New Delhi, June 4 (IANS): India has been elected for the next four years to the UN body for safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of nations, groups and individuals.
In a vote this morning at UNESCO headquarters by the General Assembly of the States Party to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, India won the election by a resounding 135 votes out a total of 142 votes cast by member states who were present and voting, said an external affairs ministry statement.
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has 24 members who are elected for a term of four years.
The core functions of the committee are to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage (ICH), ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of nations, groups and individuals, as also to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage.
This is the second time that India has been elected to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the earlier term being from 2006-2010.