Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas

What is the Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas?

The Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas is a Central Sector grant scheme run by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. According to the Ministry of Culture, the scheme's objective is to promote, protect and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayan region through research, documentation and dissemination.

The scheme covers a defined geography: the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Territory of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Only projects that relate to the cultural heritage of these six areas are considered. The scheme is an institutional grant, not an individual benefit, it supports voluntary organisations, colleges and universities that have the capacity to carry out heritage research and training.

How much financial assistance does the scheme provide?

The scheme provides a grant of up to Rs 10 lakh per project to any single organisation. The financial assistance is available under four activity heads, each with a ceiling of Rs 10 lakh per annum:

• Study and research on cultural heritage.
• Preservation of old manuscripts, literature, art and crafts, and documentation of cultural activities such as music and dance.
• Dissemination through audio-visual programmes of art and culture.
• Training in traditional and folk art.

Two important funding conditions apply. The maximum grant admissible is 75% of the total project cost, subject to the ceiling; the remaining 25% or more must be met by the State/UT administration or from the organisation's own resources. For Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the sharing pattern is more generous; funding is split 90:10 between the Government of India and the organisation.

The grants are ad-hoc and non-recurring in nature. In exceptional cases, the Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) on the scheme is supported to recommend an amount beyond the ceiling but not exceeding Rs 30 lakh, for a proposal of outstanding merit, with the approval of the Minister (Culture) and the concurrence of the Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Ministry of Culture.

Who is eligible for the Himalayan cultural heritage scheme?

An organisation can apply if:

• It is a voluntary organisation registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 or as a public trust under the Indian Trust Act 1882, and has been functioning for at least three years.
• It is a college or university, a college applying for the grant must be affiliated to a university.
• It has the capacity, facilities, resources and personnel to undertake and promote research projects.
• It is not in receipt of grants from any other source for a similar purpose.

Colleges and universities are expected to introduce aspects of the preservation of Himalayan art and culture in their curriculum or research courses, if not already done. Organisations already doing good work in the field, and those able to meet the matching share, are given preference.

Who cannot apply:

• Individuals cannot apply for a personal benefit. This is an institutional research and training grant.
• Organisations that have not completed three years of functioning.
• Organisations against which a previous grant or utilisation certificate is pending — their fresh applications will not be considered.
• Organisations already receiving a grant from another source for the same purpose.

What documents are required?

The organisation must also submit a bond, a resolution, a bank authorisation letter and an agency registration form along with the application.

How to apply for the Himalayan cultural heritage scheme

The scheme uses an offline application routed through the State Government. There is no citizen self-registration.

1. Download the prescribed application form from the Ministry of Culture website (www.indiaculture.nic.in) when applications are invited.
2. Register on NGO-Darpan (ngodarpan.gov.in) to obtain a NITI Aayog Unique ID, and ensure a PFMS User ID and a PAN-linked bank account are in place.
3. Prepare the application: spiral-bound, continuously page-numbered, complete with all documents and a checklist, together with the bond, resolution, bank authorisation letter and agency registration form.
4. Submit through the State Government where the project will be implemented, so the application carries the State's recommendation.
5. For organisations in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and the Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh, applications may be submitted directly to the Ministry of Culture, but only with the recommendation of the District Collector / Deputy Commissioner.
6. Send the recommended application to the Section Officer, BTI Section, Ministry of Culture, Zed Floor, Puratatva Bhawan, D Block, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi–110023.

Incomplete applications, or applications received without the recommendation of the prescribed authority, are summarily rejected.

How is the project monitored?

An organisation receiving assistance is open to inspection by an officer of the Ministry of Culture or the concerned State Government. Ministry officials inspect at least 5% of cases every year, and the District Collector / Deputy Commissioner also monitors the projects. Accounts must be kept separately and are subject to audit, including by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Assets created from the grant cannot be disposed of or used for other purposes without the Government's prior approval. Misuse of funds, or fake registration or documents, makes the executive body liable for recovery and leads to blacklisting.

Help and where to apply

Applications and the prescribed form are handled by the BTI Section, Ministry of Culture, and the form is available on the Ministry of Culture website. The Ministry of Culture has not published a dedicated toll-free helpline for this scheme; queries should be addressed to the BTI Section at the New Delhi address above or through the Ministry of Culture website.