**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 390, answered on February 2, 2026, regarding tourism development initiatives in the Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts of Assam. It details the central tourism schemes utilized, funds allocated and utilized for infrastructure development, steps to promote eco-tourism and adventure tourism, and support for homestay/community-based initiatives. The information includes projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD, and SASCI schemes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Central Tourism Schemes:**
* The Ministry of Tourism, through central sector schemes like ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’, and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’, supports the efforts of the state governments/Union Territory Administration in developing tourism infrastructure.
* Financial assistance is extended to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations (SGs/UTAs) based on project proposals, scheme guidelines, government directions, and fund availability.
* The Ministry has issued schematic guidelines for homestay development in tribal areas under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, applicable nationwide.
* The 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale' scheme is being used to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centers with the aim of branding and marketing them at a global scale.
* The Ministry promotes eco-tourism and adventure tourism through promotional activities and has issued National Strategy for Eco-tourism and National Strategy Adventure Tourism.
* **Assam Project Details:**
* The annexure provides details of projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD, and SASCI schemes in Assam.
* Projects include the development of various tourist circuits, wetlands, tea estates, bird sanctuaries, zoos, and temples, with details on the year of sanction, amount sanctioned, and amount released/utilized/authorized.
* The details for amount released / utilized / authorized for utilization is coded (R)/(U)/(A)
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** *Ministry of Tourism*
* **Impact:** Responsible for identification, development, and promotion of tourism destinations and products through various central schemes. Responsible for administering schemes for infrastructure and tourism development in the country.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and administer ongoing tourism development projects and adapt scheme implementation as required.
**Stakeholder:** *State Government of Assam/Union Territory Administration*
* **Impact:** Receives financial assistance and support for tourism infrastructure development and promotion in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts.
* **Action Required:** Submit project proposals in synergy with scheme guidelines and government directions to receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism.
**Stakeholder:** *Local Communities in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao*
* **Impact:** Potential beneficiaries of enhanced tourism infrastructure, eco-tourism, and adventure tourism opportunities in their region. Potential opportunities for homestay initiatives and community-based tourism.
* **Action Required:** Engage with state government and tourism agencies to leverage opportunities for tourism development, eco-tourism, homestays, and other community-based tourism initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: Central government ministry responsible for tourism initiatives.
Swadesh Darshan (SD): Central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for integrated tourism development.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): Central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism focused on developing pilgrimage destinations.
Assam: Indian state where the tourism development initiatives are focused on in the question.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Scheme to support states in developing iconic tourist centers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.390
ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN KARBI
ANGLONG AND DIMA HASAO, ASSAM
390. SHRI AMARSING TISSO:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether any tourist destination has been identified and developed in
Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts under central tourism schemes
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the funds allocated and utilized on tourism infrastructure
development in these districts during the last three years and the
current year, year-wise;
(c) the details of the steps taken/being taken to promote eco-tourism and
adventure tourism leveraging the natural beauty and biodiversity of
these hilly districts; and
(d) whether any homestay or community-based tourism initiatives have
been supported in these areas?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (d): While identification, development and promotion of tourism
destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State
Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), 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 2.0 scheme’ and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation
and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ complements the
efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending
financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs; on receipt of the project proposals
from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration in
synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of
funds, inter-se priority etc. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism has alsoissued schematic guidelines for development of Homestays in Tribal Areas
under Swadesh Darshan scheme. The schemes of the Ministry of Tourism
are applicable for the whole country including the state of Assam.
Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital
Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’
scheme, has also sanctioned projects in the country with the primary
objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country,
branding and marketing them at global scale.
The Ministry of Tourism holistically promotes eco-tourism and
adventure tourism to leverage natural beauty and biodiversity of the country
including Assam through its regular promotional activities. Such promotions
are undertaken through various promotional tools such as website, events,
social media etc. In addition, the Ministry also issued National Strategy for
Eco-tourism and National Strategy Adventure Tourism.
The details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD,
PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the state of Assam is annexed.
*****ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.390 ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026 REGARDING TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN KARBI ANGLONG AND DIMA HASAO, ASSAM
RAISED BY SHRI AMARSING TISSO
Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan (SD), SD2.0,
CBDD, SASCI and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Assam:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
Scheme/ S. Name of the Circuit/ Year of Amount Amount
Sub- No. Project/ Destination sanction sanctioned Released
scheme Experience (R)/
utilized
(U)/
Released
or
authorized
for
utilization
(A)
Swadesh 1 Development Wildlife 2015-16 94.68 94.68 (U)
Darshan of Manas– Circuit
(SD) Probitora–
Nameri–
Kaziranga–
Dibru–
Saikhowa
2. Development Heritage 2016-17 90.98 90.97 (U)
of Tezpur – Circuit
Majuli –
Sibsagar
SD2.0 3. Kokrajhar Kokrajhar 2023-24 26.68 2.67 (A)
Wetland
Experience
4. Reimagining Jorhat 2023- 24 23.88 2.39 (A)
Cinnamara
Tea Estate
CBDD 5. Panidhing Sivasagar 2024-25 9.99 1.00 (A)
Bird
Sanctuary
(under Eco-tourism and
Amrit
Dharohar
category)
SASCI 6. Assam State Guwahati 2024-25 97.12
Zoo Cum 126.64
Botanical (A)
Garden in
Guwahati
7. Beautification Sivasagar 2024-25 94.76
of Rang Ghar
in Sivasagar
PRASHAD 8. Development Guwahati 2015-16 29.80 29.80 (U)
of Kamakhya
Temple and
Pilgrimage
Destination in
and around
Guwahati
******