Tripura youths undergoing watersports training in HP to promote Eco-tourism
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, December 4, 2022
In a bid to promote Ecotourism and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities in the state, the project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management (SCATFORM) has sent a group of indigenous youth to undergo a 14-day basic level boating and watersports course in Himachal Pradesh.
According to an official, a total of 14 youths from Nakyacherra, Kalajhari and Ramnagar ADC Villages under Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary were selected to undergo the 14-day Training Program where after completion of the course, certificates will be awarded to the youth. This is for the first time that the Tripura JICA (SCATFORM) Project Phase-2 is conducting such a training program for the youths.
The 15 members team is headed by an official of the project and are undergoing basic course training at Regional Watersports Centre (RWSC), Pong Dam under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMS), government of Himachal Pradesh.
"It has been decided to give free training and provide equipment to start the Ecotourism activities under Nakyacherra Eco Tourism Development Committee (ETDC) as part of the project objectives," an official said.
The training which started on 1st December would continue till 14th December during which both theoretical and practical training will be provided to them.
These youths will be given hands-on training on Ecotourism best practices on how to handle situations and challenges among others. At the end of the program based on their performance certification will be given on a scale of A to C by the training authority.
"This initiative will provide a platform to the unemployed youths and make use of the opportunity through the Nakyacherra Ecotourism Site. The trained youths would provide high quality services to the visitors and tourists in future," the official said.
He added that there is a lot of demand for Ecotourism in terms of conservation and under this project and in the state.
The SCATFORM is a forest development project funded under Japanese ODA Loan to implement over a period of 10 years beginning from 2018-19 by Tripura Forest Department with a total outlay of about Rs 1000 Crore. The project is being implemented in 7 districts (North Tripura, Unakoti, Khowai, West Tripura, Sepahijala, Gomati and South Tripura) under 16 Forest Subdivisions, 36 Forest Ranges and 148 Forest Beat areas including 3 Ranges and 13 Forest Beats of Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Project has a target of creating 450 new Joint Forest Management Committee and 1350 SHGs, 3 SHG in each JFMC. To improve quality of forest in the targeted catchment by sustainable forest management, soil and moisture conservation and livelihood development, thereby contributing to development of forest ecosystem services and livelihood improvement of forest dependent communities.