CITIESPUDUCHERRY

Published:February8,201500:00IST|Updated:February8,201505:43IST
PUDUCHERRY,February8,2015

TouriststoPuducherryhaveafeelofvillages
ANNIEPHILIP

TouristsparticipateinlocalactivitiesaspartoftheprogrammesorganisedbyMohanamCulturalCentre.Photo:SpecialArrangement
Alankuppamprojectisthegovernmentsfirstruraltourismproject
Forafewyearsnow,theUniongovernmenthasbeenlookingattappingruraltourismasastrategyforruraldevelopment,consideringits
vastruralpopulationandfallingemploymentopportunitiesinthevillages.
TheUnionMinistryofTourismhadlaunchedtheExploreRuralIndiasubbrandin2008underitsIncredibleIndiacampaignaimedat
extendingthestayoftouristsandprovidinglivelihoodopportunitiestothelocalvillagers.Theideaistohelptouristsexperiencevillagelifeby
gettinginvolvedinroutineruralactivitiesandseefirsthandtheskillsofthelocalpeople.
AccordingtothedescriptionoftheruraltourismschemebytheUnionMinistryofTourism,counterurbanisationandgrowinginterestin
heritage,cultureandenvironmentalconsciousnesshavehelpedinthegrowthofruraltourism.
TheAlankuppamvillageinPuducherry,closetoAuroville,wasamongtheplacesidentifiedin2011bytheUnionMinistryofTourismwith
potentialforruraltourism,foritsexpertiseincrafts.Now,withthetieupofthePuducherrygovernmentandtheIlleetVilaine(Brittany
region,France)administrationtodeveloptheAlankuppamruralcircuitunderthe2ndcallforJointIndoFrenchProjectsinSupportof
DecentralisedCooperationfortheyear201516,thisprojectmarksthegovernmentsfirstruraltourismprojectinPuducherry.
TheIlleetVilaineadministrationhasexpertiseincoastalandecofriendlytourismandwantstoexchangeknowledgeonthisfrontwith
Puducherry.
TasconMennetrier,councillor,vicepresidentofIlleetVilaine,whoheadedthedelegationonavisithere,said,Ithasbeenoftenobserved
thattourismdoesnotbenefitthelocalcommunityastheyarenotinvolved.Ithasalsobeenseenasdetrimentaltotheenvironment.Inthe
projectswehavetakenupinPuducherry,wewanttomakesurethatitisabottomsupapproach,andisecofriendly.Ifthelocalcommunity
isinvolved,theprojectwillbesustainedanditwillalsoremovechancesofresentment.
TheChinnaVeerampattinamSustainableEcoTourismProjectwhichhasbeenfundedbyIlleetVilaineusesthisapproachofintegrated
coastalzonemanagementaccordingtoMs.Mennetrier.
TheAlankuppamruraltourismcircuitisaimedatextendingthestayoftouristsinPuducherrywhichhasthusfarbeenanaverageofarounda
dayandahalf.AlankuppamanditsneighbouringSanjeeviNagarvillagesarehometoaroundadozenunitsinvolvedinmakingterracotta,
ceramic,recycledpaper,crochetandleatherproducts.
TheMohanamCulturalCentreinSanjeeviNagarheadedbyP.Balasundaramhasalreadybeeninvolvedinlinkingartisansfromthetwo
villagesinsharingexpertiseandprovidingthemaplatformtoselltheirproductsthroughecotourismmeasures.
Mr.BalasundaramandhisteamwillalsobeassistingIlleetVilaineintheAlankuppamruraltourismcircuit.Wearehopingtoestablisha
villagecommunityruralheritagemuseumwhichimpartscrafttrainingandtakestouristsonvisitstoherbalgardensandotheractivities.The
museumwillbealiving,breathingspacewhichwillplayanimportanteducationalroleandpromotelocalhandicrafts,anditwillberunby
selfhelpgroups.Thiswillbringrevenuetothelocalcommunityhere,saidMr.Balasundaram.
Thegovernmenthasbeenquitesupportiveintheirinterestandguidanceforthisproject,headded.Asteeringcommitteewithstakeholders
willmonitorthetwoyearAlankuppamproject.
Printableversion|Apr22,20154:52:21PM|http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/touriststopuducherryhaveafeelof
villages/article6870228.ece

TheHindu