THE INDIAN NATIONAL TRUST FOR ART AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is the only nationwide, non-governmental, non-profit Indian organisation working for the spread of awareness and conservation of the nation’s culture and heritage — natural, living, tangible and intangible. It was founded it in 1984 with the initiative taken by Smt Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi was the first chairman of this society headquartered in New Delhi with chapters in 117 Indian cities, and in Belgium, UK and USA as well. In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH with a special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. INTACH has undertaken restoration of monuments and oversees their management as well. It has advocated conservation of heritage property and tried to enhance public awareness through heritage walks, setting up heritage clubs in schools, and holding workshops for school and college teachers and for guides at heritage sites. Over the years, INTACH has taken up restoration and protection of innumerable monuments outside the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India and other government agencies, and sometimes, local authorities have handed over heritage structures directly to INTACH for their upkeep. Its other missions are documentation, development of heritage policy and regulations, providing expertise, fostering collaborations with government and other national and international agencies and generating sponsorships for conservation and educational projects.
http://intach.org/

Soumitra Das