Context
Recently, the government announced a special tourist train to cover the “Ambedkar Circuit”.
Key-points
- The Ambedkar Circuit was first proposed in 2016 by the Central Government.
- It includes-
- Janma Bhoomi (Ambedkar’s birthplace in Madhya Pradesh)
- Deeksha Bhoomi (place in Nagpur where Ambedkar embraced Buddhism)
- Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi (the place in Delhi where he passed away)
- Chaitya Bhoomi (the place of his cremation in Mumbai)
- The proposed Ambedkar Circuit will be similar to the recently launched Ramayana Circuit and Buddhist Circuit.
- Currently, special trains are available for the Ramayana, Buddhist, and North East Circuits.
- Now, the Ambedkar circuit is expected to be the fourth.
- It aims to attract wider tourist base besides Dalit community, who frequent these key destinations as a pilgrimage.
- The journey would cover meals. Ground transportation and entry to historic sites concerning Ambedkar.
About Swadesh Darshan scheme
- The Swadesh Darshan scheme was launched by the Tourism Ministry in 2014-2015 to achieve the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
- Under this central sector scheme, the government identified 15 tourist circuits.
- These include Ramayana Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage, North East, Himalayan, Sufi, Krishna, Rural, Tribal, and Tirthankar Circuits.
- Until March 2022, the government has sanctioned 76 projects in these 15 circuits.
- These projects seek to ensure a comprehensive development of all sites related to the theme-based circuit, like infrastructure, visitor facilities, road and rail connectivity.
- Its overall aim is to promote jobs in the tourism sector across the country by integrating schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc.
