Promotion, protection and preservation of the Himalayan cultural heritage, by providing financial assistance to institutions and voluntary organizations.

Some of the key scopes of the Scheme are as follows –

1. All-pervasive study and research focusing on all aspects of Himalayan cultural heritage.
2. Collection of art and craft objects, along with documentation of cultural artifacts, such as folk music, dance and literature.
3. Dissemination of Himalayan art and culture though audio-visual programmes.
4. Conduction of training in traditional and folk art.
5. Setting up of museums and libraries, and providing of assistance for the same.

The financial assistance will be in accordance with –

a.) The scope and content of the project concerned for which the assistance has been sought.
b.) Recommendations of University Grants Commission (UGC) and the concerned State/Union Territory government/administration.

The maximum quantum of the assistance –

The quantum of the assistance is not to exceed Rs. 5.00 lakhs under normal circumstances. However, it may be increased under exceptional circumstances, and as per the recommendation made by the Expert Committee set up by the Department of Culture.

Certain conditions/riders associated with the grant –

1. The financial assistance will be extended through two or three installments, with the extension of the second installment being dependent on the receipt of proper Utilization Certificate in respect of the first installment.
2. The grantee organization is liable for inspection by the Department of Culture, with its accounts being open to checking by the office of Comptroller and Auditor General.
3. The grantee organization must maintain a record of all assets/activities undertaken by it with the help of the grant.
4. The payment of grant may be stopped, along with the recovery of earlier grants, in case the government (state government/Indian government) feels that the sanctioned money is not being utilized properly.
5. The grantee organization has to furnish periodic progress report – mentioning the progress made in the project concerned – till the completion of the project.

1. The grant can be extended to an organization, institution, society and trust which is registered as a society under the Indian Societies Registration Act or as a public trust under the law for the time being in force, and which has been functioning for a period of three years.
2. The voluntary institution applying for the grant must have the capacity (such as facilities, resources and personnel) to undertake and promote research activities, thereby being able to implement the scheme.
3. The voluntary institution must have appropriate performance acknowledgement from the concerned State government.
4. The organization should have a well-defined constitution, and must not be run for profit by any individual or group of individuals.
5. The concerned institutions, such as Universities should clearly highlight in their curricula or research course those aspects of studies related to preservation of art and culture. In case the applicantinstitution is a college, then it must be affiliated to a University that has satisfactorily highlighted the aspects of Himalayan art and culture preservation studies that it deals with.

Contact

NAI Annex,
Shastri Bhawan,
3rd Floor,
Parliament Street,
New Delhi – 110001.
Phone – 011-23381282,23073047.