Policy backfire?

Aimed at curbing the presence of touts around monuments, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has introduced a new policy that authorises only ASI certified guides to work in centrally protected monuments and sites managed by the group. The licensing of guides will be done by ASI; while the licences certified by the Ministry of Tourism are considered valid, guides will still have to undergo the necessary examinations by ASI until Sept 7, 2017, after which fresh licences will be issued for the next five years.

The new policy has caused a furore among the industry mainly due to the changes in the eligibility criteria that mandates a bachelor’s degree in history. Several guides who have been working for decades might find themselves unqualified and, eventually, jobless under the new directive. Aside from that, there will be only one category for them – ASI monument guide, as opposed to the previous regional, state or monument category. The policy seems to have been formed in a haste without taking feedback into consideration from the sector. It is currently being challenged by several tourism bodies who have taken the matter to the Supreme Court.