PRASAD SCHEME Full Form

Introduction

The phrase "Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive" is the full name of the PRASAD programme.

Government schemes, which include the PRASAD Scheme, are a crucial static GK topic.

India, a country with many different cultures and religions, is home to several tourist spots with significant religious sentiments that draw many visitors from both within and outside of the country. The Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) Scheme was thus created by the Central government in 2015 in an effort to preserve these sites and capitalize on their potential as pilgrimage destinations

The plan focuses on the comprehensive development and revitalization of these places in collaboration with other stakeholders. In total, 13 pilgrimage sites have been chosen for development based on the guiding principles of high tourist value, sustainability, and the improvement of infrastructure amenities.

The Ministry of Tourism has formed a mission directorate that is in charge of carrying out development plans and offers financial help to various Union Territories and States for the aesthetic improvement and renewal of these locations. The scheme received a total of Rs 100 crore in funding from the 2017–18 Union Budget.

What Is The PRASAD Scheme?

In order to create a comprehensive religious tourist experience, the Ministry of Tourism developed the PRASAD scheme, which aims at the integrated development of pilgrimage places in a prioritized, planned, and safe future.

Launch

The Ministry of Tourism introduced the "National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)" in 2014–15 with the goal of holistically developing recognised pilgrimage places.

In October 2017, the program's name, which had previously been PRASAD, was changed to "National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)".

Objective of The PRASAD Scheme

• To increase tourism appeal in a sustainable way
• To maximize the direct and multiplicative effects of pilgrimage travel on job creation and economic growth.
• To publicize local cuisines, handicrafts, and art, etc.
• To build infrastructure of the highest caliber in places of worship
• To design the locations for pilgrimages using community-based growth and pro-poor tourism principles.
• To utilize assets and information from the public service.

Cities

The plan had already designated 12 cities for the creation of historical and pilgrimage destinations.

1. Kamakhya (Assam)
2. Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh)
3. Dwaraka (Gujarat)
4. Gaya (Bihar)
5. Amritsar
6. Ajmer (Rajasthan)
7. Kedarnath(Uttarakhand)
8. Puri (Odisha)
9. Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu)
10. Velankanni, (Tamil Nadu)
11. Varanasi, (Uttar Pradesh)
12. Mathura ( Uttar Pradesh)

The Strategy Of PRASAD Scheme

• Seeing and recognising landmarks or stations that can be converted into a pilgrimage, a place of worship, or a spiritual location.
• Ensuring an eco-friendly strategy.
• To collaborate closely and in balance with the relevant state and federal governments, as well as private companies, in order to accomplish the intended goal within a specific time frame.
• To promote a region's interest in its culture, traditions, and heritage.
• To provide and coordinate coordinated services for tourist visits for sustaining the neighborhood's development by providing coordination and regular inspections.

Funding of PRASAD Scheme

The Ministry offers State Governments Central Financial Assistance for the advertising of tourism at predetermined locations.100% of the funding is provided by the central government, and the programme aims to use both public-private partnerships (PPP) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to increase the project's sustainability.

Components Eligible For The PRASAD Scheme

• The development of infrastructure, which includes
• Construction of passenger terminals for modes of transportation such rail, road, air, and water.
• Examples of general improvements include landscaping, earth filling, water fountains, lights, fences, pavements, trash cans, seating/shelters, drinking water locations, and so forth.
• Roadways, sewers, water supply, drainage, power, and other forms of exterior infrastructure are a few examples.
• Emergency services for repairs, breakdowns, and other problems with vehicles.
• Parking will be available for cars, two-wheelers, buses, and other vehicles.
• Development of environmentally friendly technology
• Renewable energy for infrastructure in the tourism industry.
• First-aid facilities.

The Following Components Make Up An Online Presence

• Creation of dynamic, intelligent, and mobile GIS-based apps.
• A framework for managing projects.
• Portal for knowledge with access controls.
• Data analysis and reporting

Knowledge Management And Skill Development

• Broadening the scope of training in the travel and hospitality industries and involving providers of vocational training
• A commitment to utilizing local creativity and expertise in arts and crafts
• Creating a record of existing tourism knowledge and preserving it for future use.