PRASAD Scheme:- The Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India introduced the PRASAD program in 2014–2015. Pragmatic Retreat and Spiritual Enhancement Drive is the full name of the PRASAD program. The goal of this program is to enhance the religious tourism experience by creating and cataloging pilgrimage sites around India. Its objective is to offer a comprehensive religious tourist experience by integrating pilgrimage places in a planned, sustainable, and prioritized way.
Tourism related to pilgrimages is a major factor in the expansion of domestic travel. The government must develop the chosen pilgrimage sites holistically and with the assistance of other stakeholders in order to fully realize the potential of pilgrimage tourism. Developing and promoting religious tourism in India is the goal of the PRASAD initiative.
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Overview of PRASAD SCHEME
| Name | PRASAD Scheme |
| Full name | Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive Scheme |
| Launched by | Government of India |
| Changed Name | National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Tourism |
| Launch Year | 2015 |
| Objective | integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in a prioritized, planned, and sustainable manner in order to provide a complete religious tourism experience. |
| Official website | Click Here |
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Objectives of the PRASAD Scheme
The following are the goals of the PRASAD scheme:
- Utilise pilgrimage travel’s multiplier and direct effects on the creation of jobs and economic growth.
- When developing pilgrimage locations, take into consideration community-based development and pro-poor tourism concepts.
- utilizing funds and knowledge from the public sector.
- Constructing top-notch infrastructure at places of worship will increase their allure to tourists in a sustainable manner.
- Make the local populations aware of the benefits of tourism to them, including higher living standards, more revenue streams, and overall regional development.
- Encourage the development of regional handicrafts, food, art, and culture to help the designated areas become self-sufficient.
Functioning of the PRASAD Scheme
The Ministry of Tourism has created a Mission Directorate to oversee the PRASAD initiative. To put this plan into action, the Mission Directorate chooses initiatives for the designated cities and works with the states, UTs, and other relevant parties.
A Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee approves the projects that the Mission Directorate submits. A National Steering Committee has also been formed to supervise, direct, and evaluate the entire plan.
100% of the funding for initiatives funded by public funds comes from the Central Government. The goal of this program is to increase the sustainability of the programs it supports by utilizing the public-private partnership (PPP) and volunteer funding available for corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Eligibility Components Under the PRASAD Scheme
The following project components meet the requirements to be eligible for Central Financial Assistance under the scheme:
- Infrastructure development encompasses the following: the construction of passenger terminals for air, sea, and rail transportation.
- ATMs and currency exchange kiosks can be found in tourist information and interpretation facilities.
- Wayside amenities offer emergency car repair, breakdown, and refueling facilities.
- informative and directional signs.
- Generally speaking, these include things like planting trees, filling in the dirt, adding drinking water, lights, fences, pavements, trash cans, and seating/shelters.
- external infrastructures include roads, electricity, water supply, drainage, and sewers.
- Historic buildings and monuments: preservation, illumination, and restoration.
- First aid stations, restrooms, waiting rooms, and cloakrooms.
- Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile services, phone booths, and internet connectivity all contribute to improved communication.
- Knowledge management, skill development, and capacity building include training and skill development courses with a short length under the “Hunar Se Rozgar Tak” and “Earn While You Learn” initiatives.
- expansion of training programs in tourism and hospitality, as well as the involvement of providers of vocational training.
- A focus on utilizing the talent and knowledge of the local arts and crafts community.
- preservation and documentation of the tourism knowledge base for further use.
- An online presence that incorporates mobile applications and dynamic, intelligent portal construction based on geographic information systems.
- System for managing projects.
- portal for knowledge with permissions.
- reporting and data analysis.
- The following are the project components that are inadmissible under the scheme and are not eligible to receive assistance:
- Purchasing land for construction.
- program for rehabilitation and resettlement, as well as management, upkeep, and operation of the newly developed assets.
- Enhancement or acquisition of privately owned properties or assets.
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Cities Identified Under PRASAD Scheme
The states and other relevant parties are consulted when the Ministry of Tourism chooses the pilgrimage sites. The cities listed below are included in the PRASAD program:
- 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).
Funding of the PRASAD Scheme
- The Ministry of Tourism establishes a Mission Directorate to carry out the PRASAD program. The Ministry offers State Governments Central Financial Assistance to promote tourism at certain locations.
- The Central Government provides 100% of the money for components included in public funding, and the program aims to include both public-private partnerships (PPP) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to increase the project’s sustainability.
- The updated forecasts for 2014–2015 included a budgetary allowance of rupees 15.60 crore. Under this initiative, the first installment of Rs. 85.78 lakh was made available for the provision of basic amenities at the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya, Bihar.
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FAQ’s
Q. When was the Prasad plan launched?
Ans- In 2014–2015, the Indian government started the PRASAD program through the Ministry of Tourism. ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ is the full name of the program.
Q. Which shrines are covered by the Prasad scheme?
Ans- PRASHAD Programme: Four pilgrims are designated by the Ministry of Tourism. The Maa Chamundeshwari Devi Temple in Mysuru, Sri Madhwa Vana in Kunjarugiri, Papnash Temple in Bidar District, and Sri Renuka Yallamma Temple in Saudatti, Belagavi District are the four pilgrimage sites that the Karnataka Ministry of Tourism has designated.
Q. How is the Prasad Scheme funded?
Ans- Implementation Agency: The corresponding State/Union Territory Government will use the agencies designated to carry out the projects included in this scheme. Source of Funding: For projects that are undertaken for public money, the Central Government contributes 100% of the funding.
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