By IANS,
New Delhi : The government has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to launch a massive public awareness campaign to sensitise people about the law on the preservation of ancient monuments.
Culture Minister Kumari Selja said the ministry and the ASI required to tell every citizen so that the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains, Amendment and Validation (AMASRA) Act is not perceived as a threat or impediment, a statement by the ministry of culture said Friday.
She was addressing a meeting of the central advisory board of the ASI here.
“The AMASRA Act has been amended in March 2010. The amendments are in the interest of better protection and maintenance of the monument precincts. In the amended form, this act will be a useful tool in the preservation of monuments and heritage and will ensure that they receive much needed attention from both public and administrators alike,” she said.
She urged the ASI to “launch a massive public awareness campaign and sensitise citizens to the provisions of the act.”
“We need to co-opt the willingness of every citizen so that the enactment is appreciated by them in the larger context and not perceived as a threat or impediment to their existence,” the minister said.