Lok Sabha Question No. 103 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Development of PRASHAD Sites
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary, Shri Dineshbhai Makwana

## 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.

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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  the respective  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 5 th installment 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  the completed 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. No. | Name of the State   | Name of the Project                                              |   Sanctioned Cost (Rs. in Crore) |
|-----------|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|         1 | Bihar               | Development at Patna Sahib                                       |                            29.62 |
|         2 | Bihar               | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar |                             3.63 |
|         3 | Bihar               | Development of Ambika Bhawani Temple, Saran                      |                            13.29 |
|         4 | Jharkhand           | Development of Baba Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar                     |                            36.79 |

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