Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board helping tribal women earn decent livelihood
Over 64 new homestays are built across 28 villages, where tribal families have opened their homes to host tourists and visitors
Madhya Pradesh is known as the 'Tiger State of the India'. It also gained the tags of 'Leopard State', 'Vulture State', 'Ghadiyal State' and the 'Wolf State of the country'. The heart of incredible India is decked with numerous wildlife hotspots that include 12 National Parks and 24 Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Not only the tourist attractions, the State is also famous for its heritage sites, activity-filled tourist destinations, tribal culture, adventure activities, camping, water sports, natural scenic beauty, wildlife, spiritual, food, rural and wellness destinations. The State is also a hub to experience amazing arts and crafts that give tourists a lifetime memory by taking home some unique keepsakes to cherish.
Lakhs of tourists visit to the State every year. Hotel rooms fall short for them during peak days like this summer holidays. In order to accommodate them in a pleasant stay and provide a decent livelihood to the tribal women of the State, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) has initiated the arrangement of homestays at the tourism hotspots.
Last year, the MPTB has encouraged the rural tribal people to set up around 64 new homestays in 28 villages. Nearly about 313 homestays are under construction in 67 villages of the State. As of now, 276 properties are registered with the tourism department and more than 450 rooms are available for tourists across the State.
Many tribal families have opened their homes as homestays as a part of the homestay project of the MPTB, and are now ready to host visitors. Bhuri Bai, a tribal woman, built a homestay Village Vista at Kekadia Block Fanda of Bhopal district, within two years and opened it for the tourists. Now, she is running it smoothly with the support of the MPTB.
Bhuri Bai single-handedly did the plastering, and painting works to construct her homestay. Her husband being a truck driver lives away from home. Bhuri got an inspiration from a nearby homestay when she got to know about the MPTB's policies/ subsidy and turned it into an opportunity to become an entrepreneur and self-sufficient woman with a side income.
Inspired by Bhuri Bai, another tribal woman Sundri Bai had planned to build a homestay Berry Hideout at Kekadia Block Fanda of Bhopal district. She has two sons who do not live with her as they are in Indian Army. She finished building her homestay within a year and started her business with her daughter in law. Today, they are successful women entrepreneurs with the help of the MPTB.
These tribal women have themselves done the plastering and painting works to construct their own homestays, which are built in such a way that visitors can experience rural life in terms of stay, activities, cuisines and environment. This is why the entire house is built in a conventional way with mud.
