PRASHAD Scheme – Overview, Budget, and 10-Year Performance

🛕 PRASHAD Scheme – Overview, Budget, and 10-Year Performance

Introduction

The PRASHAD Scheme, which stands for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD full form), is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Launched in December 2014 as the PRASAD Scheme, it was renamed PRASHAD in 2017 to reflect the inclusion of heritage sites along with pilgrimage centres under its development goals. This scheme is one of the key spiritual tourism initiatives aimed at enhancing the tourist experience and preserving India’s rich cultural heritage. The PRASHAD Scheme plays a crucial role in spiritual circuit development and forms an integral part of India’s religious tourism policy.

Objective

The primary goal of PRASHAD is to promote integrated infrastructure development at selected pilgrimage and heritage destinations. The scheme aims to enhance the spiritual tourism experience while also focusing on cultural heritage conservation and heritage destination development. These efforts are designed to preserve India’s rich cultural legacy, boost faith-based travel enhancement, and improve the overall pilgrimage experience enhancement. The scheme aligns with the broader religious tourism policy of India, emphasizing the importance of spiritual and cultural tourism.

Timeline & Ministry

  • PRASHAD Scheme launch date: December 2014
  • Renamed: 2017 (to PRASHAD)
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
  • Swadesh Darshan Scheme launch date: January 2015

Key Features

  • 100% Central Financial Assistance for approved projects
  • Focus on tourism infrastructure improvement: roads, toilets, lighting, signage, parking, drinking water, etc.
  • Promotion of religious, cultural, and eco-tourism
  • Encourages local community participation and employment generation
  • Coordination with state governments, UTs, and Union Territory Administrations
  • Emphasis on religious site restoration, temple development, and cultural heritage conservation
  • Implementation of sustainable spiritual tourism practices
  • Accessibility improvements for all pilgrims, including those with disabilities
  • Pilgrimage experience enhancement through modern amenities and services
  • Integration of universal accessibility features to ensure inclusivity for all visitors

Notable Pilgrimage Sites Covered

  • Some of the major religious destinations and tourist attractions developed under the scheme include:
  • Amritsar (Golden Temple precinct)
  • Ajmer (Dargah Sharif)
  • Puri (Jagannath Temple)
  • Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath corridor support)
  • Srisailam, Velankanni, Gaya, Mathura, Dwarka, among others
  • These identified destinations have seen significant improvements in pilgrim amenities and accessibility, contributing to the overall spiritual circuit development.

Budget Allocation for Religious Tourism (Recent Years)

Financial Year    –    Budget Allocated

2023–24         –       ₹250 crore

2024–25         –       ₹240 crore

Note: Budget allocation is part of the broader ₹2,400 crore sanctioned to the Ministry of Tourism for various tourism infrastructure and heritage tourism funding initiatives.

Performance Summary (2014–2025)

  • Sanctioned projects: 48 pilgrimage rejuvenation projects
  • States/UTs Covered: 27
  • Total Sanctioned Cost: ₹1,646.99 crore
  • Status: Majority of the projects are completed or nearing completion

This summary showcases the extensive reach of the PRASHAD Scheme objectives and the significant funds utilization for infrastructure development for pilgrimage sites across the country.

Impact and Analysis

  • Tourism Boost: Enhanced pilgrimage experience has attracted both domestic and international tourists, significantly improving the overall tourist experience and contributing to spiritual circuit development.
  • Cultural Preservation: Restoration and upkeep of ancient temples, ghats, and heritage complexes have contributed to sacred site preservation and temple development.
  • Sustainability Focus: Integration of eco-friendly practices like waste management and clean energy, promoting sustainable development in tourism.
  • Social Upliftment: Local employment generation through improved tourist inflow and cultural tourism promotion.
  • Accessibility: Implementation of universal accessibility features for disabled pilgrims and elderly pilgrims, enhancing pilgrimage facilitation and overall pilgrimage experience enhancement. These universal accessibility improvements include ramps, tactile pathways, and assistive technologies to ensure an inclusive environment for all visitors.

The PRASHAD Scheme has played a crucial role in the development of spiritual circuits and the overall enhancement of faith-based travel in India, aligning with the country’s broader religious tourism policy.

Sample UPSC/State PSC Objective Questions

Q1. With reference to the PRASHAD Scheme, consider the following statements:

It is a centrally sponsored scheme.

It focuses on integrated development of heritage and pilgrimage sites.

It was launched in 2014 and renamed in 2017.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

👉 Answer: D

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a feature of the PRASHAD Scheme?

A) Promotion of spiritual tourism
B) 100% central funding
C) Execution solely by private companies
D) Focus on sanitation and security

👉 Answer: C

📚 Source and Further Reading

  • Ministry of Tourism Official Website
  • PIB Reports on PRASHAD Scheme
  • PRASAD scheme guidelines
  • Information on related initiatives like the Swadesh Darshan Scheme and Challenge Based Destination Development