By IANS
New Delhi : India’s culture ministry has roped in school students in the campaign against defacement of monuments by administering to them a pledge to guard against vandalising of the country’s rich and ancient heritage.
“A symbolic beginning is being made this year itself with schoolchildren of Delhi taking the oath at the Red Fort on Nov 19,” a culture ministry release Sunday said.
While Nov 19 is the birth anniversary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, World Heritage Week is celebrated Nov 19-25 every year to create awareness about the rich cultural heritage of the country among the general public, students and children.
The pledge the schoolchildren will take reads: “I will not scribble on, deface or encroach upon any monument; I will respect all monuments, which are a part of my country’s heritage; I will render all possible help to conserve and preserve our heritage.”
According to the new plan approved by Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni, schools will be requested to administer the oath to their students.
“If possible, they should take the children to a monument in their vicinity and administer the oath there. If not, they should administer the oath in the school premises and organise at least one visit of their students to a monument during the World Heritage Week,” the release said.
Superintending archaeologists of all Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) circles would be instructed to render necessary help to schools in arranging the oath taking and visits of students to monuments.
During the World Heritage Week, outreach programmes will be organised through the ASI circles in the form of painting contests, debates, essay contests, cultural programmes, talks on preservation of monuments, and guided tours for school students.
The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities has, in its charter, the task of creating awareness about heritage preservation and formulation of public and student outreach schemes for this purpose, the release said.