuelled by rising domestic demand and international interest in India's civilisation legacy, the report says.
Citing a 2024 report, it further says that India's heritage tourism market is projected to reach USD 57.14 billion by 2033, driven by its rich cultural diversity, along with rising global interest in spiritual and experience travel, boosting domestic and international tourist inflow.
The PHDCCI-KPMG report also cites some of the challenges facing efforts for heritage conservation, such as inadequate funding which can lead to neglect, deterioration, and loss of heritage sites; lack of technical expertise; insufficient community engagement; and maintenance challenges.
The other factor is complexity of heritage projects. Heritage assets are often complex and multi-faceted. The complexity of such assets can make it challenging to develop effective conservation strategies.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Nagpur Powers Up India's First AI-Driven Anganwadi
1 2 Nagpur: In a landmark move to revolutionise early childhood education, India's first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Anganwadi was inaugurated in Nagpur district under the ambitious initiative Mission Bal Bharari. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the pioneering project at Metro Bhavan, with several top dignitaries including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, state BJP president and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and zilla parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni in attendance. The pilot Anganwadi, set up at Waddhamna in Hingna taluka, boasts cutting-edge technology such as Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, AI-integrated smart dashboards, and interactive digital learning content. "These facilities — rare even in premium private kindergartens — will be used to teach poems, songs, and curriculum in a highly engaging and innovative manner," said a senior official. What makes this initiative particularly impactful is its aim to bridge the educational divide between rural and urban areas. "This is an emotional resolution to ensure every child learns with joy, curiosity, and confidence," said Mahamuni, adding that the goal is to bring a historic transformation in Maharashtra's early childhood education system. As part of the mission, Anganwadi workers were trained to operate the advanced smart tools. The zilla parishad plans to expand this model by launching 40 more AI-powered Anganwadis across Nagpur district. "Through Mission Bal Bharari, we are committed to giving kids from rural backgrounds same trust, exposure, and facilities that children in metropolitan cities receive at home or in private kindergartens," the CM said. The launch event saw the presence of key political leaders including minister of state for agriculture Ashish Jaiswal, MLAs Krishna Khopde, Pravin Datke, and Sanjay Meshram, along with divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari and district collector Vipin Itankar. With Nagpur Zilla Parishad at the helm, this initiative also symbolises a visionary step toward inclusive and future-ready education.
Mint
17 hours ago
- Mint
TDS was deducted on employee health insurance payout. Can I get a refund ?
During the previous financial year, my wife had an emergency caesarean delivery, and the baby was admitted to NICU for 5 days. A bill of ₹ 74,505 was generated, of which ₹ 62,833 was approved by the employer. At the time, the hospital had applied for the renewal of income tax exemption status under section 17(2) of The Income Tax Act 1961, read with rule 3A(1) & 3A(2) of Income Tax Rules, 1962, but the certificate was still awaited. Due to this, the sanctioned amount was subject to a tax deducted at source (TDS) of ₹ 19,604 and only ₹ 43,220 was credited. However, the hospital has received the tax certificate now with retrospective effect from 1 July 2024. As a result, the employer will not be liable to deduct tax u/s 192 of the Income Tax Act,1961 for such a sum. I wish to avail the refund of this TDS through income-tax return (ITR). Under the income-tax laws, the value of any benefit or amenities provided by the employer to an employee is taxable as perquisites, subject to prescribed exceptions. As per the related provisions, medical reimbursements given by the employer for medical treatment of specified diseases/ailments to employees or their specified families are not considered taxable in the hands of employees, subject to satisfaction of specified conditions. It is assumed that your case falls under the prescribed diseases/ailments, the retrospective approval certificate of the hospital covers the period of treatment, and all other conditions are satisfied. Hence, the reimbursements may be considered as non-taxable. Since the reimbursements were taxed at the withholding stage and a tax was deducted at source by the employer, you may consider the same as non-taxable while filing your income-tax return (ITR) for the FY 2024-25. While filing the ITR, you may directly exclude the non-taxable reimbursement amount from the salary reported in Schedule Salary (S) under Section 17(2). As this is a non-taxable reimbursement and not an exempt income, the same may arguably not be reported as an allowance exempt under Section 10 in Schedule S, or in Schedule Exempt Income (EI). In case of any queries from the tax authorities (say on account of variance with the salary reported by an employer in Form 16), it will need to be responded, accordingly. You should also retain supporting documents, such as the hospital's approval certificate and medical bills, to justify the reduced salary reported in the ITR, if required. Also note that this is a non-taxable reimbursement and does not form part of the specified disallowances under the new tax regime. Hence, the above treatment can be considered irrespective of the tax regime. Parizad Sirwalla is partner and head, global mobility services, tax, KPMG in India.
