BJP-NDA Governed States Receive Major Portion of Central Tourism Funding

Mumbai, Dec 1 (NationPress) In a predictable outcome, 17 states led by the Bharatiya Janata Party either individually or as part of the NDA alliance have secured the majority of the Centre's Rs 3,295.76 crore in Special Assistance, earmarked for the development of 40 new tourism sites across a total of 23 states, as announced by the government.

The BJP-led NDA states collectively received a substantial Rs 2,541.48 crore—nearly 75 percent of the total funding; conversely, the six states governed by the INDIA bloc received only Rs 754.28 crore, which is approximately 25 percent of the total allocation.

To bolster the nation’s tourism sector, Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat made this announcement on Friday, confirming the Centre's approval for the 40 projects distributed across the 23 states under the Special Assistance to State/UTs for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme.

The funds will be utilized for the development of iconic tourist destinations meeting global standards, with the aim of ensuring that “the whole world sees every nook and corner of Bharat, one iconic site at a time!” expressed the Minister enthusiastically.

In a post on social media platform X, which was retweeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shekhawat stated that these projects, valued at Rs 3,295.76 crore, would stimulate local economies and create job opportunities through sustainable tourism.

Additionally, these initiatives are expected to alleviate congestion at popular tourist spots, incorporate advanced technologies, encourage sustainable practices, and enhance public-private partnerships to improve infrastructure and visitor experiences.

Shekhawat assured that numerous measures would be taken to guarantee a world-class experience for all those eager to explore India’s natural, cultural, and historical splendor.

In response to these developments, Pune-based social activist Prafful Sarda remarked, “This is not surprising as the BJP-NDA has consistently shown a ‘step-motherly’ attitude towards states ruled by opposition parties over the past decade.”

“This was evident during the global crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, when Gujarat received a disproportionate supply of life-saving drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, despite having significantly fewer cases compared to states like Maharashtra and Delhi. The same trend applied to other central funds and assistance, with BJP-NDA states being favored,” Sarda told IANS.

Under the SASCI scheme, among the BJP-NDA states, Odisha stands out as the largest beneficiary with Rs 199.89 crore, followed closely by Madhya Pradesh (Rs 199.30 crore), Meghalaya (Rs 198.54 crore), Assam (Rs 191.88 crore), Goa (Rs 188.20 crore), and Andhra Pradesh (Rs 172.35 crore).

Other states receiving funding include: Sikkim (Rs 165.56 crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 154.29 crore), Gujarat (Rs 151.06 crore), Chhattisgarh (Rs 147.66 crore), Bihar (Rs 147.12 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 146.05 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 145.92 crore), and Uttarakhand (Rs 100.00 crore).

States receiving double-digit assistance include: Tripura (Rs 97.70 crore), Manipur (Rs 89.48 crore), and Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 46.48 crore).

Among the Congress-INDIA bloc states, the allocations are as follows: Karnataka (Rs 199.17 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 169.90 crore), Kerala (Rs 155.05 crore), Telangana (Rs 141.84 crore), Punjab (Rs 53.45 crore), and Jharkhand (Rs 34.87 crore).

Unfortunately, at least seven states and one Union Territory— West Bengal, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, and the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—have been left without any financial support from the Ministry of Tourism.

The proposed initiatives include the development of one new tourism project in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Tripura; with two projects each in the remaining 18 states.

(Quaid Najmi can be reached via email at: qnajmi@gmail.com)