House panel questions big cuts in ‘spiritual tourism’ funds

NEW DELHI: With ‘spiritual tourism’ emerging as one of the key drivers of Indian tourism’s post-pandemic recovery, a parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture has questioned the government’s decision to dock budgetary allocations for schemes to promote spiritual tourism in Kerala, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

According to a report of the House panel tabled in Parliament during the winter session last year, Kerala was given a “meagre Rs 3. 8 crore” against the sanctioned amount of Rs 69. 5 crore, while Rajasthan and Maharashtra have been given Rs 68. 2 crore and Rs 24 crore against the budgetary allocations of Rs 89. 9 crore and Rs 47. 5crore,respectively.

In Kerala, the development of the the spiritual circuit connecting Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram with Arruvipuram, Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania and Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam approved in 2018-19 has received only Rs 3. 8 crore of the allotted Rs 69. 5 crore.

In Rajasthan, a project approved in 2016-17 to connect the Salasar Balaji temple in Churu with Shri Samode Balaji, Ghatke Balaji and Bandheke Balaji in Jaipur with Pandupole Hanumanji, Bharathari in Alwar and other temples in Bharatpur, Dholpur and Chittorgarh has also received lesser than allotted funds.

Maharashtra’s spiritual circuit to develop Waki-Adasa-Dhapewada Paradsingha Chota Taj Bagh and Telankhandi Girad approved in 2018-19 has received just over half of the promised funds.

Though the committee asked the ministry to explain the reasons for the low amount released for Kerala and why nearly Rs 22 crore were reduced from the sanctioned funds for Rajasthan and Maharashtra, in its formal response to the panel, the government did not offer any explanations for why budget allocations for the three states was cut.