Parliament Question: Development of PRASHAD Sites

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*103 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 DEVELOPMENT OF PRASHAD SITES †*103. SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA: SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) the details of the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme; (b) the details of the steps taken/being taken to ensure that the objectives of integrated and sustainable development beyond infrastructure development at the 54 sites approved under the PRASHAD scheme particularly in Dumka of Jharkhand and Shyam Mai Temple Complex located in Darbhanga which is the main pilgrimage site of Mithila region; (c) the details of the mechanism in place to maintain the cultural and spiritual integrity of the redevelopment projects in consultation with local stakeholders and temple shrine/religious trusts; (d) the strategy adopted by the Government to improve tourism service quality at PRASHAD sites and ensure continuous central funding along with the details thereof;(e) whether the Government has started training programme for service providers at PRASHAD sites to improve quality of tourism and ensure fair pricing; (f) the manner in which sustainability of completed projects are ensured without the central funding; and (g) whether the Government proposes to include new pilgrimage sites in Chhattisgarh and Jain Pilgrimage Parasnath Dham in Jharkhand under the said scheme? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *********STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*103 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF PRASHAD SITES RAISED BY SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA AND SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY (a) & (b): The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) has been launched by the Ministry of Tourism with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations. Under the scheme, Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for development of tourism infrastructure at important pilgrimage and heritage destinations. The vision of the scheme is to rejuvenate pilgrimage and spiritual experience of the tourists through availability of well- planned tourism infrastructure enabling tourist convenience, accessibility, security, cleanliness, experience and revitalize / preserve the soul of the pilgrimage/heritage city through integrated, inclusive, and sustainable developments that would spur employment opportunities for the local communities. No project has been sanctioned at Dumka of Jharkhand and Shyam Mai Temple Complex located in Darbhanga under the PRASHAD Scheme. However, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned projects in the State of Jharkhand and Bihar under the said Scheme the details of which are given in the Annexure. (c): In accordance with the Scheme Guidelines respective State Government /UT administration formulates comprehensive Detailed Project Report (DPR) for identified projects in consultations with therespective administration, local bodies, and other stakeholders (Shrine authorities/ religious trusts, NGOs, and societies etc. as applicable). The said consultations are undertaken to ensure that spiritual integrity and ingenuity of the sites are preserved and maintained while developing various amenities for improving overall pilgrim/tourist experience. (d): The Ministry of Tourism ensures improvement of tourism service quality at project sites through provision of basic amenities infrastructure such as toilets, cloak rooms, illumination, pathways, drinking water points, signage, First-Aid centres and Tourist Facilitation Centres among others. The funding pattern under the Scheme outlines that the 5thinstallment of the project i.e., 5% of the project cost is released after successful operation and maintenance of Toilet, TFC, Cafeteria facilities for one year as certified by an independent agency. Further, the infrastructure so created are handed over to the respective temple shrine/religious trusts through the concerned State Government/ UT administration. (e): The Ministry of Tourism under the Scheme of "Capacity Building for Service Providers" (CBSP) provides education, training and certification to the tourism and hospitality service providers across the country including destinations covered under PRASHAD to cater the needs of destinations and to enhance Tourist experience. (f): The respective State Governments/UT Administrations prepares their sustainable operation and maintenance plans as part of the project proposal submitted to the Ministry of Tourism. Further, the sustainability of thecompleted projects are ensured by the State Government/ UT administration concerned. (g): The Ministry of Tourism under the PRASHAD scheme, has sanctioned a project “Development of Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon District, Chhattisgarh” in the year 2020-21 at a cost of Rs.48.44 crore and has also identified the site Kudargarh Temple, Surajpur District. However, no proposal is under the consideration of the Ministry of Tourism for inclusion of Jain Pilgrimage Parasnath Dham in Jharkhand under the PRASHAD Scheme as on date. However, receiving proposals from the State Governments/UT Administrations for financial assistance for tourism projects is a continuous process. The proposals received are examined with reference to the prescribed guidelines and financial assistance is extended for such projects subject to fulfilment of the stipulated conditions and availability of funds. ********ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*103 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF PRASHAD SITES RAISED BY SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA AND SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY List of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme in Bihar and Jharkhand Sr. Name of Name of the Project Sanctioned No. the State Cost (Rs. in Crore) 1. Bihar Development at Patna Sahib 29.62 2. Development of basic facilities at 3.63 Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar 3. Development of Ambika Bhawani 13.29 Temple, Saran 4. Jharkhand Development of Baba Baidyanath Dham, 36.79 Deoghar ********