PRASHAD: President Murmu inaugurates temple tourism projects in TS

Hyderabad: President of India Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for various projects in Telangana. The President is in Hyderabad for a three-day annual southern sojourn. On Wednesday, she inaugurated two projects, 'Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Bhadrachalam Group of Temples' at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamivari Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District, and 'Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Infrastructure of UNESCO World Heritage Site at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple' at Mulugu in the state. Both these projects have been approved under the PRASHAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that lakhs of pilgrims visit the famous temples of Telangana, and they form the major component of domestic and foreign tourists. She said that tourism increases the livelihood opportunities and income of the people and strengthens the local economy. She appreciated the Ministry of Tourism for boosting spiritual and cultural tourism by developing pilgrimage sites under the 'PRASHAD' scheme. Launched in 2014-15, the scheme aims to provide integrated infrastructure development to the country's pilgrimage and heritage tourism destinations.

The President of India inaugurates Sammakka Saralamma Janjati Pujari Sammelan at Bhadrachalam. Noting that tribal people, especially from the Koya community, gather to offer prayers to Sammakka Saralamma Jaathra, the President said such festivals and gatherings strengthen social harmony. "With these activities, our traditions continue to grow from generation to generation. It is imperative to keep our culture, traditions, and customs alive", she said.

She also inaugurated two Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mahabubabad districts of Telangana. The Eklavya Model Residential School would be in every block with more than 50% tribal population of Scheduled Tribes and at least 20,000 tribal persons. EMRS aims to provide quality upper Primary and Secondary and Senior Secondary level education (Class VI to XII) to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas. The President also travelled to Ramappa Temple in the Mulugu district.