Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)

#GS-01 Indian Culture and Heritage

Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD):

PRASHAD is a scheme introduced in 2015 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The scheme focuses on identifying and developing the pilgrim sites across the country to enrich the religious tourism experience.
Its aim is for the integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in a planned, prioritised and sustainable manner in order to provide complete religious tourism experience.
The scheme will help to create holistic development of the selected pilgrimage destinations by the government along with the cooperation of other stakeholders.
The scheme was renamed into “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)” from its initial name PRASAD in October 2017.
National IPAC (Integrated Plan approval Committee) is tasked with identifying the pilgrimage sites across India.
They are also responsible for providing final approval for the Integrated Plans (IPs) for the pilgrimage destinations.
The identified agencies by the respective State/ Union Territory Government will be responsible for the implementation of the projects identified under this scheme.
PRASHAD is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding provided by the Government of India.