Shirdi, 6 March 2024

 

Balasaheb Kolekar, Additional Collector of  Ahmednagar district said, Spiritual tourism holds the  highest share in domestic tourism and it promotes the development of the respective region, as well as leads to increase in employment opportunities there. 

Kolekar inaugurated interacation (Vartalaap) workshop on the subject 'Economic and Social Implications of Spiritual Tourism' organized by Press Information Bureau (PIB) under aegis of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Pune on Wednesday, 6th March and addressed the gathering.

On this occasion Deputy Superintendent of Police Shirish Vamane, Shri Saibaba Seva Sansthan Trust, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Shirdi Tukaram Hulawle, District Information Officer Dr.  Ravindra Thakur, Deputy Director of PIB-Pune, Mahesh Iyengar and Media Officer-PIB Harshal Akude were also present on this occasion. Around 100 journalists from Shirdi, Rahta, Srirampur and Kopargaon region participated in this workshop.

Mahesh Iyengar, Deputy Director of PIB Pune in his introductory speech elaborated the work of PIB.  He said that the PIB is the central mechanism for officially conveying information about the Central Government's policies, programs and recent achievements  to the print and electronic media. He further added that apart from this, PIB  organizes seminars on various topics to reach out to the citizens living in remote areas and to communicate the policies of the government to the masses.  Mahesh Iyengar also said that such a seminar is a medium of conveying information to the grassroots and at the same time medium of creating a link between the government and the media.

In the inaugural speech, Kolekar reviewed the proposed development works in Shirdi region.  He said that the Center as well as the State Government,  are working in a time-bound manner for the development of tourism and the results will be seen in the future.

  

He further added that Ahmednagar district has many places connected to tourism and  role of media is going to be important in conveying their information to everywhere in the state. He said, Considering a huge growth in spiritual tourism in the country in the past few years,  the government has initiated efforts for the development of Shirdi. He further informed that under these efforts, government offices are being constructed in 32 acres area in Shirdi and it encompasses  theatres, multi-purpose halls.

Kolekar also said, apart from that, the government is also making efforts to bring industries to Shirdi and Shirdi being a spiritual area, care will be taken to ensure that the industries coming here are pollution free.  He specified that the development in Kopargaon area  will be boosted also, due to veterinary college here. Balasaheb Kolekar also said, it is the government's policy that the development here should be integrated and inclusive and on the basis of  all these works, employment opportunities will increase in Shirdi area.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Shirish Vamane said, Shirdi is undergoing a major transformation and at the same time  city is also undergoing a transition. As Police play a big role in such developments, the police administration is responsible for providing a safe environment to the devotees coming to Shirdi and preventing crime as well as resticting criminal activities, he added.

In the first session of the workshop, Tukaram Hulvale, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sri Saibaba Seva Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, gave information on the topic 'Future Plans of Sansthan Trust for Spiritual Tourism Growth'.  He said, it is observed that post Corona period, development of Shird is on rise and 1 crore 72 lakh tourists visited Shirdi in the year 2022 and  in 2023, the same number went on  to 1 crore  90 lakhs. He added that it is a daunting task to provide facilities to such a large number of tourists flowing in the city. He also informed that Sansthan is making efforts for that and the devotees have been provided with good accommodation.  He said that the Sansthan is ready to provide necessary cooperation to the administration to ensure that the devotees who enter Shirdi should stay there for a maximum period of time and also visit the tourist places in the vicinity of the area.

Thereafter, speaking on the topic 'Religious Tourism: Economic and Social Impact', senior journalist and economic expert Yamaji Malkar said that the tourism industry is amongst the top 10 largest industries in the world. He further said, Spiritual tourism in India has been going on for years and Chardham Yatra was a part of it in old age.  He also informed that Tourism sector accounts for 5.8 percent of India's GDP and India is the sixth country with the highest share after USA, China, Germany, Japan and Italy.

He further said that tourism has economic effects and social effects are also seen and  Convergence of Devotees  in large numbers leads to increase a social harmony.  He said that the ancient art-culture is also protected by encouraging artisans and artists. 

Jagdish Chavan, Regional Manager, MTDC, Nashik Division gave a presentation on 'Central Government's Support and MTDC's Efforts for Tourism Growth in Shirdi'. He said, Employment opportunities are provided to local residents under MTDC's Bread and Breakfast scheme, under which,local houses are converted into hotels in areas where MTDC can reach. He informed that this scheme is receiving good response in Konkan region. He further added that,  Currently, MTDC has the most resorts in their possession in Maharashtra than any other private company and MTDC is working with  motto, 'Atithi devo bhav',(Guest is God), 

  

In his session, Retired Head of Department of Journalism, Solapur University Dr.  Ravindra Chincholkar said, during the pre-independence era, every freedom fighter had fought with a weapon of newspapers and in today's era, it needs to be given the form of development.  He also said that bringing smiles on the faces of the common people by overcoming their sufferings properly, following up with the administration for their development, is called development journalism.

Pramod Dahifale, Senior Manager, Central Bank of India, Shirdi, gave guidance on 'Tourism Development in Shirdi: Role of Banks'.  He gave information about how to get the benefit of the schemes like PM Mudra, PM Swanidhi, being implemented by the Central Government, through the banks.

On this occasion, Pallavi Jagtap, a beneficiary of PMFME scheme of the Central Government, narrated her experience regarding the loan received for her business of spices, papad and shevaya (Vermicelli) and also expressed her satisfaction and gratitude.

In the last session, PIB's Media officer Harshal Akude, addressed the workshop on the topic 'Contribution of media in rural areas in development of communication and how PIB could help media for public service'.   Akude also elaborated detail information about the Journalist Welfare Scheme and PIB Fact Check.  PIB's Information Assistant Sonal Tupe, anchored the event.

 

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