The Print
19 hours ago
- The Print
Adaptive reuse, public-private synergy can drive heritage conservation: Report
The report — 'Building Public-Private Synergies for Heritage Conservation' — was released at an international heritage tourism conclave held on the premises of the iconic Lukshmi Vilas Palace in Gujarat's Vadodara on July 25. Jointly made by a leading business chamber and a global consultancy firm, it has also recommended 'adaptive reuse' of old buildings through PPP model and 'CSR funding' for heritage conservation. New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) Emphasising that heritage conservation must be seen as both a 'moral obligation and a strategic investment', a new report has pitched for greater synergy between public and private sectors, and use of digital technology to drive preservation efforts. Tourism, conservation and industry experts gathered at the conclave and deliberated on leveraging India's rich heritage for economic revitalisation, community development, and cultural continuity. 'Heritage conservation must be seen seen as both a moral obligation and a strategic investment, where country's heritage could be transformed from static monuments to vibrant and living symbols of identity, enabling it to continue inspiring and enriching future generations,' the 28-page report says. It also cited some successful conservation projects in various parts of India, as well as well-known preservation models in the UK, Spain, Italy and other countries. The report, jointly made by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and KPMG in India, stresses that heritage conservation in India is 'at its defining moment'. It must be recognised that the 'cultural landscape' around a heritage site is 'critical for the interpretation of the site and its built heritage', and thus is very much its integral part. Owing to its importance and nature of role in serving as a record for future generations, it becomes imperative to preserve this history and culture, hence requires time-to-time conservation, it says. The report through succinct examples underlines that heritage conservation means all the processes of looking after a place to retain its historical, architectural, aesthetic, cultural significance and includes maintenance, preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adoption or a combination of more than one of these. It also lays emphasis on adaptive reuse of heritage buildings as cafes, museums, galleries or other cultural spaces, and creating synergy through public-private-partnership (PPP) models, citing the case study of Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the report also recommends funding through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and underlines coupling it with community outreach for best results. The report acknowledges the role of technology in this sector, and pitched for using Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) for immersive storytelling and smart management tools for visitors' analysis and climate-responsive monitoring. On digital preservation, it emphasised on using technology to document, conserve and promote heritage and create inventories, especially for sites vulnerable to climate threats or human conflict. It also pitched for combining state and private funds to increase the overall funding available for heritage conservation projects. By combining state and private funds, heritage conservation projects can 'reduce their dependence on a single funding source', access a wider range of resources, expertise, this ensuring greater financial stability and sustainability of conservation efforts. As travellers increasingly seek authentic, immersive experiences, heritage tourism has emerged as a 'cornerstone of cultural identity, community empowerment, and regional branding, the report says. India, with its vast inventory of monuments, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historic towns, palaces, forts, and intangible traditions, is 'uniquely positioned to lead this space'. India is endowed with iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, ruins of old Nalanda university, ancient temples, medieval tombs and colonial-era structure and relics, which draw both awe and interest and intrigue among travellers. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India's annual report (2022), cultural and heritage tourism is an important and evolving concept within India's total tourism economy, with growth potential fuelled by rising domestic demand and international interest in India's civilisation legacy, the report says. Citing a 2024 report, it further says that India's heritage tourism market is projected to reach USD 57.14 billion by 2033, driven by its rich cultural diversity, along with rising global interest in spiritual and experience travel, boosting domestic and international tourist inflow. The PHDCCI-KPMG report also cites some of the challenges facing efforts for heritage conservation, such as inadequate funding which can lead to neglect, deterioration, and loss of heritage sites; lack of technical expertise; insufficient community engagement; and maintenance challenges. The other factor is complexity of heritage projects. Heritage assets are often complex and multi-faceted. The complexity of such assets can make it challenging to develop effective conservation strategies. PTI KND MNK MNK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
