TOURISM CAN COUNTER NAXALSM

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/tourism-can-counter-naxalism/article6335539.ece?homepage=true SANTOSH K MISRA Chhattisgarh’s rich natural resources are the best bet to build the economy and fight terror outfits Driving on NH43 takes you through some of the most pristine landscapes of the country — down Bastar plateau past villages with neat rows of mud houses tucked inside lush groves. As you head towards the Kanger Valley National Park, sunlight weaves a magical fabric of sun and shade. Inside the park, the amazing Tirathgarh waterfall glistens like silver as it roars over a 100 feet into a pool below. After a refreshing bath when you come up feeling hungry, you can choose from about a dozen shops. One little shop stands apart for its neat décor and clean tables and chairs. The owner, a lady in her mid-50s, is a local; the tattoos on her arms indicate she belongs to the Halbi tribe. She opened her shop about two years ago and says that on a good weekend she makes over Rs. 2,000-3,000. She’s hired her neighbour’s son to deal with the increased workload. Business has improved, especially since the approach road was repaired. She has just received a lunch order for about 20 persons from an group of tourists from Nagpur. Her daughter goes to a government school nearby. Her shop is located at Tirathgarh in interior Bastar. Yet tourism is on the rise with the lives of the locals changing for the better now. They welcome this constant stream of visitors; it has opened a new chapter for them. Transformers for real Tourism is a transformer in Chhattisgarh. It has opened new avenues for the local population and they feel its impact in the form of economic freedom. This reinforces the fact that tourism creates opportunities in remote areas and suggests that Naxalism can be vanquished by the economics of tourism. Tourism is a money multiplier par excellence as it engages everyone from the community and celebrates innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit. When the shop-owner proudly says her school-going daughter helps her with the accounts, I feel confident that this will sow the seeds of entrepreneurship in the next generation. This is a story of transformation, empowerment and hope. While India has vouched for the concept of “Atithi devo bhava” (the guest is a god) since ancient times, tourism has been a major social phenomenon. The urge to travel and be social has been a dominant strand in our culture. Motivated by the natural urge of every human being for new experiences, things like adventure, education and entertainment, travel and tourism have played an important part in matters of economic development and employment generation, particularly in regions where there is little or no development. Huge potential India has great potential in terms of topographical features that make it a prime tourist destination. From lofty mountains to scenic beaches, and from interesting people to more interesting stories, India is a mix of people, culture and natural endowments. Take any part of the country, and you are sure to come across an unforgettable experience. Chhattisgarh, with its virgin forests and magnificent landscape, is a backpacker’s dream. No wonder that last year it had more than two million visitors. The State which boasts numerous waterfalls and plateaus, a variety of flora and fauna, national parks, temples and rich tribal art and craft, also faces a grim threat from Naxalism. Despite the fact that Naxalite-Maoist activities are mostly limited to the border areas of the State, their psychological impact is significantly higher. Only after tourists arrive in Raipur, either via its modern airport or railway station do they realise that Chhattisgarh is no different from Maharashtra or Madhya Pradesh. But tourism can be developed as an instrument for the eradication of Naxalism. By positioning tourism — eco tourism, ethnic tourism, wildlife tourism, adventure tourism, rural tourism, tribal tourism and heritage tourism — as a major engine of economic growth, poverty elimination, job creation and eliminating extremists, the State intends to give fresh impetus to sectoral development and create a sustainable model for tribal development. It is well known that tourism is a critical economic sector which, with positive government support, can ensure far-reaching development in the State. Growth can be stimulated through forward linkages and cross-sectional synergies with varied sectors. By means of connecting tourism with tertiary activities such as agriculture, horticulture, poultry, handicrafts, transport, construction and so on, it is possible tobring about overall development and enable greater socio-economic prosperity. A wide net Tourism spawns a whole ecosystem and engages lot more people indirectly. The consumption demands as generated by increasing tourist expenditure also go forward in helping generate greater employment opportunities. As a result, additional income and employment opportunities will be generated; thus the State tourism sector can enable large-scale employment generation and poverty alleviation. Chhattisgarh is an interesting case study, with its natural and tribal resources on the one hand, and the underdeveloped economy and poor Human Development Index on the other. Involving local communities in improving their living standards and bringing a new wave of growth and development at the grassroot level can contribute to tackling Naxalism on the ground. This initiative can also help foster economic integration through collaboration with other sectors. Thus by positioning tourism as a major engine of economic growth, the State government can harness the direct and perceived effects of tourism for greater employment generation and economic development. An umbrella development in the Chhattisgarh tourism sector will greatly benefit for the 32 per cent tribal population by creating employment opportunities and boosting the economy