Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 16 April 2018 | Page 8

Branding of Kumbh Mela at a
global level has been done. Cultural
tourism facilities are being developed
in Mathura, Vrindavan, Ayodhaya,
Prayag, Vindhyachal, Naimisharanya,
Chitrakoot and Kushinagar under
various schemes.
Under Swadesh Darshan Scheme –
Ram circuit, Buddha circuit, Heritage
circuit and Spiritual circuit have been
developed with proper facilities for
the tourists. Under Prasad Scheme,
places like Varanasi, Mathura and
Sarnath will be developed to facilitate
an increased tourist inflow. Plans are
afoot to promote eco- tourism and wild
life tourism. The Uttar Pradesh State
Tourism Development Corporation
and Forest Corporation have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding(MoU)
for developing Dudhwa, Katarania
Ghat, Chandraprabha, Patna Bird
Sanctuary, Bakhira Bird Sanctuary,
Kukrail, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
and Sohagibarwa Bird Sanctuary. To
develop the entire Braj area which is
the birth place of Lord Krishna, a Braj
Pilgrimage Development Council has
been formed and Rs 100 crore has been
sanctioned for carrying out tourism
related works in Braj Bhumi. Deepotsav
(Lighting of lamps) in Ayodhaya was
a successful move to promote cultural
tourism. Around 1,87213 lakh lamps
were lit to celebrate ‘Deepotsav’ and this
was a world record. Similarly, Ramayan
Mela in Chitrakoot and Barsana Holi
in Mathura have been organized
successfully. For the first time Uttar
Pradesh participated as a theme state
in the International Suraj Kund Arts
and Craft Mela in Haryana. In this fair
handicrafts, food specialties and cultural
glimpses of the state were showcased.
The government has come out with
an Tourism Policy 2018 to create
job opportunities and bring about
comprehensive development in the
tourism sector. The focus is on heritage
and cultural tourism.
Unique One District One
Product Scheme
generates Employment:
To give a new dimension to the
unique workmanship and highly
specialized local products, the Yogi
Adityanath government has introduced
a ‘One District One Product Scheme’.
Lucknow Chikan embroidery, Benarasi
sarees, Bhadohi carpets, Kannauj’
scents have long been appreciated all
over the world but few people know of
Etah bells, forehead stickers of Ballia,
dupattas and scarves of Barabanki or
Durries of Sitapur. Along with these,
the government intends to also bring
into focus the Pilibhit flutes, Lord
Krishna idols of Lalitpur and the
wheat-stem artwork of Bahraich. Every
effort is being made to get such artisans
recognized for an inclusive, sustainable
and balanced development. District
Collectors have been asked to invite
at least 50 entrepreneurs from their
respective districts to special summits
while general managers of the District
Industries Centres have been instructed
to bring on board local industrialists.
Promoting local industrialists through
Udyog Bandhu, the government is
taking up their issues on priority.
Film Policy 2018:
Of
late many film makers have
opted for Uttar Pradesh to show both
the beautiful and rustic side of the
state.‘Raid’ a recently released movies
starring renowned film actors was
shot in Lucknow and around the state.
The government want to focus on the
inflow of film crews in the state and
offer best of facilities to earn revenue
and popularize the state as a tourist
destination. In the recent Investors’
Summit, the state announced a decision
to provide a suitable environment to
film-makers to opt for Uttar Pradesh
more than often. The Uttar Pradesh
Film Policy announced during the
Investors’ Summit provides for
financial assistance to non-Hindi films
shot in the state and more incentives
to Hindi movies made here. Aiming
to promote Uttar Pradesh has a hub of
movie making, the state government
has included more categories of films
for giving incentives.