Stakeholders workshop on village tourism and home-stays at Tumin

GANGTOK, 13 Feb: A Stakeholders Workshop on Promotion of Village Tourism and Home -stays at Lower Tumin was organized by Lower Tumin based NGO, Green Point on 11 February at Vidhya  Bharati School Complex, Lower Tumin, East Sikkim.
A press release informs that the main objective of the programme was to sensitize and create awareness amongst the general public on village tourism and home-stays. The NGO has been running a tourism project at Lower Tumin since 2010 under the supervision and guidance of the state Tourism Department and sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, the release mentions.
In the first session of the programme, the chief guest, area MLA and Chief Whip, Ugen Gyatso formally inaugurated the Village Library at Barang. This library will cater to locals as well as students, researchers and guests visiting the newly inaugurated home-stay at Barang, the release mentions. The library has around 300 different books, 37 different articles, 7 religious books and other publications collected by the NGO so far.
The NGO has also invited people to donate books for this library. Additional Secretary, Chief Minster Office, DR Nepal, T Dahal, Panchayat HR Adhikari including ten others contributed valuable and resourceful books to this library on the inaugural day. The library also houses traditional art and craft items made by local artisans.
While addressing the gathering, Mr Gyatso spoke on the scope of Tourism and lauded the efforts of the NGO in setting up the Village Library. He further urged the public to make good use of the library and maintain it properly.
Dy. Director, Tourism, UM Rai sensitized the youth and women on different issues related to home stays and its importance in tourism. While, Dy. Director Horticulture, SK Sharma spoke on the scope of horticulture in promoting tourism and emphasized that Tumin has great scope in horticulture and other cash crops. The meeting was also addressed by NGO Chief Advisor, DR Nepal, Panchayat, HR Adhikari, NGO president, IM Adhikari.
The release further informs that the chief guest also inaugurated the NGO’s Village Tourism sign board and pamphlets during the day. Token money for Women’s Tour Group for educational visit to South and West Sikkim was also announced on the day.
On the occasion, the NGO extended gratitude to those who contributed in making the workshop successful.
The programme was also attended by Development Officer, Horticulture Department, KL Koirala, Dy. Director, Tourism Department, Uzir Man Rai, Assistant Engineer (Tourism), Sherab T. Gensapa, Junior Engineer (Tourism) Srijana Tamang and other representatives from different Departments. Zilla Panchayat, Samdong/Tumin, Panchyats of Tumin Gram Panchyat Unit, former Teacher, KN Khatiwara, senior citizen Pandit Dharmananda Nepal, Advisors, Executives, active members of Green Point, general public and party workers of the area also participated in the programme.