PM Modi's Kashmir visit: Rs 6,400 cr package to boost agri-economy, tourism in J&K

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Srinagar on Thursday where he will unveil a Rs 6,400 crore package for boosting the agri-economy and tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir, according to a PMO statement issued on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister will reach Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar around noon where he will participate in the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ programme.

Prime Minister Modi will dedicate to the nation a Rs 5,000 crore ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ for boosting the agri-economy in J&K and launch multiple projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1,400 crore under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, including the project for ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ in Srinagar.

The Prime Minister will also launch the ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll’ and ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’. He will also announce tourist destinations selected under the Challenge Based Destination Development Scheme.

Besides, the Prime Minister will distribute appointment orders to about 1,000 new government recruits of Jammu and Kashmir and will also interact with the beneficiaries of various government schemes, including women achievers, lakhpati didis, farmers, entrepreneurs, etc., the statement added.

The ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ (HADP) is an integrated programme encompassing the full spectrum of activities in the three major domains of J&K’s agri-economy, including horticulture, agriculture and livestock.

The programme is expected to equip about 2.5 lakh farmers with skill development via dedicated Daksh Kisan portal. Under the programme, about 2,000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars will be established and robust value chains will be put in place for the welfare of the farming community. The programme will lead to employment generation benefiting lakhs of marginal families in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister'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, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation and launch multiple initiatives under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes worth more than Rs 1,400 crore.

The projects to be dedicated to nation by the Prime Minister 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 District, Telangana; and development of Amarkantak Temple, Annupur District, Madhya Pradesh, the PMO statement said.

The statement mentioned that in an effort 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' has been executed. The key components of the project include site development of the entire area including construction of boundary wall of the Shrine; illumination of Hazratbal shrines Precinct; improvement of Ghats and Devri Paths around the shrine; construction of Sufi interpretation centre; construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre; installation of Signages; multilevel car parking; construction of Public Convenience Block and entrance Gateway of the Shrine; among others.

PM Modi will also launch about 43 projects that will develop a wide range of pilgrimage and tourist sites across the country. These include important religious sites like the Annavaram Temple in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh; Navagraha Temples in Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai District of Tamilnadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry; Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Mysore District, Karnataka; Karni Mata Mandir, Bikaner District Rajasthan; Maa Chintpurni Temple, Una District, Himachal Pradesh; Basilica of Bom Jesus Church, Goa, among others.

The projects also include 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, Ananathagiri, Telangana; Meghalayan Age Cave Experience and Waterfall Trails Experience at Sohra, Meghalaya; Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate, Jorhat, Assam; Ecotourism experience at Kanjli Wetland, Kapurthala, Punjab; Julley Leh Biodiversity Park, Leh, among others.

During the programme in J&K, the Prime Minister will announce 42 tourist destinations selected under 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 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 & Heritage Destination; 11 in spiritual destinations; 10 in Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar; and 5 in Vibrant Village).

PM Modi will 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 aim of the nationwide poll is to engage with citizens to identify most preferred tourist attractions and understand tourist perceptions across five tourism categories -- spiritual, cultural & heritage, nature & wildlife, adventure, and other categories.

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

The Prime Minister will launch the ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’ with an aim 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 Prime Minister, wherein he requested Indian diaspora members to encourage at least 5 non-Indian friends to travel to India.

With more than three crore overseas Indians, the Indian diaspora can serve as a powerful catalyst for Indian tourism, acting as cultural Ambassadors.