Shikdamakha, one of the cleanest villages in Assam, along with its neighbouring hamlets – Bormarjong, Amsai, Langarkhon, Maulen have been striving to create a rural tourism model.
The small hamlets are being supported in this endeavour by NGO, Root Bridge Foundation, and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
Shikdamakha is a tiny hamlet, nestled on a plateau in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. The hamlet has taken it upon itself to set examples in cleanliness and economic sustainability for rural communities of the state.
The community-driven rural tourism model hopes to create employment opportunities for local people, stated a release issued by the NGO on Tuesday.
Root Bridge Foundation is making a detailed plan for the development of the villages with participation of local youths and students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Tezpur University and Guwahati University.
“The students and the village representatives have worked together with the foundation members to identify and document tourism avenues and complete a detailed socio-economic survey with a focus on tourism-based livelihood,” the release said.
People of Shikdamakha village are being trained in hosting guests at their houses.
The guests will be provided a room, clean bed and home-cooked food, said a member of the foundation.
Tuliram Rongham, the chief executive member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) is of the opinion that this initiative can be a successful model for other villages in the region, reports the Arunachal Times.
Gayatri Baruah, trustee of Root Bridge Foundation, said it was important to curb the negative impact of tourism on local communities and their resources.