Gangotri, Yamunotri and Amarkantak are included under PRASAD Scheme of Tourism Ministry

The number of sites under the PRASAD, has now become 41 in 25 states

• The Centre has included Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttrarakhand, Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and Parasnath in Jharkhand under a central scheme to developpilgrimage and heritage destinations in the country.
• With the new additions, the number of sites under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) launched by the ministry in 2014-15 has now become 41 in 25 states.
• The scheme aimed at infrastructure development such as entry points (road, rail and water transport), last mile connectivity, basic tourism facilities like Information or Interpretation Centers, ATM or money exchange, eco-friendly modes of transport, lighting and illumination with renewable sources of energy.
• A total 24 projects in 15 states have been approved with estimated expenditure of Rs 727.16 crore and a total amount of Rs 331.15 crore has been released for these projects under the scheme since its inception till date.
  

  ---

  Gangotri

• Gangotri is a town and a Nagar Panchayat in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi and origin of River Ganges. It is on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,100 metres.

Yamunotri

• Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna River and the seat of the Goddess Yamuna in Hinduism. It is situated at an altitude of 3,293 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas and located approximately 30 kilometers North of Uttarkashi, the headquarters of the Uttarkashi district in the Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, India.
  

  ---

  Amarkantak

• Amarkantak is a pilgrim town and a Nagar Panchayat in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. The Amarkantak region is a unique natural heritage area and is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. This is where the Narmada River, the Son River and Johila River emerge.
  

  ---

What is Prasad Scheme?

• Under the scheme ‘Prasad’, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments or Union Territory Administrations for development and beautification of the identified pilgrimage destinations. It was established in 2015 by Central government.
• Initially thirteen sites were identified for development, namely: Amritsar, Ajmer, Dwarka, Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Amaravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni, Kedarnath, Kamakhya and Patna. In Union Budget 2017-18, INR 100 crore has been allocated for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD).
• Now the present sites have been increased to 41 in 25 states.