Home Knowledge Path to Progress... Swadeshi Darshan Yojna

Path to Progress... Swadeshi Darshan Yojna

by Madhavi Mihir Bhuta (National Executive Member, BJP Mahila Morcha)
Apr 08, 2021
Path to Progress... Swadeshi Darshan Yojna, Knowledge, KonexioNetwork.com

Bharat, our motherland is blessed with lavish cultural, historical, religious and natural heritage, providing a massive potential for growth of Tourism and relative job creation.

Attracting tourists, domestic as well as global, boosts the churning of money and creating revenue for remote and far away destinations with tourism related significance.

There exists a great scope to inspire tourism to a large extent if development is based on integrated approach of Tourist Circuit.

Various themes which are unique and specific to the area such as Wildlife, Beaches, Culture, Heritage etc. are developed in a manner that supports the communities, provide enjoyment and foster social integration without comprising upon the environmental concerns providing unique experiences to the tourists.

Recognising this aspect, the Government of Bharat under the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for development of theme  based tourist circuits in the year 2014-15.

Theme based Circuits include Himalayan, Buddhist, Coastal, Wildlife, Desert, Eco, Heritage, Krishna, Ramayan, North East, Rural, Spiritual, Sufi, Tirthankar and Tribal.

Total amount sanctioned  (INR Crores) has been 5,895.56 Cr.for 75 projects.

117.61 Cr. were allocated in the first year of its launch in 2014-15 for 2 projects.

In the year 2015-16, allocation of fund increased to 1461.98 Crores for 17 projects.

In the year 2016-17, another 36 projects were added, for 3007.25 Crores.

In the year 2017-18, 818.09 Crores were sanctioned for 11 more projects.

In the year 2018-19, 490.62 Crores were sanctioned for further 9 projects.

The Himalayan Circuit pays homage to the Bharatiya Himalayan region, occupying the strategic positions of the entire northern border of the nation, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and North Eastern region.

The Buddhist Circuit is the route that follows in the footsteps of Buddha in Bharat. The sites on the route -all over 2500 years old, are most significant and sacred for all Buddhists.
The states covered in the Circuit are Bodhigaya (Bihar), Sarnath and Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh), Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh.

Ramayan Circuit consists of Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur in (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar, Darbhanga in (Bihar), Chitrakoot on Madhya Pradesh as well as Uttar Pradesh, Mahendragiri (Odisha), Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, Nashik and Nagpur in Maharashtra, Bhadrachalam in Telangana, Hampi in Karnataka and Rameshwaram in Tamilnadu.

Krishna Circuit (Places associated with Lord Krishna) include Dwarka (Gujarat), Nathdwara, Jaipur and Sikar (Rajasthan), Kurukshetra (Haryana), Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon, Govardhan (Uttar Pradesh) and Puri in (Odisha).

The longest coastline of Bharat (7,517 kms) is dotted with several world class beaches spread over Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal.

Bharat is also endowed with island gems of Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and several such islands across the states.

Wildlife Circuit aimed at sustainable, ecological and nature centric development across the multitude of national and state wildlife preserves and sanctuaries in Bharat.
States covered are Madhya Pradesh and Assam.

The Desert Circuit includes the Thar desert to the arid lands of Kutch and Rajasthan.

The Heritage Circuit includes 36 UNESCO world heritage sites and about 36 in tentative list.

States covered are Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam.

The Eco Tourism Circuit aims at creating a positive interface between tourists and nature. 

The states covered are Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Jharkhand, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

The development of Rural Circuit is aimed at laveraging the power of tourism as a force multiplier for revitalising the rural economy and for giving, both the domestic and international tourists, a glimpse into the ‘true’ Bharat.

The states covered are the development of Gandhi Circuit - Bhitiharwa-Chandralia-Turkaulia in Bihar, Malaunad -Malabar Cruise project in Kerala.

Tirthankar Circuit aims at developing all the destinations associated with the lives and activities of the Jain Tirthankars, who have always spread the message of non-violence, love and enlightenment.

North East Circuit includes Tourist Centric Development in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam.
Bharat, is a land professing Spirituality. 

The Spiritual Circuit contains Shree Padmanabhan Swamy, Aranmula and Sabrimala (Kerala).Rajasthan, Puducherry, Bihar and Manipur.

Tribal Circuit showcases variety of tribes, their indigenous culture and also the rich and diverse natural sets in the states.

The states included are Chhattisgarh (1st TC-13 Tourism sites), Nagaland and Telangana.

Sufi Circuit in Bharat aims at celebrating the age old Sufi tradition of the country.

States covered are Golden Triangle ( Delhi-Agra-Jaipur), Maharashtra, Bihar.

The paramount objective of Swadesh Darshan Yojna is generating revenue, no doubt, but it is a major source of employment creation. 

Every tourist place requires local Guide to educate and inform the tourist about the historical heritage of the place. 

Along with that local food stalls and stalls exhibiting local artefacts also get boost.

Hence, Swadesh Darshan Yojna, empowers entrepreneurship providing opportunities.

Bharatiya Railway has started various trains denoted to different Circuits, which has turned into source of revenue for the Railway.

The other means of transportation also receive augmentation, through increased flow of tourists.

A solid infrastructural facility is essential for progress of tourism.

It sets the foundation for alleviation in tourism.

Building of infrastructure provides colossal occasion for employment.

Shyam, lived in small village near Kushinagar in Bihar. He belonged to poor farming background but had immense interest in History. He had graduated in History from Patna University and was looking for acquiring job in teaching profession. Unable to get any permanent posting, Shyam had started getting desperate and was contemplating migrating to bigger cities far away and get job as a labourer, shattering his dream of teaching students History.

With implementation of Swadesh Darshan Yojna, his village became part of Buddhist Circuit and new avenues for serving as Guide to tourist, opened up before him.

His education in History came in handy and he turned into full fledged tourist guide. Later on, he initiated local tour service and prospered.

Sylvia and her family of four resides in hilly town of Meghalaya. Her husband works in local hospital as Accountant. They lived in a beautiful cottage inherited from fore-fathers. 
Their two children were growing up and so does their monetary needs. 

Sylvia found a unique way to supplement the household income by creating a Home Stay facility at her large home. 

As their town was part of North Eastern Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Yojna, and hence the increasing tourist flow, could be absorbed in Home Stay facility, providing glimpse of authentic Meghalaya food and the life style.

Hon. Prime Minister has been ‘Man of soil’ During his Organisational work days, he had travelled the length and breadth of our country and absorbed its uniqueness in his soul.
It was vital to show case the vibrancy of our nation to the world, to its fullest. 

Swadesh Darshan Yojna portrays the saga of Bharat’s greatness to the globe along with becoming the growth engine for the economic Progress.