Short Description
The Indian government is set to allot land for a memorial dedicated to former PM Manmohan Singh, awaiting the establishment of a corresponding trust for its construction.
Read Time
Approximately 4 minutes and 15 seconds.
Main Article
The Indian political landscape is preparing to honor former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with a dedicated memorial, but the process for land allotment is taking longer than anticipated. Sources indicate that this delay is primarily due to procedural requirements: the government can designate land for memorials only to a registered trust, which has yet to be established in this case. This is reminiscent of the memorial process for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, where land was allotted to the Atal Samiti Nyas—a trust that was formed over a month after his passing in August 2018.
Currently, the government is assessing available land parcels around the Raj Ghat area, which has become the traditional site for memorials dedicated to prominent Indian leaders. While officials have noted that the land can be earmarked, the actual construction must be overseen by a registered trust. The complexities of establishing such a trust for Singh’s memorial highlight the bureaucratic steps involved in memorializing a public figure in India.
In the case of Vajpayee, the process transitioned from trust formation to applying for land and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The design of his memorial was crafted by the School of Planning and Architecture, which underscores the importance of professional input in such memorial projects. Currently, stakeholders suggest that land ranging from one to 1.5 acres is being considered for Singh’s memorial, which aligns with the standard for the size of memorials within the Raj Ghat complex.
Given the recent adjustments in policy, land is now exclusively allotted to registered trusts, emphasizing the need for administrative preparedness in such memorial endeavors. With 19 existing memorials in the Raj Ghat area dedicated to former Presidents and Prime Ministers, the bar has been set high in terms of design and execution. Notably, the space dedicated to Vajpayee occupies 1.5 acres and serves as a functional example for future projects. It takes about four to five days for a trust to be officially registered, but given the high-profile nature of Singh’s memorial, all eyes are on the government to expedite this procedure.
Short Summary
The memorial for former PM Manmohan Singh is poised to be established around Raj Ghat, with the government awaiting the formation of a registered trust. As the bureaucratic processes unfold, effective land assessment and public engagement remain crucial for honoring this significant figure in Indian politics.
