Award for homestays in Alipurduar

One of the homestays developed under the project. Picture by Anirban Choudhury

TT, Alipurduar, July 2: A project by the district administration to bring about standard rates and facilities at homestays set up by backward families has been recognised by the state government for its innovation.

The Blue Homestay Project won the second price in the innovative category at the tourism fair organised by the state government in Calcutta last week.

Devi Prasad Karnam, the district magistrate of Alipurduar, said: "Eighteen home-stays are ready in the district and in the second phase, we have a plan to start 30 more such facilities before Durga Puja. We have already started identifying houses suitable for the homestays. We have spent almost Rs. 1.5 lakh for every homestay. On the basis of the requirement, we have provided toilets, made interior and external decoration and gave furniture."

All the 18 homestays are painted in blue and yellow colours.

The DM said the homestays belonged to the backward families to ensure sustainable earning for them.

"The food will be prepared by family members who will get the earning. We are just facilitating the infrastructure development of the homestay. We will ask them to ensure that the rate of the lodging and the food will be the same. We had sent 12 persons to Kalimpong for hospitality and house keeping training and now they will train others. We are trying to provide a standard facility to tourists. We are giving importance on the location as well as the condition of the house," said Karnam.

Biplab Dey, the joint secretary of the Dooars Tourism Development Forum, said it was the first time in the country that such an initiative had been taken up by a district administration.

"The poor villagers will be benefited, while tourists will get the opportunity to know the culture and taste the food of the local people," said Dey.