Heritage Recovery Plan Handover Program at Kirtipur Municipality

 Lumanti Support Group for Shelter organized a program titled "Heritage Recovery Plan Handover Program at Kirtipur Municipality" on 4th January 2021. 
The program organized in coordination with local community, local government and other concerned stakeholders. It is part of the UN-Habitat supported project "Parya Sampada" project to prepare heritage recovery plan of three traditional settlements of Kirtipur Municipality; Kirtipur, Panga and Chovar of the 10 heritage settlements of Kathmandu valley where Lumanti is currently working.
Various key stakeholders of the project including Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Ward Chairpersons, government officials, community members, representative of partner organizations and stakeholders attended the program. 
 
The program formally started with the welcome speech from Dr. Anita Manandhar, Chairperson of Lumanti Support Group for Shelter.Ms. Shristina Shrestha, from the technical team, made a detail presentation on Heritage Recovery Plan of Kirtipur. Ms. Lumanti Joshi, Housing Program Manager of LUMANTI organization, described the Heritage Recovery Program based on the theme "Sustainable Tourism and Green Growth of Heritage Settlements" (Parya Sampada) and its objectives.  The recovery plan has been prepared in other 10 traditional settlements of four municipalities including Kirtipur. Mr. Anil Sthapit, General Secretary of Lumanti Support Group for Shelter, explained about the importance of heritage and monuments in human civilization. 
 
Dr. Suresh Suras Shrestha, Head of World Heritage Section, Department of Archaeology, drew the attention of participants and experts about the lack of participatory approach in heritage conservation. Ms. Saraswoti Khadka, Deputy Mayor, Kirtipur Municipality expressed her vote of thanks to Lumanti, UN-Habitat and the entire team for the successful completion of Heritage Recovery Program at Kirtipur Municipality. Mr. Ramesh Maharjan, Mayor, Kirtipur Municipality illustrated the context of the destruction of traditional architecture and how we distanced ourselves from our roots. He also informed about the existing gap between Municipality and local community about the understanding of heritage and need for its preservation.
 
The different government officials expressed their remarks on project activities and process and coordination in local level. Kirtipur Municipality honored Lumanti team and UN-Habitat with the Token of Love at the end of the event.
 
On conclusion remarks, Mr. Padma Sunder Joshi, Habitat Program Manager, UN-Habitat also a chairperson of the program, formally declared the successful completion of the event. The importance of economic aspects in preservation of heritage was highlighted and tourism as one of the by-product of heritage. He explained that the documentation is an important step for heritage conservation. Lastly, he expressed vote of thanks to all the participants. The program was conducted by Community Architect Ms. Parikshya Singh from Lumanti organization.