“Vikas & Virasat Conclave 1” has been conceived by Jaipur Virasat Foundation and its partners not for profit organizations, in partnership with the Government of Rajasthan. Kindly note that Confederation of Construction Products and services (CCPS) as a member of JVF’s partner consortium, is coordinating and facilitating the conclave.

To complement the conclave, an Exhibition: "Rajasthan - Conservation Challenges and the Dynamics of a Living Heritage" would also be organized by JVF-DRONAH Heritage Studio at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, for two weeks starting on 19th January 2010. Site visits would be organized on 20th January to see local heritage related projects already underway, and to provide opportunities for further interaction among delegates.

Both conclave and exhibition are part of the 2010 Jaipur Heritage International Festival (JHIF) Jan 15th-25th –a UNESCO endorsed “peoples’ platform for creativity & sustainable development” that was started by JVF as a citizens’ initiative in 2003 to raise awareness of the value and potential of Rajasthan’s heritage. From JHIF, the world famous Jaipur Literature Festival (Jan 21st - 24th) emerged and has since become an autonomous and interrelated, world famous, event.

Background Note

VIKAS & VIRASAT 2010–13 is a four-year pilot initiative of the Rajasthan State Government working with experts, civil society, and local citizenry towards building a heritage-based creative economy in Rajasthan. Its key objectives are poverty alleviation, inclusive development and conservation of the region’s rich and composite heritage. V&V is to be implemented through a new Rajasthan Heritage Council, headed by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and its secretariat a Rajasthan Heritage Authority through a provision in the Town & Country Planning Bill currently under scrutiny by the Rajasthan Government. About 70% of the first year’s budget from the state government will go to the historic built environment; 30% will be invested to foster new heritage based skills and livelihood opportunities, and to spread awareness of the program. The Authority will seek to equalize the investment through support from other sources. It is significant that this is the first time in India that any state government has funded (Rupees ten crores for year one) an interdisciplinary, people and heritage-based development strategy of this nature, as a long term partnership of government with experts, civil society and the people.

Back to festival program