The Ministry of Tourism, Government. of India has in the recent past taken major initiatives in the field of Information Technology with a view to benefit the tourists. The aim of these initiatives have been:

 

a)            To bring improvement and efficiency at Government of India Tourist Offices, and the Ministry Headquarters;

b)            To provide improved & quality tourist information to tourists; and

c)            To provide improved tourist facilitation.

 

In order to encourage the State Tourism Departments to take major IT initiatives for improved tourist information and facilitation as well as marketing and publicizing their tourist products. To achieve this Central Financial Assistance for IT was formulated to extend assistance to the State/UT Governments to enable them to adopt wide spread use of Information Technology in their tourism products and services comprising publicity, promotion and marketing etc. Under this scheme, assistance up to 50% of the IT project is given to the State/UT Governments subject to the following conditions:

 

1.      The CFA on IT projects will be on 50:50 basis.  The CFA will be restricted to an annual ceiling of Rs.75 lakhs for each state/UT irrespective of number of projects.  90% of the central component will be released as 1^st installment.

2.      The State/UT Governments should submit their IT proposals for Central Financial Assistance by 30^th of October for consideration during the financial year.

3.      State/UT Governments should give a write up on the scope and benefits of the project duly supported by a project/feasibility report preferably prepared by a professional agency/organization. An officer not below the rank of Director Tourism should certify the project report.

4.      The project should be supported in revised Form ‘P’ with full details of the Hardware/Software to be procured/developed and terms and conditions of the procurement and how it’s going to benefit the state. The State/UT Government should clearly mention the cost of the project with state share, schedule of implementation, implementing agency, date of completion and method of funding.

5.      The State/UT Government will bear all expenses for the operation and maintenance including recurring charges of the project and a prescribed undertaking to this effect should be sent along with the proposal.

6.      The State/UT Governments should ensure that the details of the hardware/software components submitted with the project should remain the same at the time of actual procurement. If there are any changes in the procurement prior approval of Ministry of Tourism has to be obtained before procurement of hardware/software.

7.      Central Financial Assistance up to 90% of the share of the Ministry of Tourism, GOI  will be released to the State/UT Government as an advance subject to the production of a proof for placement of order for procurement/development of Hardware/Software. The balance amount of the Central Financial Assistance in full will be released to the State/UT Governments on production of proof of codal formalities followed, copy of placement order, completion certificate and production of proof of utilization of funds for the purpose for which it was released.

8.      Special assistance (100%) to new states and north eastern states on case to case basis with approval of Secretary (Tourism).

9.      Details of Hardware and Software to be considered for Central Financial Assistance is as follows:

 

Sl. No.	HARDWARE	SOFTWARE
1.	Desktop Computer	Operating Software Windows all versions
2.	Laptop Computer	Application Software all versions
3.	Scanner	Software for Networking & VPN
4.	Printer (Dot Matrix, Inkjet & Laserjet)	Software for MIS
5.	LCD Projector	Software for Online Payment Gateway
6.	CD Writer	Software for GIS & Multimedia
7.	Slide Projector	CD ROMs (Thematic, Walkthrough, Virtual Reality and Photo CD)
8.	Visualizer	Specialised Software like Photoshop, Corel Draw, Oracle, SQL Server, Linux, Autocad,  etc.
9.	Portable Screen	Website Development/Translation of website in foreign languages.
10.	Upgradation of existing Hardware	Any other software for marketing and publicity purpose.
11.	Networking
12	Interactive/virtual walkthrough CD ROM – on destinations
13	CDs/VCDs on culture, traditional art forms
14	Launching of dynamic tourism portals
15	Major revamping of the existing sites
16	Remote Sensing Equipment at monuments
17	Handy Audio Research Kit (HARK) at monuments
18	IVRS facility for dissemination of tourism information
19	Pen Drive
20	Wireless set(Remote & inaccessible areas) of North East & Himalayan states
21	Coin operated sightseeing Binocular in Hill regions
22	Photographic capability long range telescope
23	Other hardware equipments

 

Ceiling proposed on CFA for different items:

 

i) Production of CD/VCD/DVD                                                   : Rs.10.00 lakhs

·                           Maximum number of topics/themes allowed                    : Five

·                           No. of copies of CD/VCD/DVD                                      : 5000

·                           Additional copies for participation in Int’l tourism fairs      : 5000

 

ii) Preparation of CDs/VCDs on culture, traditional art forms : Rs. 7.00 lakhs

·                           No of themes allowed during a financial year                            : Five

·                           No of copies of CDs/VCDs                                           : 5000

·                           Additional copies for participation in Int’l tourism fairs      : 5000

 

iii) Sponsored CD/VCD/DVD on culture, traditional art forms : Rs. 5.00 lakhs

·                           No of themes allowed during a financial year                            : Five

·                           No of copies for CD/VCD/DVD                                      : 5000

·                           Additional copies for participation in Int’l tourism fairs      : 5000

 

iv) Web-sites

·                           Launching of Tourism Portals                                       : Rs. 10.00 lakhs

·                           Revamping of existing sites/translation in foreign languages        : Rs. 10.00 lakhs

 

(v) Remore Sensing Facility, HARK etc.

·                           Remote Sensing equipment at each monuments              : Rs. 15 lakhs

·                           HARK system Each monuments                                              : Rs. 15 lakhs

 

(vi) IVRS

·                           IVRS facility for each connection                                 :Rs. 5 lakhs

·                           Information Kiosk for each site (5 at one site)                          :Rs. 10 lakhs

 

17. State/UT wise ceiling : Rs. 75 lakhs during a financial year as central component relaxable for deserving cases with the approval of the competent authority and subject to availability of funds.

 

18. Year Wise ceiling for each States/UTs                                 Rs. 75 lakhs

 

19. Special assistance to New  and North East        States                    100% on case-to-case basis.

 

The above terms and conditions are subject to change based on a review to be made.