This change has been possible through ‘Safe Tourism Center for Women’, which is opening the path of new thoughts and opportunities in society through training, security and leadership platforms for women.
More than half of the people working in the tourism sector around the world are women, yet their participation in leadership is very limited.
The main reason for this is – deeply stored in social bias, neglect of care work and training and limited access to financial resources.
The ‘Safe Tourist Destination for Women’ program directly challenges these obstacles. This program not only enables women financially, but also provides their leadership, conversation and public identity opportunities that the first ladder of visibility empowerment.
Kanta Singh, acting local representative of the UN women in India, said, “When women play the role of leadership and decision in local tourism, the entire image of the destination changes. Female tourists feel more secure and positive changes in women’s presence in society.”
Honey Verma: Travel until the sailor becomes
Honey Verma of Omkreshwar used to stand on the banks of the river Narmada and saw the lives of others. Today the same honey Verma is operating a boat on the same river, telling the myths of tourists – the stories they once heard from their grandmother.
“I was just standing on the banks of the river, now I set my guidance and guide my way to others,” he said.
Until some time ago his life was confined to domestic work. He is impossible to run boats and talk to strangers, especially in professions where men have been dominated for centuries.
“The family protested, the neighbors had fun. I also suspected – can I run the boat as a woman?”
He then trained in collaboration with the Program of the Officer Mahila Sangha and the ‘Safe Tourist Damper for Women’. For the first time after year, he sat in the classroom for the first time, learned to talk on stage.
“There was a fear, but I kept in mind the grandmother’s stories – he is my power now. Tourists listen to, laugh – and I laugh with them too.”
Now Madhu’s income from his daughter studies school. The husband supports them and other women in the village are also inspired.
“This work is not just wealth, home and society, but for money,” he said.
Leela Gauda: from the legacy of the mother to the leadership
Lila Gauda’s childhood tourists were spent in conversation and stories in Mandla district. His mother started the first national business or facility in the village of Rama Bai, where tourists could live in his house, called the Homestay.
Leela recalled, “My mother did not receive any formal education, nor did she have the knowledge of her English language, she was full of courage. I saw her to create a lot from zero. I also want to follow her steps.”
Leela used to take tourists on a village in her childhood, give information about plants and describe folklore. This is where he understood the art of telling the story.
Lila participated in the ‘Aadhaar’ establishment and took part in the encouragement of the mother, ‘Safe tourist destination for women’, where he trained tourism, explaining culture and leadership.
“People suspected how I was able to do it, but I had faith in my knowledge and dedication.”
Today Lila not only runs on a successful homestar, but it is also a cultural representative of her village. He connects the tourists to the local weavers, farmers and traditions.
“Our daily things – such as kitchen, forest, story – becomes attractive experience for others.”
Leela is now showing the village girls to move forward. He laughed and said, “My mother opened a door, I’m now making a corridor.”
Personal change in policy change
The ‘Safe Tourist Center for Women’ is not just a training program, but a state promise, which is trying to establish women’s safe, self -exhausted and leadership in public places.
The goals of this initiative are: 10,000 female training among guests, 40 thousand female self-defense training training and empowering women’s leadership in 50 tourist centers.
Participation of government organizations, gender skills of unwillingness and ground connection of local companies are playing an important role in making this converting model sustainable.
Indian tourism new chapters
Since women like Madhu Verma and Leela Gauda are coming forward, they are changing not only the face of tourism but also their souls.
Their presence gives women more tourists to protect, the community changes the thoughts and girls see roll models that they have never seen before.
There are real stories hidden behind principles and information – women who change the direction of their lives and now inspire others to change.
He is now the leader, the narrator, the entrepreneur and the carrier of change, not just the workers.
Honey says, “Before this program I didn’t know that women could earn themselves, or talk to them. Now I am sure we can do it and we should do it.”
The detailed version of this article Here Has been published.