The Union Government is actively redesigning the PRASAD scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive), aimed at promoting pilgrim tourism across various states, as announced by Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
This announcement came during the Question Hour session, where Shekhawat noted that the government has sanctioned 54 projects under the scheme over the past ten years. He emphasized that the scheme operates on a specific financial cycle, which is approaching its completion, prompting the Ministry to redesign and enhance the program.
The PRASAD scheme, launched in the 2014–15 fiscal year, aims at the development, beautification, and rejuvenation of important pilgrimage sites across India. The government aims to create a robust infrastructure that supports both the spiritual and recreational needs of pilgrims.
The primary objectives of this scheme include:
- Enhancing tourist infrastructure to attract more visitors,
- Improving facilities and accessibility at pilgrimage sites,
- Providing a significantly better overall experience for both pilgrims and visitors.
The government believes this redesign will further modernize India’s pilgrimage destinations, integrating them into the larger tourism ecosystem and making them more appealing to domestic and foreign tourists alike.
Through revitalized funding and strategic planning, the government anticipates that the PRASAD scheme will lay down a framework that fosters growth in pilgrimage tourism—a sector vital to India’s cultural and economic landscape.
Shekhawat’s announcement underscores the government’s recognition of the potential of pilgrimage tourism, which not only enhances the spiritual experience but also stimulates local economies through increased footfall in these historically significant areas.
Local stakeholders, including state governments and tourism boards, will now have an opportunity to submit revised proposals that align with the upgraded objectives of the PRASAD scheme, ensuring that the unique cultural and religious aspects of each site are preserved.
As the redesign process commences, the Ministry of Culture is expected to collaborate with various regions to ensure that the upgraded initiatives resonate with the local heritage and natural beauty that attract millions of pilgrims every year.
This revitalization effort aims not only to boost tourism but also to instill a renewed sense of pride in India’s rich spiritual heritage, comparable with international pilgrimage destinations.
