PRASHAD SCHEME - GOVERNMENT SCHEME
News: Citizens
to press for heritage committee’s approval, stakeholders’ involvement in
implementing PRASHAD scheme on Chamundi Hills
What's in the news?
● The
citizen's committee to save Chamundi
Hills and its environment has resolved to press for clearance from the
heritage committee before the implementation of development works at the hill
top under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD).
Key takeaways:
● The
PRASHAD scheme is a Union Government project and infrastructure works worth
₹49.5 crore will be taken up ostensibly for providing amenities to the
tourists.
● The
details of the scheme remain sketchy and has drawn the ire of the citizens,
activists and NGOs in the absence of any credible information.
PRASHAD Scheme:
● It
was launched in 2014-15 and the full form of the PRASAD scheme is ‘Pilgrimage
Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’.
● The
PRASAD scheme aims at paving the way for the development and promotion of religious tourism in India.
Administrative Control: Ministry of Tourism.
Objectives:
● The
scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for
enriching the religious tourism experience.
● It
aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations
in a prioritized, planned and sustainable manner to provide a complete
religious tourism experience. The growth of domestic tourism hugely depends on
pilgrimage tourism.
Features:
● The
Ministry of Tourism provides Central
Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments for promoting tourism at
identified destinations.
● For
components within public funding under this scheme, the Central Government will
provide a 100% fund.
● For
improved sustainability of the project, it also seeks to involve Public Private Partnership (PPP) and
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as well.