Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) – Everything you need to know

Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) focuses on the integrated development of pilgrimage sites.

India has a country that has long historical, cultural, and spiritual values. Lot of people either within India or from abroad visiting India every year to experience its spiritual side. Currently, a lot of these are focussed on heritage tourism but even though India is a land of various religions like Hinduism, Sikhism, and others but there is not enough focus to develop the spiritual centers to attract tourists.

Introduction to Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive scheme

PRASAD scheme focuses on the integrated development of pilgrimage sites or destinations in a planned and sustainable manner to provide a world-class experience to visiting tourists either within the country or from abroad.

PRASAD emphasis on the integrated development of the destination which involves the development of the entire community at that place, planning, providing basic amenities, livelihoods, cleanliness, security so that we can provide a complete experience to visiting tourists.

PRASAD was launched in 2014-15 by Govt of India under the Ministry of Tourism for the development and promotion of religious tourism in India.

Vision of Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive scheme

Enhance the pilgrimage and spiritual experience of visiting tourists through well-planned infrastructure, providing convenience to visiting tourists, security, cleanliness, retain the soul of the spiritual site and provide sustainable development that would provide employment opportunities for local communities.

Objectives of PRASAD scheme

• Revitalization and spiritual enhancement of major national and international places of pilgrimage;
• Enhance the tourism appeal of places of pilgrimage and heritage cities in a coordinated the development of tourism in heritage cities in a planned, prioritized and sustainable way by providing the highest quality tourism initiatives in these cities;
• The position of the pilgrimage and heritage tourism sector as the main engine behind its immediate and multiplier results in economic growth and job creation;
• Develop community-based projects using the Pro-Poor’s tourism concept and responsible tourism initiatives.
• Participate actively in local communities by generating employment
• Making local communities of the importance of tourism for the purpose of increasing sources of income, better living standards , and overall growth of the region.
• Promote heritage through heritage structures, particularly under integrated tourism development for cities of heritage local culture, local arts food, handicrafts, etc. and to provide livelihood in the areas that are identified.
• Increase the effectiveness of the mechanism for bridging the infrastructure gaps that exist at tourist destinations as well as throughout cities with heritage significance
• Establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure rapid implementation of initiatives in cooperation with States/UTs as well as other stakeholders;
• Enhance the safety and security of pilgrims as well as tourists, and improve the quality of services provided to tourists
• Facilitate convergence between central and state government plans and private sector development for integrated destination/site development

How many cities are covered in Prasad scheme?

Currently, 13 cities are covered under the scheme, Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kancheepuram, Mathura, Patna, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni, and Guruvayur.

Conclusion

The PRASAD scheme is meant for integrated development of the pilgrimage sites and promotes tourism without losing their core values. This also focuses on the development of the local communities and provides them employment opportunities.

If you need more details please do visit PRASAD scheme website

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