PM Modi to unveil Rs 6400 Cr package for agri, tourism sectors

New Delhi, Mar 6:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Kashmir on Thursday and unveil a Rs 6400 crore package for the agriculture and tourism sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

An official spokesman said that at around noon, PM Modi would reach Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar, where he would participate in the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ programme.

During the programme, the PM would dedicate to the nation about Rs 5000 crore worth of the ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ for boosting agri-economy in J&K.

He would also dedicate to the nation and launch multiple projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1400 crore under Swadesh Darshan and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme including the project for the ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ in Srinagar.

PM Modi would also launch the ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll’ and ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’.

He would also announce tourist destinations selected under the Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.

Besides, the PM would distribute appointment orders to about 1000 new Jammu and Kashmir government recruits.

He would also interact with beneficiaries of various government schemes including women achievers, Lakhpati Didis, farmers, and entrepreneurs.

In a step that would provide a major boost to the agri-economy of J&K, PM Modi would dedicate the ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ (HADP) to the nation.

The HADP is an integrated programme encompassing the full spectrum of activities in the three major domains of agri-economy - horticulture, agriculture, and livestock husbandry in J&K.

The programme is expected to equip about 2.5 lakh farmers with skill development via a dedicated Daksh Kisan portal.

Under the programme, about 2000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars would be established and robust value chains would be put in place for the welfare of the farming community.

The programme would lead to employment generation benefiting lakhs of marginal families in J&K.

The PM’s vision is to improve the overall experience of tourists and pilgrims visiting prominent pilgrimage and tourism sites nationwide by building world-class infrastructure and amenities at these sites.

In line with this, he would dedicate to the nation and launch multiple initiatives under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes worth more than Rs 1400 crore.

PM Modi would also dedicate several projects to the nation that include development of ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ in Srinagar, J&K; tourism facilities developed in Northeast circuit in Meghalaya; spiritual circuit in Bihar and Rajasthan; rural and Tirthankar circuit in Bihar; development of Jogulamba Devi Temple, Jogulamba Gadwal in Telangana; and development of Amarkantak Temple, Annupur in Madhya Pradesh.

To create world-class infrastructure and amenities for pilgrims and tourists visiting the Hazratbal shrine, and to enhance their holistic spiritual experience, the project 'Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine' would be executed.

The key components of the project include site development of the entire area including the construction of the boundary wall of the shrine; illumination of the Hazratbal shrine's precinct; improvement of Ghats and Devri paths around the shrine; construction of the Sufi Interpretation Centre; construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre; installation of signages; multilevel storied car parking; construction of public convenience block, and entrance gateway of the shrine.

The PM would also launch about 43 projects that would develop a wide range of pilgrimage and tourist sites across the country.

These include important religious sites like the Annavaram Temple in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh; Navagraha Temples in Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry; Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple in Mysore, Karnataka; Karni Mata Mandir in Bikaner, Rajasthan; Maa Chintpurni Temple, Una, Himachal Pradesh and Basilica of Bom Jesus Church, Goa.

The projects also include the development of various other sites and experience centres like Mechuka Adventure Park in Arunachal Pradesh; Rural Tourism Cluster Experience at Gunji, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand; Ecotourism Zone at Ananthagiri Forest at Ananthagiri in Telangana; Meghalayan Age Cave Experience and Waterfall Trails Experience at Sohra in Meghalaya;

Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate at Jorhat in Assam; Ecotourism Experience at Kanjli Wetland at Kapurthala in Punjab and Julley Leh Biodiversity Park in Leh.

During the programme, PM Modi would announce 42 tourist destinations selected under the Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.

The innovative scheme, announced during Union Budget 2023-24, aims to provide end-to-end tourist experiences by catalysing the development of tourist destinations while also promoting sustainability and ushering competitiveness in the tourism sector.

The 42 destinations have been identified in four categories (16 in culture and heritage destinations; 11 in spiritual destinations; 10 in ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar; and 5 in vibrant villages).

The PM would launch the first-ever nationwide initiative to identify the pulse of the nation on tourism, in the form of ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice 2024’.

The nationwide poll aims to engage with citizens to identify the most preferred tourist attractions and understand tourist perceptions across five tourism categories - Spiritual, Cultural and Heritage, Nature and Wildlife, Adventure, and another category.

Besides the four main categories, the other category is where one can vote for their personal favourites and help uncover hidden tourism gems in the form of unexplored tourism attractions and destinations like vibrant border villages, wellness tourism, and wedding tourism.

This poll exercise is being hosted on the MyGov platform, the citizen engagement portal of the Government of India.

PM Modi will launch the ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’ to inspire the Indian diaspora to become Incredible India ambassadors and promote tourism to India.

The campaign is being launched based on the clarion call of the PM, wherein he requested Indian diaspora members to encourage at least five non-Indian friends to travel to India.

With more than 3 crore overseas Indians, the Indian diaspora could serve as a powerful catalyst for Indian tourism, acting as cultural ambassadors.