Chennai: Being a guide at the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monuments from now on will not be an easy affair. Those desiring to be a guide should be a graduate in history and hold a degree in tourism or hotel management in addition. He should be fluent in more than one language and possess a knowledge of at least one foreign language in addition to English!
As per the new policy, there will be only one category of guide known as ASI Monument Guide who will be authorised to work in the centrally protected monuments and sites of the ASI in India for which he will be licenced. The new guide policy has come into effect from September 7.
This premier organisation, under the Union ministry of culture, administers and manages 3,687 ancient monuments and archaeological sites through its 29 circles and three mini circles.
Further, the ASI will assess the number of tourist guides for each monument or group of monument based on the footfall, growth potential, extent and size of monuments and this process will be carried out once in five years.
These stringent measures follows an indictment by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on the present status and recommending to the Centre to amend the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1959 to empower states to issue licences to guides, which hitherto has been the prerogative of the ASI.
The minimum age for applying for the licence is 21 years, while renewal of licence of a guide over 60 years of age would be subject to medical fitness.
They will be selected through written tests and interview which would be conducted by a committee, comprising not less than three experts, one each from ASI, Union ministry of tourism and another expert as ASI may deem fit and proper.
