Monitoring on the PRASHAD Scheme
- Through appointed personnel, the Ministry of Tourism would periodically supervise the program.
- Monitoring would be place in both online and offline modes.
- The updated Monitoring Framework must be submitted by the fifth of every month by the implementing agencies.
PRASHAD Scheme
The PRASHAD Program was introduced by the Indian government in 2014–2015 through the Ministry of Tourism. The program’s name was altered to “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)” in October 2017. It was renamed PRASHAD to include the building of Heritage Destinations in place of the Ministry of Housing and Urban’s HRIDAY program. In order to improve the religious tourist experience, this program focuses on creating and identifying pilgrimage sites around India. To offer a comprehensive religious tourism experience, it strives to integrate pilgrimage places in a prioritized, organised, and sustainable manner. The expansion of domestic travel is heavily dependent on religious travel. The PRASHAD program aims to create a foundation for the growth and promotion of religious travel in India. The appropriate State/Union Territory Government will carry out the projects outlined under this plan through the designated agencies. The program was designed to create infrastructure, including entrance points (for road, rail, and water transportation), last-mile connectivity, fundamental tourist amenities, environmentally friendly means of transportation, rain shelters, telecom facilities, internet connectivity, etc.
In Varanasi, the Prime Minister officially launched a number of construction projects. It covers the operation of the Cruise Boat from Assi Ghat to RajGhat under the Project Development of River Cruise in Varanasi under PRASHAD Scheme and the Tourist Facilitation Center under the Project Development of Varanasi Under PRASHAD Scheme – Phase II. The Ministry of Tourism authorized the Development of Varanasi Under PRASHAD Scheme – Phase II project in February 2018 at a cost of Rs. 44.69 crores. And in February 2018, the Ministry of Tourism authorized the PRASHAD Scheme project Development of River Cruise in Varanasi at a cost of Rs. 10.72 crores. A number of projects totaling more than Rs 47 crore have just been unveiled by the prime minister in Somnath, Gujarat, as part of the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) program. The Somnath Exhibition Center, built on the grounds of the “Tourist Facilitation Center,” showcases artifacts made from torn-down pieces of the former Somnath temple and its sculptures, which have temple architecture in the Nagara style, from the old Somnath.