**Summary:**
The Ministry of Tourism is supporting the development of tribal tourism circuits across India through various central sector schemes, including Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD). These schemes provide financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations for tourism infrastructure development and amenities in tribal areas, contingent upon fund availability, adherence to guidelines, and submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The Government of India, under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) initiative, also supports tourism project development in states.
The SD Scheme, launched in 2014-15, identified thematic circuits for development, with the Tribal Circuit aiming to showcase tribal culture, traditions, crafts, and heritage. The Ministry of Tourism has issued guidelines and a template for State Governments/UT Administrations to propose the 'Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas,' a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA). This initiative aims to promote responsible tourism and enhance livelihood opportunities for tribal communities. The scheme supports the development of 1000 homestays with financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakh for village community requirements, up to ₹5 lakh for construction of two new rooms per household, and up to ₹3 lakh for renovation of existing rooms per household. As of the report, no funds have been released under this homestay scheme.
The Ministry promotes tribal tourism through promotional events, assistance to states for organizing fairs and festivals, participation in exhibitions, websites, and social media.
The following projects were sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan scheme in the Tribal Circuit:
1. **Chhattisgarh:** Development of Jashpur-Kunkuri-Mainpat Tribal Circuit (₹96.10 crore, sanctioned in 2015-16).
2. **Nagaland:** Development of Tribal Circuit Peren-Kohima (₹97.36 crore, sanctioned in 2015-16).
3. **Nagaland:** Development of Mokokchung-Tuensang-Mon (₹98.14 crore, sanctioned in 2016-17).
4. **Telangana:** Development of Mulugu-Laknavaram-Medavaram-Tadvai-Damaravi-Mallur-Bogatha Waterfalls Tribal Circuit (₹79.87 crore, sanctioned in 2016-17).
All listed projects are reported as physically completed.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at tourism4pibat@gmail.com.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Swadesh Darshan SD: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for tourism infrastructure development.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive PRASHAD: A scheme for developing tourism infrastructure and amenities at pilgrimage destinations.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment SASCI: An initiative by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to states for development of tourism projects.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan PMJUGA: The text mentions 'Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas' A subscheme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme under Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan PMJUGA.
Chhattisgarh: State in India where the Jashpur Kunkuri Mainpat Tribal Circuit project was sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
Nagaland: State in India where Tribal Circuit projects were sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
Telangana: State in India where the MuluguLaknavaram Medavaram Tadvai Damaravi Mallur Bogatha Waterfalls Tribal Circuit project was sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
Ministry of Tourism
Development of Tribal Tourism Circuit
Posted On: 11 AUG 2025 6:09PM by PIB Delhi
Development of different tourist destinations is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Governments/UT
Administrations. However, the Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan
(SD)’, ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’ – a sub-scheme
of Swadesh Darshan and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’
schemes complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development and amenities at tourism destinations
across the country. This also includes tribal areas where tribal communities are significantly represented for
enhancing tourism experiences by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT
Administrations.
This financial assistance is extended subject to availability of funds, adherence to scheme
guidelines and other instructions issued from time to time, submission of Detailed Project Reports
(DPRs) by the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations, etc.
In addition, Government of India under its initiative for ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital
Investment (SASCI)’ has also provided financial assistance to the States for development of tourism
projects.
Under the SD Scheme, launched in 2014–15, thematic circuits were identified for development.
Among them, the Tribal Circuit was one of the key themes, with an aim to showcase the rich tribal
culture, traditions, crafts, and heritage of various regions.
The Details of the projects sanctioned under SD Scheme in Tribal Circuit is Annexed.
Further, with the aim to promote tourism in tribal areas, the Ministry of Tourism has recently issued
guidelines along with template for formulation of proposal by State Governments and UT
Administrations for 'Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas' (A sub-scheme of Swadesh
Darshan Scheme) under Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM-JUGA).
The objective of the initiative is to develop homestays in tribal areas to promote responsible tourism
and enhance livelihood opportunities for tribal communities. The guidelines also focus on technical
upskilling and training of the Homestay owners. The said initiative includes development of 1000
homestays with support of Up to 5 lakh for village community requirement, Up to 5 lakh for
construction of two new rooms for each household and Up to 3 lakh for renovation of existing rooms
for each household. So far, no funds have been released under this scheme.
Ministry of Tourism as part of its ongoing endeavour promotes various tourism destinations and
products of India including tribal tourism, through various initiatives including promotional events,
assistance to State Governments for organizing fairs and festivals, participation in exhibitions,
websites, social media etc.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwaritourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
ANNEXURE
The list of the Projects Sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme in Tribal circuit is as under
S. Circuit / Amount Sanctioned
State/UT Name of the Project
No. Sanction Year (in ₹ Crore)
Development of Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat-
Tribal Circuit
Chhattisgarh Kamleshpur- Maheshpur-Kurdar- Sarodhadadar-
1 2015-16 96.10
Gangrel- Kondagaon– Nathiyanawagaon-
Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh
Nagaland Tribal Circuit Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima-
2 97.36
2015-16 Wokha
Nagaland Tribal Circuit
3 Development of Mokokchung-Tuensang-Mon 98.14
2016-17
Development of Mulugu-Laknavaram-
Telangana Tribal Circuit
4 Medavaram- Tadvai- Damaravi- Mallur- Bogatha 79.87
2016-17
Waterfalls
Note: All the aforesaid projects are reported physically completed.
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(Release ID: 2155159)