State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 21 Apr 2025

Prasad Scheme

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has approved an amount of  ₹44.24 crore under the PRASAD Scheme of the Central Government to make Maa Pitambara Peeth a major religious tourist destination of the state. 

 Key Points: 

• About Pitambara Peetha: 
  • Pitambara Peeth is a Hindu temple complex which also includes  an ashram , located in Datia city of Madhya Pradesh. 
  • The Shri Vankhandeshwar Shivalinga located here is believed to be from the Mahabharata period . This temple is one of the major centers of Shakti Sadhana . 
  • The Peetha was established in the year 1935 by Swamiji Maharaj with the cooperation of  Raja Shatrujit Singh Bundela of Datia .  

 Prasad Scheme: 

• 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation' was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage sites . 
• In October 2017, the scheme was renamed as National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (ie 'PRASAD') . 
  • After the closure of the HRIDAY scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, development of heritage sites was included in the PRASHAD scheme
• Several religious towns/sites have been identified for development under PRASAD Scheme such as Amaravati and Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Parashuram Kund (Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh), Patna and Gaya (Bihar ) etc. 
• Implementing Agency: The projects identified under this scheme will be implemented through agencies identified by the concerned State/UT Government. 
• Financing Mechanism: The Central Government provides 100% funding for project components undertaken for public financing. 
• The scheme seeks to leverage voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for better sustainability of the projects .