Tag Archives: Swadesh Darshan scheme

Ministry of Tourism has revamped Swadesh Darshan Scheme with 9 key reforms based on learnings from the implementations. The reforms include Broad basing of central sanctioning monitoring committee/ whole of Govt approach; strengthening state level institutional structure; strategic destination selection; detailed benchmarking/ gap analysis; focus on both hard and soft interventions; strengthening of project implementation and monitoring; sustainable operations and maintenance of destinations; focused promotion and destination marketing; and impact assessment and corrective measures.

Kishan Reddy, while addressing the recent conference of tourism and culture ministers of North Eastern states. has said that under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, MOT has sanctioned 16 projects in the North Eastern region. He also informed that under the PRASHAD schemes, the MOT has sanctioned number of projects in the region. Approximately Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned for these projects, he added.

G Kishan Reddy held a review meeting with the officials of MOT, ASI and Goa Tourism along with Shripad Yesso Naik MoS, Tourism and Manohar Azgaonkar, Goa Tourism Minister. He discussed key issues pertaining to promotion of tourism & culture in the state of Goa. He also inaugurated helipad at old Goa. “The helipad will facilitate tourists with easy travel & will further heli tourism as envisioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of MOT in the state,” he said in a tweet.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to release funds to the tune of Rs 2,482.07 crore fund for the development of infrastructure and tourist amenities under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme project. Out of this, Rs 627.40 crore has been sanctioned for the 10 Swadesh Darshan Scheme projects sanctioned during 2018-19. It also gave its approval for the release of an additional Rs 1,854.67 crore for sanctioning of new projects during 2019-20 in the scheme. Under the scheme, the Ministry of Tourism is developing critical tourism infrastructure in a sustainable and inclusive manner. The provision of this critical infrastructure will catalyse the private sector investment in revenue-generating projects which in turn would lead to positive enhancement of overall experience of tourists. This would lead to increased footfall in the areas, growth of revenue and employment.

The Ministry of Tourism, under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, has sanctioned a total of Rs 380. 12 crore for development of Tribal Circuit across the country, specifically in states like Nagaland, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, revealed by Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C), Tourism. Around 97.36 crore have been sanctioned for the development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha in Nagaland, apart from another one worth Rs 99.67 crore for the Mokokchung–Tuensang-Mon circuit in the same state. In Telangana, Rs 83.88 crore have been sanctioned for the integrated development of Mulugu-Laknavaram-Medavaram-Tadvai- Damaravi –Mallur – Bogatha Waterfalls as Tribal Circuit. On the other hand, Rs 99.21 crore have been sanctioned for the development of Tribal Tourism Circuit in Jashpur-Kunkuri-Mainpat- Ambikapur-Maheshpur -Ratanpur-Kurdar-Sarodadadar Gangrel- Kondagaon –Nathyanawagaon -Jagdalpur Chitrakoot -Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh.

Ministry of Tourism (MOT) has identified Rural circuit as one of the thematic circuits for infrastructure development, with an objective to develop basic infrastructure for showcasing rural sites and culture of the country to tourists, revealed Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel at the Lok Sabha. He shared that MOT will enhance public infrastructure like tourist parks and tourism clusters in 15 identified circuits across the country. The minister highlighted that the initiative was taken under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. “Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, Integrated Development of Theme Based Tourist Circuits is developing tourism infrastructure in 15 identified circuits, across the country, having tourist potential in a planned and prioritised manner,” he said.

Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, K J Alphons announced that the Ministry of Tourism sanctioned projects worth Rs 85.23 crore for the development of Spiritual Circuit III for Kerala under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Addressing the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Alphons said that the sites identified under the circuit are spread across all 14 districts of the state and cover 133 religious places. He said the districts where the projects would be implemented are Kasargode, Wayand, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamhitta, Kollam and Thiruvanathapuram. The Minister said the destinations have been selected keeping in view the inherent historic, cultural and religious significance of the places. The development works include community hall, Annadhana Mandapam, multipurpose hall, toilets, cafeteria, parking facilities, landscaping, pathways, illuminations, signages, dustbins, etc. The circuit covers religious sites all across the state from Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple in the northernmost district of Kasargode to the Madre De Deus Church in Thiruvanathapuram, the southernmost district. The circuit will cover several historical religious sites across the state like the Cheraman Jumah Masjid (Kodungallooor), Koodalmanikyam temple (Irinjalakkuda), St Thomas Church (Malayattoor), Thriparayar Sreerama Temple (Thrissur), etc. In reply to a question, Alphons said that the sites have been identified after elaborate study and discussions with all stakeholders. He pointed out that 60 per cent of domestic tourism is related to spiritual circuits.

The Central Government has sanctioned 11 projects for the development of coastal circuits in India for a total of over Rs 800 crore. This also includes the amount for the development of Sindhudurg coastal circuit in Maharashtra for Rs 82.17 crore, which was sanctioned in 2015-16. The coastal circuits are being developed under Ministry of Tourism’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme, which also aims at integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits. Apart from this, the Centre, under the assistance to Central Agencies Scheme, has sanctioned the upgradation and modernisation at International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai for Rs 1,250 lakh during 2017-18 and the development of Kanoji Angre Lighthouse for Rs 1,500 lakh during 2016-17. Source: The New Indian Express

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated two Swadesh Darshan Scheme projects of the Ministry of Tourism – ‘Development of Kakinada – Hope Island – Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary – Passarlapudi – Aduru – S Yanam – Kotipally and, Development of Nellore- Pulikat Lake – Ubblamadugu Water Falls – Nelapattu -Kothakoduru- Mypadu – Ramateertham – Iskapalli’ in the presence of Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism K J Alphons, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya and Union Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma in Tirupati. The projects are the first projects under the Swadesh Drashan Scheme to be inaugurated in the Southern region. Naidu also inaugurated the state-of-the-art Indian Culinary Institute (ICI) campus, Tirupati. Alphons said that the tourism ministry is one among the major contributors to employment generation in the country and this culinary institute will help in imparting skills to more youth, thereby further generating employment. The project Development of Kakinada – Hope Island – Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary – Passarlapudi – Aduru – S Yanam – Kotipally was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in March 2015 for Rs 69.83 crore. The second project was sanctioned in December 2015 for Rs 59.70 Crores. Nellore has huge potential to be developed as a leading tourist destination in the region because of its proximity to Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati and also due to its abundant natural resources.    

K J Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Government of India will be inaugurating the project ‘Development of Tribal Circuit: Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat- Kamleshpur- Maheshpur- Kurdar-Sarodadadar- Gangrel- Kondagaon- Nathiya Nawagaon- Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh’ implemented under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, in Gangrel, Chhattisgarh on September 14, 2018. This is the second project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme being inaugurated in the country. This project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in February 2016 for Rs 99.21 crores. The project covers 13 sites in Chhattisgarh, namely, Jashpur, Kunkuri, Mainpat, Kamleshpur, Maheshpur, Kurdar, Sarodadadar, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Nathiya Nawagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot, Tirthgarh. Development of Tribes and Tribal Culture is one of the prime area of focus for the Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry is carrying out an array of activities for development and promotion of tourism in the tribal region.  The Ministry is developing the tourism infrastructure in the region under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan. Under the tribal circuit theme of the scheme, the Ministry has sanctioned four projects to Nagaland, Telangana and Chhattisgarh for Rs 381.37 crores. Major components sanctioned include eco log huts, craft haats, souvenir shops/ kiosk, tourist reception & facilitation centres, open amphitheatre, tribal interpretation centres, workshop centres, tourist amenities centres, last mile connectivity, wayside amenities, viewpoints, nature trails, solar illuminations, signages solid waste management, etc. These components are perceived to improve existing tourist facilities and enhance the overall tourist experience.