The ancient culture that portrays our national identity inspires Respect and Worship.
Bhartiya culture, nurtured on the soil of our motherland has imbibed the values of respecting our elders. These values are the legacy that our forefathers have passed on from generation to generation.
In the earlier times, with minimum means of commutation, pilgrimage was a dream seldom fulfilled. People grew old wishing that someday they will get an opportunity to join in on a big group of pilgrims. The path was arduous and travel was difficult.
Bharat, a nation with rich cultural heritage, is blessed with innumerable religious places of various sects. With inventions of efficient means of transport, common men began travelling and exploring more.
Each of Mythological, religious and historical venues have been on wish list of majority of Bharatiya tourist as notable saga is attached to them.
Unfortunately, Tourism is one sector that has been grossly neglected since independence. It has always been considered a tertiary sector which held significance limited to fun time, relaxation activity.
Tourism in reality is a huge source of economic activity that can foster and play an important role in taking forward the nation’s growth.
Gujarat, till Modiji’s tenure as CM, was hardly a tourist attraction, even though it had some of the important world heritage sites. Modiji’s unique touch of presenting the numerous Melas and colourful festivals of Gujarat‘s cultural heritage created fascinating allure and boosted the state’s tourism. Revamping the infrastructural facilities along with a mesmerising campaign of “Khushboo Gujarat Ki” by Shri. Amitabh Bachchan brought the magical upliftment in tourist flow to state.
Narendra Modiji led Government at the Center has understood the significance of Tourism as an industry and its importance in economic growth along with its social, religious and sentimental values.
Under the able leadership of visionary leader, Narendra Modiji, the Ministry of Tourism launched the PRASAD scheme that aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable manner in order to provide a complete religious tourism experience.
The focus of Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive- PRASAD has embarked on the development and beautification of the identified pilgrimage destination under HRIDAY Scheme.
Earlier, 12 cities identified under the scheme as mentioned below:
1. Kamakhya (Assam)
2.Amaravati ((Andhra Pradesh)
3. Dwaraka (Gujarat)
4. Gays (Bihar)
5. Amritsar (Punjab)
6. Ajmer (Rajasthan)
7. Puri (Odisha)
8. Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)
9. Kanchipuram ( Tamilnadu)
10. Velankanni (Tamilnadu)
11. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
12. Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)
Later a few more religious destination were added to the list under the PRASAD scheme.
They are:
Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh,
Parasuram Kund in Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh,
Patna in Bihar,
Somnath in Gujarat,
Bamleshwari Devi Temple in Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh,
Gurudwara Nada Sahib in Panchkula in Haryana,
Hazratbala and Katra (Jammu & Kashmir),
Deogarh and Parasnath (Jharkhand),
Chamundeshwari Devi Temple in Mysuru in Karnataka,
Guruvayur and St. Thomas International Shrine (Malayattoor),
Cheraman Jumma Mosque (Thissur, Kerala),
Omkareshwar and Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh),
Babedpara in West Jaintia Hills and Sohra (Meghalaya),
Aizwal (Mizoram),
Kohima and Mokokchng District (Nagaland),
Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra),
Tripurasundari (Tripura),
Maa Chintpurni in Una (Himachal Pradesh),
Badrinath-Kedarnath-Gangotri-Yamunotri
and Belur in (Bengal).
The entire scheme is centrally funded. Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is providing financial assistance to various States and Union Territory for aesthetic development and Rejuvenation of these sites.
The key objectives of PRASAD scheme is creation of a world class infrastructure at the pilgrim sites to enhance tourist attractiveness, harness pilgrimage tourism for its direct and multiplier effect on infrastructure development, employment generation and economic growth, Promotion of local arts, culture, handicrafts and cuisine etc. to improve livelihood of people in these areas and to strengthen the measures of safety and security of pilgrim site and to improve the quality of tourism services.
The Ministry of Tourism has undertaken development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities at various Buddhist sites in the country under this scheme. Swadesh Darshan Scheme has been included in Buddhist circuits under which Buddhist sites are being promoted. 30 projects of development of infrastructure under Buddhist circuit have been undertaken under the PRASAD scheme. Iconic Buddhist Tourist Sites at Bodhgaya, Ajanta and Ellora are identified for development. Buddhist Conclave is organised every alternate year with the objective of promoting Bharat as a Buddhist destination and major markets around the globe. Bharat’s Buddhist heritage is not only important from the tourism point of view but is also a binding factor that strengthens its relationship with Asian Countries, in line with its Act East Policy. Signages have been installed in Chinese language at Buddhist monuments in Uttar Pradesh and in Sinhala language (official language of Sri Lanka) at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh.
The new addition in the list of shrines under the PRASAD scheme is the 11th century Sri Varahlakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam, near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It is among the five temples under the scheme and Rs.53 Crores will be spent on development of the hill shrine.
The facilities proposed under the PRASAD Scheme are as follows:
The temple complex illumination with LED lights, road widening of 2 km length and confluence point of old entrance road etc.
Renovation of steps route from Madhavdhara temple to Simhachalam hill top along with pilgrimage facilitation halls at old Pousharini Choultry area.
Drinking water pipeline from Madhavdhara to Simhachalam uphills till OHSR water tank.
14 seated electric mini buses to be started for comfortable commutation.
HRIDAY Scheme and PRASAD Scheme both project, the value addition in the infrastructural facilities of the selected spots. But, both differ in the basic goals.
HRIDAY is for improving infrastructure facilities in those cities that have heritage sites. It is implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development in Mission mode.
The PRASAD Scheme focuses on Rejuvenation of pilgrimage sites and is handled by Ministry of Tourism.
For majority of Bharatiya, religious tourism has sentimental value. It would motivate them to travel and visit the pilgrimage places more often if the basic infrastructure is in updated condition.
For six plus decades since independence, the North Eastern states, the “seven sisters” as they are popularly known, have been neglected in development process. Lack of efficient commutation and insufficient infrastructure led to lesser visitors visiting the divine Kamakhya Devi shrine in Assam. The local people of the area were hand to mouth as their business growth was limited.
Sarvdaman belonged to weaver community in Assam and for generations his family was engaged in weaving beautiful Mekhla, the Assamese Saree.
With growing expenses, he toyed with the idea of shutting his business and opt for becoming a labourer in Kolkata. But, his fortune changed with PRASAD Scheme.
With Development of efficient means of connectivity with other part of the nation as well as reinvigorated infrastructure in and around the temple site increased the tourist inflow.
With implementation of PRASAD Scheme Kamakhya Devi pilgrimage destination was revitalised and hence, Sarvdaman’s exemplary creation of Mekhla found thumping market. His entire business was restored as a result and he could retain his family legacy.
Implementation of PRASAD Scheme by Modi ji led Government has led to Bharat’s affluent cultural heritage reach far and wide.