Lok Sabha Question No. 815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Schemes Run by Tourism Department
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK, JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†815 ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## SCHEMES RUN BY TOURISM DEPARTMENT

†815. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL "NISHANK": SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated new schemes for the development of tourism in Himalayan areas like Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  funds  allocated  and expenditure incurred in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is working for skill development with regard to tourism in these areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether a large number of tourist spots are being developed in these areas with the help of foreign countries; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof including foreign aid received for this purpose?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) and (b):  The Ministry of Tourism has launched two new schemes in  2014-15  viz.  Swadesh  Darshan  -  Integrated  Development  of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits and PRASAD- Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive for development of tourism infrastructure in the country including Himalayan areas.

Under  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  thirteen  thematic  circuits have  been  identified  for  development  namely;  North-East  India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit,  Desert  Circuit,  Tribal  Circuit,  Eco  Circuit,  Wildlife  Circuit, Rural Circuit,  Spiritual  Circuit,  Ramayana  Circuit  and  Heritage Circuit.

Under PRASAD scheme, 23 sites of religious significance have been identified for development in India including Himalayan areas, namely Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan),  Ayodhya  (Uttar  Pradesh),   Dwarka  (Gujarat),   Deoghar (Jharkhand), Belur (West Bengal), Gaya (Bihar), Guruvayoor (Kerala), Hazratbal  (Jammu  &  Kashmir),  Kamakhya  (Assam),  Kanchipuram (Tamil  Nadu),  Kedarnath  (Uttarakhand),  Mathura  (Uttar  Pradesh), Patna  (Bihar),  Puri  (Odisha),  Srisailam  (Andhra  Pradesh),  Somnath (Gujarat), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Ujjain  (Madhya  Pradesh),  Varanasi  (Uttar  Pradesh)  and  Vellankani (Tamil Nadu).

The  scheme-wise  details  of  funds  allocated  and  expenditure incurred during the last three years are as under:

Swadesh Darhan Scheme:

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sr. No. | Year          | Budget allocated   | Expenditure incurred   |
|-----------|---------------|--------------------|------------------------|
|         1 | 2014-15 20.00 |                    | 20.00                  |
|         2 | 2015-16       | 310.00             | 309.55                 |
|         3 | 2016-17       | 706.35             | 648.35(*)              |

## PRASAD Scheme:

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sr. No. | Year    |   Budget allocated | Expenditure incurred   |
|-----------|---------|--------------------|------------------------|
|         1 | 2014-15 |               15.6 | 15.60                  |
|         2 | 2015-16 |               40   | 40.00                  |
|         3 | 2016-17 |              100   | 46.24(*)               |

(*)As on 31st October, 2016.

(c): Under the existing programme of the Ministry of Tourism, titled Hunar  Se  Rozgar  Tak,  training  courses  are  conducted  across  the country  including  Uttarakhand,  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Himachal Pradesh to create employable skill amongst youth who are minimum eighth pass and in the age group of 18-28 years. The programme is being  implemented  by  a  number  of  organizations  including  the Institute of Hotel Management, Food Craft Institutes, State Tourism Development Corporations, Classified Hotels and Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management. Presently, this programme covers hospitality trades, namely food production, food & beverage service, bakery and housekeeping, and a few other tourism specific areas.

(d) and (e): The details of projects being carried out in Himalayan region with foreign assistance are as follows:

(In $ million)

| Loan No.   | Loan Name                                                             | State                        | Loan Amount   | Agency                       |
|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|---------------|------------------------------|
| 2676- IND  | Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism Project-1 | Himachal Pradesh             | 23.10         | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| 2833- IND  | Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism Project-2 | Uttarakhand                  | 23.28         | ADB                          |
| 3223- IND  | Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism Project-3 | Himachal Pradesh Uttarakhand | 43.51 38.34   | ADB                          |
| 2578- IND  | South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project- India          | Sikkim                       | 20.00         | ADB                          |

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