Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday after the repeal of Article 370, will dedicate to the nation a Rs 5,000-crore Holistic Agriculture Development Programme for agriculture at a Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir event in Srinagar.

He will also dedicate to the nation and launch multiple projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1,400 crore under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, including the project for Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar.

Mr Modi will launch the Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll and Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign. He will also announce tourist destinations selected under the Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme.

The prime minister will distribute appointment orders to about 1,000 new government recruits of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory administration and interact with beneficiaries of various government schemes, including women achievers, lakhpati didis, farmers and entrepreneurs.

In a step that will provide a major boost to the agri-economy of the Union Territory, the prime minister will dedicate the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme. The HADP is an integrated programme encompassing the full spectrum of activities in the three major domains of agri-economy viz Horticulture, Agriculture and Livestock husbandry in Jammu and Kashmir.

The programme is expected to equip about 2.5 lakh farmers with skills via a dedicated Daksh Kisan portal. Under the programme, about 2,000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars will be established and robust value chains will be put in place for the welfare of the farming community. The programme will lead to employment generation benefiting lakhs of marginal families in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Modi’s vision is to improve the overall experience of tourists and pilgrims visiting prominent pilgrimage and tourism sites nationwide by building world-class infrastructure and amenities at these sites.

In line with this, Modi will launch multiple initiatives under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes worth more than Rs 1,400 crore. The projects to be dedicated to the nation by the prime minister include the development of the ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ in Srinagar, J&K; and tourism facilities developed in the Northeast circuit in Meghalaya.

Besides, the Spiritual Circuit in Bihar and Rajasthan; Rural and Tirthankar Circuit in Bihar; development of Jogulamba Devi Temple, Jogulamba Gadwal District, Telangana; and development of Amarkantak Temple, Annupur district, Madhya Pradesh will also be dedicated.

To create world-class infrastructure and amenities for pilgrims and tourists visiting the Hazratbal Shrine, and to enhance their holistic spiritual experience, the project ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ has been executed. The key components of the project include site development of the entire area including the construction of the boundary wall of the Shrine and illumination of the Hazratbal shrine Precinct.