Page 39 - Abhivruddhi

and even maintenance therapies, treatments are available at economical
prices in India. Panchakarma in Ayurveda for example is a thorough and
effective treatment for cure and prevention. Huge influx of foreigners
availing these facilities in Kerala while also visiting and enjoying places
in the God’s Own Country indicates the potential of this sector. Not only
Indian doctors / surgeons are known for their world-class skills but so also
is Indian nursing staff. And their reasonably well English communication
skills help both sides.

Religious Tourism:
India has a rich legacy of pilgrimage places (तीर्थक्षेत्र) and these are places
of great faith. For example, it is a common saying even in Marathi ‘काशीस
जावषे नित्य वदावषे’. Some established pilgrimage places are Amarnath, Tirupati,
Kashi/Varanasi. This potential is however not fully explored yet. Thanks to
better road, rail and air infrastructure, people from across India can more
easily and comfortably travel to these places of faith. Even visiting small
and big places around these main centre is now more easily possible and
manageable thanks to better infrastructure. Such package tours have a great
potential and a guaranteed customer base in the form of faithful pilgrims.
Internet, smart phones, apps, UPI all can make it even more easy. If we
look at the number of foreign tourists visiting places like Kashi/Varanasi
and compare it with domestic tourists, we will understand that there is a
huge unexplored potential. Initiatives like Kashi Vishwanath Corridor can
certainly be used to realise a rise in the number of visitors and pilgrims.

Bio-Food:
There is an increasing awareness of the ill effects of chemicals and
pesticides used on plants to the human body. Rural India has traditionally
relied on naturally available fertilizers and pesticides. For example, cyclic
planting of legumes helps the soil recapture lost nitrogen. Also a mixture
of cow dung serves as fertilizer and extracts of neem leaves are used as
pesticides in some cases. India can become a major producer and cater to
the domestic and international demand for chemical-free food (also called
bio or organic food).

Value Added Products from Agriculture Produce:
Converting the agriculture produce into value added products gives
many more options to the farmers. First and foremost, it fetches them more
revenue. It relieves them of pressure due to small time windows available
for perishable items. It provides them with more sustainability.

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