About:

The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.

Objectives 

• Rejuvenation and spiritual augmentation of important national/ global pilgrimage destinations;  
• Enhance tourism attractiveness of identified pilgrimage destinations and heritage cities under integrated tourism development of heritage city in planned, prioritized and sustainable manner by providing world class tourism projects in them;  
• Follow community-based development through ‘Pro-Poor’ tourism concept and ‘responsible tourism’ initiatives.  
• Assure active involvement of local communities through employment generation  
• Creating awareness among the local communities about the importance of tourism for them in terms of increase in sources of income, improved living standards and overall development of the area.  
• Promote heritage in the form of heritage structures especially under integrated tourism development of heritage city, local arts, culture, handicrafts, cuisine, etc., to generate livelihood in the identified places.  
• Strengthen the mechanism for bridging the infrastructural gaps at identified pilgrimage destinations and throughout heritage cities.

Implementation Agency: 

The projects identified under this scheme shall be implemented through the identified agencies by the respective State/ Union Territory Government.

Why in News?

Union Minister of State for Tourism & Culture recently inaugurated the “Tourist Facilitation Centre” facility at Guruvayur, Kerala, constructed under PRASHAD Scheme.

References:

1. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669990
2. https://www.tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2020-07/PRASHAD%20Existing%20Guidelines%20%281%29.pdf