Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: The Goa Cabinet has officially approved the Goa State Heritage Policy 2025, marking a milestone initiative aimed at safeguarding the state’s rich cultural, architectural, and intangible heritage.
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has assigned Minister for Archives and Archaeology, Subhash Phal Dessai, to oversee public dissemination and implementation of the policy.
The policy, a first of its kind in India, outlines a wide-ranging framework to identify, preserve, and promote over 200 heritage sites, including more than 100 historic private and government structures.
It also recognizes 46 traditional folk art forms and 61 indigenous occupations, integrating both tangible and intangible heritage under its scope.
Key provisions include financial aid and technical guidance to private heritage homeowners to support restoration and adaptive reuse efforts.
The policy also emphasizes legislative reforms, conservation guidelines, and fire safety protocols for heritage buildings.
A digital documentation initiative is planned to catalogue and make accessible Goa’s heritage assets, alongside sustainable tourism strategies such as heritage trails and cultural festivals.
Community participation features prominently, with the policy proposing educational campaigns and skill-development workshops to instill heritage pride and responsibility among locals.
Implementation is scheduled to begin with the next financial year. Minister Phal Dessai stated the policy could serve as a model for other Indian states to emulate.
