PRASHAD projects
- Ministry of Tourism recently inaugurated various components of the “Development of Govardhan, Mathura '' project under PRASHAD Scheme.
- The government also allocated funds under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for strengthening Tourism infrastructure within the state of Uttar Pradesh through various spiritual circuits such as the Ramayana and Buddha circuits.
PRASHAD Scheme:
- National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
- The name of the scheme was changed from PRASAD to “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)” in October 2017.
- After the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development discontinued the HRIDAYscheme, the development of Heritage destinations was included in the PRASAD Scheme, changing it to PRASHAD.
- Under the PRASHAD Scheme, several religious cities/sites have been identified for development such as Amaravati and Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Parasuram Kund (Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), etc.
Implementation Agency
- The projects are implemented through the identified agencies by the respective State/ Union Territory Government.
Funding Mechanism
- The Central Government provides 100% funding for the project components undertaken for public funding.
- It also seeks to leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for improved sustainability of the projects
Objective of the scheme:
- Promote pilgrimage tourism for its direct and indirect effect on employment generation and economic development.
- Follow pro-poor tourism concept and community-based development
- Leveraging public expertise and capital.
- Developing world-class infrastructure in religious destinations to attract tourists.
- Create awareness amongst the local communities about the importance of tourism
- Promote local culture, arts, cuisine, handicrafts, etc., to generate livelihood in the identified places.