KAAC grants INR 7 cr. for promotion of tourism in KA

Our Correspondent Diphu, May 13 (EMN): For promotion of tourism in Karbi Anglong an amount of INR 7 crore would be spent by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). This was announced by the  Chief executive member (CEM) of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang while inaugurating a consultative workshop on, ‘community based eco-tourism development of Umswai region’ at Shikdamakha in Umswai on May 12 Saturday. The workshop was organised by Root Bridge Foundation, an NGO working for promotion of sustainable tourism with the support of KAAC. Shikdamakha village comprising of 98 families of Tiwa community under Umswai area in West Karbi Anglong which was established in 1953 was declared the cleanest village in Assam on September 25 2016. Now the village has got into the tourism map of Assam and government agencies and NGOs are trying to making the place into an eco-tourism spot. The village has also received an award of 'Model Village' for maintaining the village clean and tidy. The award was given by the National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) Ministry of Rural Development, government of India, North Eastern Regional Centre (NERC). CEM Ronghang appreciated the villagers of Shikdamakha for maintaining the village clean and free from open defecation. It is due to its cleanliness, the Clean Karbi Anglong Mission (CKAM) an initiative by KAAC was declared as the cleanest village. For promotion of tourism in the district INR 7 crore would be spent, he said. Roots Bridge Foundation, Trustee, Gaytri Boruah said that the community based project is initiated by the foundation working for promotion of sustainable tourism practices with the support of KAAC. A detailed plan for the village development through tourism intervention has been started in the village with participation of local youths and students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tezpur and Guwahati Universities. “Umswai valley is ideal for rural tourism and we are trying to create better models that benefit the local communities," she said. On the occasion CEM Ronghang also presented the Root Bridge Lifetime Achievement Award for 2018 constituted by the Foundation to 90 year old lady Sunki Amsi. The award carries a cheque of INR 10,000, a citation note and memento.  Amsi was award with the award for her untiring effort and keeping the tradition of traditional weaving producing various Tiwa traditional attairs, custom from her tender age. Earlier, the CEM inaugurated the interlocking concrete pavement at Punduri Makha under one time special grant by state government in 2017-18 with a total length of 900 metres. The work is initiated by Umpanai PWD road division and the Shikdamakha cafeteria is constructed by the Tourism department at Shikdamakha. Ronghang went on to inaugurate fifteen PMAY-G houses and dedicated foundation stone for construction of a waiting shed and toilet at Shikdamakha.