Swadesh Darshan: India’s First Tribal Circuit Project To Be Inaugurated In Chhattisgarh Tomorrow

Minister of State for Tourism K J Alphons is all set to inaugurate the first tribal circuit development project under the government’s flagship Swadesh Darshan scheme. The minister will be present tomorrow, September 14 in Gangrel, Chhattisgarh for the ceremony, the ministry’s press release said. This becomes the second project to be launched under the scheme in the country.

The project had been sanctioned in 2016 February for Rs 99.21 crore and it covers thirteen sites in the state which are Jashpur, Kunkuri, Mainpat, Kamleshpur, Maheshpur, Kurdar, Sarodadadar, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Nathiya Nawagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot, Tirthgarh.

Since its inception in 2014-15, the ministry has sanctioned Rs 5,997 crore to 31 states and union territories for 74 projects under the scheme. Most of the projects are likely to be completed by the end of this year.

Development of tribes and tribal culture is one of the main areas of focus for the tourism ministry. This includes promotions for tourism in tribal regions of India for which necessary infrastructure development is being carried out accordingly. Under the theme of the tribal circuit, close to Rs 400 crore has been sanctioned to the states of Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Nagaland.

One-third of Chhattisgarh’s population comprises of tribes, who have their own culture and traditions that have been carried over for centuries now.

Some of the components include the development of souvenir shops, tourism facilitation centres, amphitheatre, workshops, viewpoints, nature trails etc. This will also help improve the economic opportunities for the state, attract visitors and generate revenue.