HRIDAY full form is National Heritage City Development And Augmentation Yojana. On January 21, 2015, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs introduced the HRIDAY scheme, officially known as the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana. The primary objective of this scheme is to safeguard and revive the abundant cultural heritage of the nation. The HRIDAY scheme conserves heritage and urban planning and promotes economic growth in heritage cities. It emphasizes enhancing accessibility, security, safety, livelihood opportunities, cleanliness, and prompt service delivery within these cities.

Source: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

In this article on HRIDAY Scheme UPSC, the objectives, components, implementation, and impacts of the HRIDAY scheme are discussed. This will be very useful for the UPSC aspirants in their upcoming UPSC Prelims and mains examination.

What is HRIDAY Scheme?

The HRIDAY yojana, being a central sector scheme, relied solely on funding from the central government. It had a project duration of four years, starting in December 2014 and concluding in March 2019. A total allocation of Rs. 500 crores was planned for the successful execution of the scheme. The primary objective of the HRIDAY scheme was to preserve the unique character of heritage cities while promoting urban development with a strong heritage focus.

• The scheme involved collaborative efforts between the central government and respective state governments in planning, developing, implementing, and managing twelve selected heritage cities.
• The scheme aimed to conserve and develop heritage sites and focused on urban planning and fostering inclusive economic growth.

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Objectives of the HRIDAY Scheme

The objectives of the HRIDAY yojana are as follows,

• The scheme aimed to plan, develop and implement several heritage-sensitive infrastructures.
• For the tourists to connect directly with the city’s unique character, the HRIDAY scheme aimed to preserve and revitalize the heritage sites.
• To implement and enhance basic amenities and services such as public conveniences, toilets, street lights, water taps, and employment of modern technologies to improve tourist facilities.
• To enhance the local capacity to achieve inclusive heritage-based industry.
• To provision service delivery and infrastructure in the core areas of the historic cities.
• To create effective linkages between tourism and cultural facilities and conserve natural and constructed heritage.
• To rehabilitate and maintain the urban heritage and inculcate appropriate technologies for retrofitting historic buildings.
• To establish and manage effective public-private partnerships for adaptive urban rehabilitation.
• To make cities informative using modern ICT tools and secure them with modern surveillance and security apparatus like CCTV etc.
• To increase the physical as well as intellectual access to these heritage cities.

Also, read the article on Operation green scheme here.

List of Cities Under HRIDAY Scheme

Following are the 12 heritage cities listed under the HRIDAY scheme for development:

• Ajmer
• Amravati
• Amritsar
• Badami
• Dwarka
• Gaya
• Kanchipuram
• Mathura
• Puri
• Varanasi
• Velankanni
• Warangal

Also, read the article on the UJALA scheme here.

Components of HRIDAY Scheme

To revive and revitalize the soul of the listed heritage cities, the HRIDAY scheme focused on four primary areas – physical infrastructure, economic infrastructure, social infrastructure, and institutional infrastructure. The indicative components of the HRIDAY scheme are as follows,

• Documentation and mapping of heritage assets were conducted to create a heritage management plan. This involved listing tangible and intangible heritage assets and mapping them using Geographical Information System (GIS).
• Heritage revitalization was connected to service provision, such as organizing cultural events, fairs, festivals, and establishing museums. It aimed to integrate heritage sites with various services at the community and city levels.
• Knowledge management and skill development were other important components. This included creating websites, city maps, catalogs, brochures, digital display boards, and direction pillars. Skill development programs were also implemented for local guides, artisans, and tour operators.

Learn about the PRASAD Scheme here.

Implementation of HRIDAY Scheme

The HRIDAY scheme was planned, developed, and implemented under the Ministry of Urban Development. The National Institute of Urban Affairs was the National Project Management Unit. Various institutional structures were established at the national level and city/Urban Local Body levels for implementing the HRIDAY scheme. They are as follows:

At the National level

• HRIDAY – National Empowered Committee, abbreviated as HNEC, was established to provide overall sanctions, guidance, and advisory role to the scheme.
• It was co-chaired by the Ministry of Urban Development's Secretary and the respective state's Chief Secretary.
• The Mission Directorate was empowered to carry out activities such as preparing heritage management plans, investment plans, and implementing schemes through various NGOs and public works organizations. He was assisted technically by the National Institute of Urban Affairs, which was proposed to act as the National Level Project Management Unit.

At City/Urban Local Body level

• City Level, Advisory and Monitoring Committees were established to oversee, review and monitor the performance of the HRIDAY scheme at the local level. It also recommended mid-course correction in the implementation tools as and when required.
• Even at the city level, the Mission Directorate was constituted, and it acted as a full-fledged project implementation unit working as an extended arm of the National Level Mission Directorate.

Also, read the article on Project Saksham here.

Benefits of HRIDAY Scheme

The HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) Scheme brings forth several notable benefits:

• Heritage Conservation: The scheme focuses on preserving and revitalizing heritage sites, ensuring their cultural and historical significance endures.
• Urban Development: HRIDAY promotes comprehensive development in heritage cities, fostering growth while maintaining the city's unique character.
• Tourism Promotion: Restoration and enhancement of heritage sites attract tourists, boosting local tourism and generating economic opportunities.
• Community Engagement: The scheme involves local communities, encouraging their participation in preserving and promoting their heritage.
• Livelihood Opportunities: HRIDAY generates employment through various restoration, tourism, and skill development initiatives.
• Infrastructure Improvement: Heritage cities witness infrastructure upgrades, including better roads, lighting, sanitation, and amenities.
• Skill Development: The scheme supports skill development programs related to heritage management, benefiting the local workforce.
• Revitalized Public Spaces: HRIDAY enhances public spaces, making them more usable, aesthetically pleasing, and conducive to community interaction.
• Preservation of Traditions: Traditional art forms, crafts, and cultural practices gain a platform for preservation and revival.
• Environmental Impact: The scheme's initiatives often include greening and beautification efforts, contributing to improved urban environments.
• Improved Quality of Life: Overall enhancement of heritage cities positively impacts residents' quality of life and well-being.
• Pride and Identity: HRIDAY instills a sense of pride and identity among residents, fostering a deeper connection to their cultural heritage.

Also read: Five Year Plan for UPSC here.

Impacts of HRIDAY Scheme

The mission period of the HRIDAY scheme concluded on 31st March 2019. Following are some of the impacts of the HRIDAY scheme.

• The scheme supported the linkage between the core heritage sites and civic infrastructure projects. It also played an important role in revitalising urban infrastructure for areas around the cities' heritage, religious, cultural, and tourism assets.
• Around 59 roads to heritage sites in Varanasi, Amaravati, Ajmer, and Amritsar were completed. Public parks and gardens in the cities of Amritsar, Puri, and Ajmer were rejuvenated.

Also, read the article on Sahakar Mitra Scheme here.

Outcomes of HRIDAY Scheme

The HRIDAY scheme aims to achieve the following specific outcomes:

• Promote a clean and improved sanitized environment.
• Enhance basic urban infrastructure in existing and emerging tourist destinations and gateways.
• Improve sanitation standards at natural and cultural tourist attractions, ensuring convenience and safety for visitors.
• Properly conserve, revitalize, and beautify heritage monuments.
• Encourage greater participation by local communities in tourism-related economic and livelihood activities.
• Integrate heritage resources into city systems and the local economy.
• Enhance service level benchmarks for urban service delivery.
• Increase tourist inflow to cities.
• Extend the duration of tourists stay in the towns.
• Enhance social safety and reduce crime rates.
• Bring about substantial improvement in the local economy and enhance the quality of life for communities.

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