Bhubaneswar: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) to promote culture, heritage and tourism in Odisha.
After the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the campus of the Institute on Friday, Dr Md Sabir Hussain, nodal officer of the Institute, said the MOU will facilitate collaborative efforts to further common objectives through various activities.
“Both organisations will work for promoting academic and research facilities, conducting training programmes on culture education, heritage, tourism and travel industry management for persons from industry, academia, students,” he added.
Amiya Bhushan Tripathy, state convener of INTACH, said, “The potential of Odisha as a tourist destination for both foreign and domestic travellers has not been fully explored. In spite of its rich cultural heritage, the state lags in tourist footfalls.”
Anil Dhir, convener of INTACH’s Bhubaneswar Chapter said the rich and varied heritage of Odisha is under severe neglect. “The State Archaeology Department has only 221 monuments under its fold, while the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has another 78 monuments which are declared as protected. Along with the UNESCO World Heritage site of Konark, the total protected monuments in the state are only 300,” he added.
Dhir further said in the last two decades, INTACH has already listed and documented more than 6,500 heritage monuments in 16 districts of the state. If proper surveys will be made in the remaining districts, the list will surpass 12,500, making Odisha the richest state in heritage.
Dr Adyasha Das, coordinator of IITTM said the MOU will lead to synergy between the two. It would help conduct capacity building, training and awareness programmes.
INTACH, a leading organisation in the country for conservation and preservation of heritage, has been declared as a Centre of Excellence by the Central government. It has 12 chapters in the state with a membership of more than 500 heritage lovers. IITTM is a leading tourism and travel management institute under the Ministry of Tourism.
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