Telangana: President Murmu Launches Development Work At Bhadrachalam And Ramappa Temples, Inaugurates Two Schools For STs

During her Telangana tour, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday (28 December) laid the foundation stone for the development of pilgrimage facilities at Bhadrachalam and Ramappa temples.

Both these projects have been approved under the PRASHAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme of the union government.

Under these projects, pilgrimage facilities would be provided at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy temple at Bhadrachalam with Rs 41.38 crore and at Rudreshwara Temple popular as Ramappa temple in Mulugu district with Rs 62 crore.

As part of PRASHAD scheme, union government plans to build various facilities at Ramappa like a lakefront, parking area, souvenir shops, 4-D movie hall, waiting halls, food court, amphitheatre, sculpture park and flower garden.

The Ramappa temple dedicated to God Shiva was built in 1213 AD by the Kakatiya rulers and has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

This heritage temple attracts over ten lakh visitors every year and has a high visibility amongst the tourist circuit.

Addressing the gathering, the President noted that the famous temples of Telangana are visited by lakhs of pilgrims 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 also strengthens the local economy.

The President appreciated the Ministry of Tourism for boosting the spiritual and cultural tourism by developing pilgrimage sites under the 'PRASHAD' scheme.

Launched in the year 2014-15, the scheme aims to provide integrated infrastructure development to pilgrimage and heritage tourism destinations in the country.

Modern residential schools for tribals

During her visit in Telangana, President on wednesday also inaugurated two Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mahabubabad districts.

The Union Government decided to establish one Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in every block with more than 50 per cent tribal population of Scheduled Tribes and at least 20,000 tribal persons.

In all, 740 such Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) will be established. The objective of EMRS is 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 facilities in EMRSs will be at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya. In Telangana, a total of 23 EMRS will be set up. Out of which construction in 11 schools have already been completed.