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PRASAD Project

Posted on December 27, 2022 by admin1  2643

In News

  • Recently, the President inaugurated PRASAD project at the tourism facilitation centre in the pilgrim town of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh.
    • The President also had an interactive session with the Chenchu tribe. 

About PRASAD scheme

  • The full form of the PRASAD scheme is ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’. 
  • The scheme was launched in the year 2014-2015.
  • It comes under the Ministry of Tourism. 
  • Aim:
    • This scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience.
    • It aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience. 
  • Funding:
    • The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to state governments under the Prasad scheme to promote tourism at pilgrim sites. 
    • The Central Government will cover 100% of the costs under this program. 
    • For improved sustainability, it also includes a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
  • Cities Identified Under PRASAD Scheme: 
    • Amritsar (Punjab).
    • Kedarnath (Uttarakhand).
    • Mathura (Uttar Pradesh).
    • Ajmer (Rajasthan).
    • Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
    • Gaya (Bihar).
    • Kamakhya (Assam).
    • Dwaraka (Gujarat).
    • Puri (Odisha).
    • Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh).
    • Kanchipuram(Tamil Nadu).
    • Velankanni (Tamil Nadu).

Chenchu tribe

  • It is a Dravidian tribe.
  • It is designated as Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Odisha.
    • Many Chenchus live in the sparse and deciduous Nallamala forest of Andhra Pradesh. 
  • They are an aboriginal tribe whose traditional way of life has been based on hunting and gathering.

 

Significance of the PRASAD scheme 

  • Promoting religious tourism: The growth of domestic tourism hugely depends on pilgrimage tourism.
    • The scheme paves the way for the development and promotion of religious tourism in India.
  • Job creation: to reap advantage of pilgrimage tourism’s multiplier and direct effects on job creation and economic development.
  • Development: In the development of pilgrimage locations, it will adhere to the pro-poor tourist philosophy and community-based development.
  • Making use of public resources and skills.
  • Infrastructure: It will develop world-class infrastructure in religious places to sustainably increase tourism appeal.
  • Knowledge: It will increase local community knowledge of the relevance of tourism to them in terms of improved living conditions, increased sources of income, and overall region development.
  • It will develop livelihood in the specified areas, promote local culture, arts, food, handicrafts, and so on. 

Other Government initiatives

  • Swadesh Darshan Scheme:
    • It is a Central Sector scheme launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
    • It aims at integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
    • This scheme is envisioned to synergise with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. with the idea of positioning the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation, the driving force for economic growth, building synergy with various sectors to enable tourism to realise its potential.
  • Adopt a Heritage:
    • This project is envisioned to fulfill the objective to provide an enhanced tourism experience to all travellers. 
    • It aims at ensuring quality & inclusive provision of amenities and facilities across heritage, natural, & tourist sites through active participation of private and public sector organizations and individuals. 
    • These organizations would be known as “Monument Mitras” for their collaboration initiative. 
  • Iconic Tourist Sites initiative
    • It aims at overall development from the tourism point of view in and around these sites which includes roads and infrastructure, hotels and lodges, connectivity and access.
    • Sites:
      • Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh)
      • Ajanta & Ellora (Maharashtra)
      • Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and Qutub Minar (Delhi)
      • Colva (Goa)
      • Amer Fort (Rajasthan)
      • Somnath and Dholavira (Gujarat)
      • Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh)
      • Hampi (Karnataka)
      • Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu)
      • Kaziranga (Assam)
      • Kumarakom (Kerala)
      • Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar)
      • Konark Sun Temple (Odisha)
      • Kevadia (Gujarat) 
      • Golconda Fort (Telangana).
  • Dekho apna Desh
    • It is a webinar series.
    • The purpose of starting the webinar series was to maintain a dialogue and introduce the citizens to the history, culture, cuisine, heritage, architecture, etc.

Source: TH

 
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