Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday that India would donate a million dollars to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (Unesco) World Heritage Centre which oversees the conservation of 1,199 world sites and designates new sites for protection.

“My friends, India also considers world heritage its responsibility. Hence, in addition to India’s heritage, we also assist in the conservation of the heritage of the Global South. India is assisting in the conservation of many sites including Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, the Cham Temples of Vietnam, and the stupa at Bagan in Myanmar,” Modi said during his speech at the inauguration of the World Heritage Committee Meeting (WHCM), which India is hosting for the first time.

He added: “In this direction, I am making another important announcement today. India will make a contribution of $1 million to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. This grant will be used for capacity building, technical assistance, and the conservation of world heritage sites. This money will especially be of use to countries of the Global South.”

At the WHCM, which will take place at the Bharat Mandapam until July 31, proposals for nominating new sites, State of Conservation reports of 124 existing World Heritage properties, funding and utilisation would be discussed by more than 2,000 delegates from across the world.