Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana is a heritage-oriented government scheme of Odisha that aims to preserve and showcase the legacy of eminent personalities of the state by developing their native places and houses as heritage villages and museums.
Meaning of the name
- Baraputra literally means “great sons”, and in this scheme it refers to eminent sons of Odisha such as freedom fighters, poets, litterateurs, educationists and social reformers who have made outstanding contributions to Odia society and culture.
- Aitihya Gram Yojana means a “heritage village scheme”, i.e. a planned programme to develop selected villages or native places as centres of cultural and historical heritage linked to these personalities.
Core idea of the scheme
- The scheme’s main objective is to preserve both tangible heritage (houses, birthplaces, related sites) and intangible heritage (values, ideas, movements) associated with these eminent Odias, and to use them as inspiration for future generations.
- It aims to convert their native places into structured, budget-supported heritage hubs that promote cultural awareness, pride in Odia identity and sustainable local development through tourism and community participation.
Key features
- Birthplaces or residential houses of identified personalities are to be developed as heritage museums with facilities like interpretation centres, libraries, conference halls, open-air theatres, children’s parks and other public amenities.
- Statues and memorials will be erected, and spaces for local cuisine, handicrafts and handloom products will be created so that nearby communities gain livelihood opportunities linked to heritage tourism.
Activities and outreach
- The scheme also provides for seminars, discussions, cultural programmes and interactive sessions on the life, thoughts and core values of these Baraputras to spread their ideas among students, youth and visitors.
- In the first phase, the government has identified 25 eminent sons of Odisha whose native places will be developed, with provision for significant financial assistance per site to build and maintain these heritage assets.
Exam‑oriented takeaway (for quick notes)
- Name: Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana – heritage village scheme to honour eminent “sons of Odisha”.
- Implementing state: Odisha; focus on developing birthplaces of freedom fighters, social reformers, cultural icons into heritage museums with tourism-linked infrastructure
OPSC Prelims Question (MCQ type):
With reference to the Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana approved by Odisha Cabinet, consider the following statements:
1. It aims to develop birthplaces of eminent Odia personalities as heritage villages.
2. In Phase-I, 25 such villages have been identified for development.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
OPSC Mains Question (Descriptive type):
Discuss the key features of Odisha's Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana and its role in preserving the legacy of eminent sons of the state. Suggest measures to enhance its impact on cultural tourism and youth inspiration. (150 words)
Exam Relevance
- Prelims alignment: Matches OPSC's Odisha-specific GK section with statement-based factual questions on state schemes, testing scheme objectives and Phase-I details.
- Mains alignment: Fits Odisha Economic Service/OPSC mains GS papers (History/Culture/Economy), requiring analysis of scheme features like museums, memorials, tourism infra and suggestions for sustainability.