Interaction program between stakeholders of rural tourism and Director Tourism Kashmir held at Mund Daji tourist spot
Tourism Deptt bringing Kitter Daji, Munde Daji, Bosian on the tourist map: Director Toursim G. N Itoo
Reyaz Rashid
Munddaji: With an aim to reach out to more than six hundred poor and needy ahead of Eid-ul- Adha, Human Aid Society (HAS) Kashmir kick started its distribution program food kits among the poor, widows and needy families in far-flung villages of Rafaibad area in Baramulla district on Saturday.
Hounded by abject poverty but blessed by nature, people of the remotest and last villages of Rafiabad like Hamam ,Markote ,Kangroosa and Achbal were reached out by HAS and APF provided food kits ahead of Eid-ul- Adha as they are the most affected people due to pandemic crises besides an interaction program with Director Tourism Dr. G. N Itoo was organized to bridge the gap between stake holders of rural tourism and authorities of tourism department.
A team of Human Aid Society led by its Chairman Bashir Ahmad Mir flanked by relief distribution coordinator Mohammad Yousf Khan, senior member former BDO Ghulam Mohammad Sofi and and Secretary HAS Reyaz Ahmad Ganai , Jamia Millia Islamia internship fellow Farheen Fayaz, area representative Mohammad Maqbool and Idrees Ahsraf Dar of Rafiabad participated in the program.
The 43 beneficiary families identified and verified by organization with the help of Ajaz Ahmad Khan of Hamam Markote and Mohammad Maqbool of Kangroosa, were provided food and ration kits.
The Eid kits comprising of rice, floor, edible oil, sugar, salt, tea, spices, soap, milk powder etc was prepared keeping view the needs of the needy and to enable these poor and deserving families to celebrate Eid with honour and dignity.
Chairman and Founder of HASK Bashir Ahmad Mir highlighted the role of NGOs towards the deprived section of people during his welcome speech .He also requested all active organizations of state especially in Kashmir province to formulate a joint co-ordination to facilitate the donors which will also pave the way for centralized donation and distribution system .
While interacting with locals and stake holders of rural tourism at various places, Director Tourism Dr. GN Itoo said that the department is identifying, exploring and developing so far hidden tourist destinations to provide tourists with more options for recreation. This, he said, would immensely improve the local economic activity at these destinations.
He informed that the Department of Tourism is planning to bring areas like Kitter Daji, Munde Daji, Bosian and other areas on the tourism map of Kashmir and in that process a detailed project report is being prepared by the department.
Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr. GN Itoo today took a detailed tour of upper Rafiabad areas during which he visited Kitter Daji, Munde Daji, Kungroosa, Dangiwacha and other areas to assess on spot feasibility and tourism potential of these areas. He also took an on spot assessment of various trekking routes and other adventure avenues available at these places.
Highlighting that the department is providing constant handholding of tourism stakeholders, Dr. Itoo said that the department is doing hand holding of tourism stakeholders on all fronts so that they are able to cope up with the challenges of post covid business environment.
The Director further said that to deal with the challenges of ongoing pandemic covid-19, the department has completed the vaccination of employees of department and other allied workers besides more than ninety percent stakeholders have also been inoculated till date. He added that the department also organized a capacity building programme on implementation of covid protocols recently for all the stakeholders associated with the tourism sector.
Remarking that the administration is providing all possible help to the tourism stakeholders, Dr. Itoo said that the department recently organized a workshop for tourism stakeholders for availing the benefits of incentives under the new industrial policy.
During the visit, the director specifically appealed to the youth at these destinations to come forward and take the benefits of various incentives of starting tourism units for which, he says, the department will extend all possible help.
On this occasion, Human Aid Society appraised Director Tourism about the development of tourist spots like Sranz, Guwass, Gabiwar and other unexplored spots in Baramulla.
Later a team of officers visited Asar Shrief Mohalla Khawaja Sahab, Baramulla, Gurdawara Tatiyana Sahib, Shalbug, Shrine of Hazrat Syed Mohammad Janbaaz Wali (R.A), Khanpoar and Shelputri Temple took a review of various works under pilgrimage tourism at these places.
The Director was accompanied by Deputy Director Tourism, Dr. Ahsan-ul-Haq Chisti, Deputy Director (M&W) Tourism, Bashir Ahmad and senior officers of the tourism and other allied departments.