New Delhi: The Delhi government has launched a new funding framework to encourage voluntary organisations to participate in the conservation, restoration and development of heritage monuments in the national capital.
Under the “Our Monument, Our Pride (Humare Samarak, Humara Gaurav)” scheme, the government will generally bear 75% of the cost of an eligible project, while the participating organisation will contribute the remaining 25%. Financial assistance will be capped at ₹2 crore per project in a financial year, although the limit can be increased if a monument requires higher expenditure and a committee recommends additional funding.
The scheme has been notified by the Department of Archaeology under the Delhi Chief Minister Heritage Revival Scheme and aims to bring registered organisations into efforts to preserve Delhi’s built heritage.
Government to Cover 75% of Project Cost
The main feature of the scheme is the government’s financial support for conservation projects undertaken by eligible voluntary organisations.
Under the general funding pattern, the Delhi government will contribute 75% of the approved project cost, while the participating institution will provide 25%.
The notification also provides different funding levels for certain categories:
- Category A monuments: Government support can rise to 90%.
- Projects undertaken by government institutions: Up to 100% funding can be provided.
- Other eligible voluntary organisation projects: Generally 75% government funding.
The maximum assistance for a project in a financial year has been fixed at ₹2 crore. However, the ceiling is not absolute. A committee can recommend a higher allocation when the nature or scale of conservation work requires additional expenditure.
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One Project Per Organisation
The scheme has also laid down limits to ensure that assistance is distributed across different organisations and projects.
A voluntary organisation will be allowed to submit only one project in a financial year. The government will also consider any financial assistance that the organisation has already received, or expects to receive, from other sources for the same project.
This provision is intended to take the overall funding position of a project into account while deciding the government grant.
The notification specifically mentions Sarai of Azimganj inside the National Zoological Park and Malcha Mahal on Sardar Patel Marg as examples of monuments that may require higher allocations.
Applications Must Include Detailed Plans
Organisations seeking assistance will have to submit detailed information about the proposed conservation project.
The application will require a project report along with details of the experts proposed to be engaged. Organisations must also submit a concept plan explaining how the monument could be used by the public and how visitor management would be handled.
The proposal will also have to explain the expected benefits for tourism and local communities.
Applicants will need to establish their organisational and financial credentials as well. Required documents include proof of registration, details of the management board, audit reports and annual reports for the previous three years, along with certified financial statements.
Quarterly Monitoring of Heritage Projects
The funding will come with monitoring and reporting requirements.
Selected organisations will have to submit quarterly reports covering both the physical progress of conservation work and the financial progress of the project.
The project accounts will remain subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as well as the Delhi government’s Directorate of Audit.
This monitoring mechanism is intended to ensure that public funds are used for the purposes approved under the scheme and that conservation work progresses according to the sanctioned plan.
Grant to Be Released in Four Instalments
The government has also specified how the approved grant will be released.
The financial assistance will be disbursed in four stages:
- 30% as mobilisation advance
- 30% after 30% of the work is completed
- 30% after 60% of the work is completed
- 10% after 90% completion and submission of the audited utilisation certificate
The staged release links government funding to the progress of conservation work rather than releasing the entire grant upfront.
The notification also allows the government to recover the grant if it finds that the funds have been used for purposes other than those approved. Such recovery can carry 10% annual penal interest.
Focus on Conservation, Tourism and Public Use
The scheme goes beyond simply repairing old structures. Applicants have been asked to explain how proposed projects can improve public use, visitor management, tourism and community benefits.
This approach places heritage conservation within a broader framework of public access and tourism development.
Delhi has a large number of historical structures under the jurisdiction of its Department of Archaeology, including monuments that are not under the Archaeological Survey of India. Earlier Delhi government planning documents have also highlighted conservation and making lesser-known monuments more visitor-friendly as areas of focus.
By involving voluntary organisations, the new framework creates another channel through which conservation projects can be undertaken with government financial support.
A New Role for Voluntary Organisations
The Our Monument, Our Pride scheme gives registered organisations an opportunity to participate directly in protecting Delhi’s heritage while sharing part of the project cost.
For the government, the model can expand the pool of institutions involved in conservation. For participating organisations, the financial support can reduce the burden of undertaking large restoration and development projects.
The combination of funding, expert involvement, quarterly monitoring and audit requirements is designed to keep conservation work accountable while encouraging wider participation.
With Delhi’s heritage sites also having potential for tourism, education and community engagement, the scheme could link monument preservation with broader efforts to make the capital’s lesser-known historical assets more accessible to the public.
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