Question : ASSISTANCE TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

(a) whether the Government proposes to encourage Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in order to boost tourism in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether financial assistance has been provided to various NGOs for promoting tourism in the country;

(d) if so, the names of schemes under which such financial assistance have been provided to these NGOs;

(e) the total amount provided to them and the details of funds allocated to these NGOs during the last three years and the current year; and

(f) the names of NGOs involved in irregularities?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM (SHRI SULTAN AHMED)

(a) to (f): Keeping in view the importance of involvement of States/Union Territories (UTs) in promoting Tourism in the country, Ministry of Tourism (MOT) grants Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to them under its various schemes. For development of some tourism infrastructure, CFA is also released to Central Government Agencies. However, MOT does not release funds directly to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).

The development of the software component in the Rural Tourism Scheme, in certain cases is implemented by the NGOs, identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations for which also fund is released to the State Governments/UT Administrations only.