The Goa State Heritage Policy 2025, the first-ever state-level heritage policy in India, has been formally submitted to the Chairman of the Heritage Policy Monitoring Committee and Social Welfare & Archives, Archaeology Minister Subhash Phal Dessai. Chairman of the Policy Drafting Panel, Dr Pandurang R. Phaldessai handed over the draft Policy.
The submission marks the conclusion of a rigorous multi-stakeholder consultative, deliberation and the drafting process that began in November 2023 under the directives of the Government of Goa.
The 172 pages policy with focus on 14 core areas, has identified more than 200 historic, archaeological and heritage locations, prepared a checklist of more than 100 private and Government buildings having historic and heritage value, considered 46 distinct, authentic folk forms of Goa and acknowledged 61 accredited local age old traditional occupations thus ensuring a holistic approach.
The drafting process followed a structured mandate with focus on 14 core areas aimed at creating a robust policy framework to preserve and promote Goa’s tangible and intangible heritage while fostering sustainable development.
Key directives included legislative reforms, the integration of private heritage homes into broader heritage preservation and tourism strategies, the alignment of Goa’s efforts with global standards like those of UNESCO and ICOMOS, and the establishment of community-centric approaches to heritage conservation.
The policy underscores an integrated strategy for conservation, focusing on tangible assets such as historical monuments, religious landmarks, and traditional village architecture, as well as intangible heritage, including festivals, traditional crafts, and oral traditions. A significant feature of the policy is the emphasis on legislative reforms, conservation guidelines and private heritage homes, with provisions for financial assistance, technical support, and recognition programs to aid in their maintenance. It also promotes the adaptive reuse of these properties for sustainable purposes such as cultural tourism and educational initiatives, ensuring the preservation of their historical and cultural value.
Incorporating best practices from national and international frameworks, the policy includes a robust digital documentation initiative to catalogue and safeguard Goa’s heritage assets for global accessibility and future generations.
It also proposes sustainable tourism measures, including eco-friendly heritage trails and cultural festivals, designed to balance conservation with tourism development. Community engagement is a cornerstone of the policy, with proposed educational workshops, awareness campaigns, and skill-building programs aimed at fostering local participation and pride in heritage preservation.
Phal Dessai commended the submission of the final draft, stating, “This policy prepared for the first time in our country represents a monumental step by our popular BJP government in Goa under the dynamic leadership of CM Dr Pramod Sawant and inspired by a visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi in safeguarding Goa’s unique heritage while promoting sustainable development. By incorporating provisions for private heritage homes and aligning with global standards, this policy ensures that Goa’s cultural legacy remains protected for future generations. The policy will now follow due administrative procedures before being placed before the cabinet for approval.”
The secretary Archaeology Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, informed that with the final draft submitted, the policy will advance through the necessary scrutiny and standard administrative processes before presentation to the Goa Cabinet. Following its approval within a few months, the policy will be translated in Konkani and Marathi, published in the Official Gazette and then the implementation phase may commence hopefully from 2025-26, guided by detailed action plans, funding mechanisms, and monitoring systems to ensure its success; stated a press release.
