Lok Sabha Question No. 3792 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Developmnet of Tourist Sites in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+3792

## ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## DEVELOPMNET OF TOURIST SITES IN CHHATTISGARH

## +3792. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  formulating  any  action  plan  to  develop major  tourist  sites  of  Chhattisgarh  such  as  Chitrakoot  Waterfall, Sirpur,  Bastar,  Maitrya  Culture  Centre,  etc.  as  world  class  tourist sites;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  release  special  package  to promote religious, cultural and eco-tourism;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  any  concrete  plan  to strengthen  the  infrastructure  such  as  road,  transport,  hotel  and security facilities at the tourist sites of the State;
- (d) whether the Government is providing special grants for preservation and reconstruction of historical sites of Chhattisgarh;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to introduce special training and financial  assistance  schemes  for  the  local  artisans,  artists  and guides related to tourism in Chhattisgarh; and
- (f) whether the Government is running any special publicity campaign at international level to attract foreign tourists?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (f): Development of tourism including formulation of plan to strengthen  tourism  infrastructure  at  tourist  sites  is  undertaken  by  the concerned State Government/UT Administration. However, the Ministry of Tourism  under  its  'Swadesh  Darshan'  &  'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  schemes  provides financial assistance to State Government/UT Administration for undertaking  tourism  related  projects.  Such  assistance  is  provided  on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations  and  subject  to  its  adherence  to  the  scheme  guidelines, instructions  issued  by  the  Government  from  time  to  time,  availability  of budget, inter-se priority etc.

The  Ministry  since  inception  of  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  in  2014-15 sanctioned a total number of 76 projects under different thematic circuits for ₹5287.90 Crore including 1 project in the State of Chhattisgarh.

Under 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctio ned 48 projects in the  country  for  Rs.1620.21  Crore  including  1  Project  in  the  State  of Chhattisgarh.

Further,  Government  of  India  under  its  'Special  Assistance  to  States  for Capital  Investment  (SASCI) -Development  of  Iconic  Tourist  Centres  to Global  Scale'  sanctioned  40  projects  in  23  States  for  Rs.3295.76  Crore including 2 projects in the State of Chhattisgarh, in Financial Year 202425.

The details of the projects sanctioned in the State of Chhattisgarh under Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes is Annexed.

At present, there is no special training and financial assistance scheme for the  local  artisans,  artists  and  guides  related  to  tourism  in  Chhattisgarh. However, the Ministry under its 'Hunar Se Rozgar Tak' programme under the  Capacity  Building  for  Service  Providers'  scheme  envisages  financial assistance to various State Governments and empanelled private institutes,  etc.  across  the  country  to  conduct  tourism  and  hospitality related skill development training programmes including vocational trade or craft.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  also  running  the  Incredible  India  Tourist Facilitator (IITF) Certification Programme - a digital initiative that aims at creating an Online learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of  well  trained  and  professional  Tourist  Facilitators/Guides  across  the country  which  also  includes  lesser  known  tourist  destinations  in  the country. This Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (IITF) Certification Programme offers Basic, Advanced- IITG (Heritage and Adventure), Spoken foreign language and Refresher courses for candidates.

Ministry undertakes various promotional activities in important and potential tourists generating markets in association with the Travel Trade, State  Governments  and  Indian  Missions  overseas  to  promote  India  as destination.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+3792 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMNET OF TOURIST SITES IN CHHATTISGARH RAISED BY SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL

List of Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD and SASCI in the State of Chhattisgarh are as under

| Swadesh Darshan scheme    | Swadesh Darshan scheme                                                                                                                                          | Swadesh Darshan scheme         |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Circuit/ Year of sanction | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                             | Amount sanctioned (₹ in Crore) |
| Tribal Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat- Kamleshpur - Maheshpur -Kurdar - Sarodhadadar- Gangrel- Kondagaon - Nathiyanawagaon- Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh | 96.10                          |
| PRASHAD                   |                                                                                                                                                                 |                                |
| 2020-21                   | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple                                                                                              | 44.84                          |
| SASCI                     |                                                                                                                                                                 |                                |
| 2024-25                   | Development of Chitrotpala Film City in Raipur                                                                                                                  | 95.79                          |
| 2024-25                   | Development of Tribal & Cultural Convention Centre in Raipur                                                                                                    | 51.87                          |

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