Tourists at the snow-covered Mall Road after a contemporary snowfall, in Manali. Representational
| Photo Credit: PTI
A government-initiated rating system for the hospitality sector which goals to guarantee world-class hygiene and sanitation in motels, resorts and homestays has turn into a non-starter with no State opting for it as of now.
Barring a pilot venture in Jammu and Kashmir, there was no response from States regardless of the Union Tourism Ministry sending three communiques thus far, the final one being in the first week of February, sources stated.
The rating scheme–Swachhata Green Leaf Rating–was launched in November final yr by the Union Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
As a part of the initiative, the State groups of Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (rural) and the tourism division will organise workshops on the idea, course of and desired outcomes for the stakeholders.
‘Adopt good practices’
Owners and operators of the lodging providers are inspired to undertake good practices for improved and protected sanitation amenities, faecal sludge administration, segregation of stable waste at sources and promotion of options to single-use plastic.
According to the idea paper of the scheme, it’s proposed to launch the ‘Swacchta Green Leaf Rating’ system in all hospitality amenities of the nation with or with out eating places. The goal teams are motels, lodges, homestays, ‘Dharamshalas’ and camps which have transportable bogs. The rating can be primarily based on compliance with the protected sanitation practices outlined in the pointers.
The goal is to forestall air pollution in water our bodies and preserve the surroundings clear.
“We envision this rating system which is sought to be achieved through public participation to voluntarily engage the hospitality sector and contribute to cleaner and more sustainable tourism practices in India,” in accordance to the imaginative and prescient assertion of the doc.
A senior official of the Tourism Ministry advised The Hindu that the authorities was exploring potentialities of incentivising the scheme sooner or later to encourage participation.
The official stated that efforts could be made to give attention to rural areas, the place hospitality models akin to homestays, mattress and breakfasts, small eating places, and tea outlets are made conscious and they’re helped with low-cost applied sciences, which get the needful accomplished.
A 3-tiered committee system has been proposed for implementation, starting with a Verification Sub-Committee shaped by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for the on-ground verification, adopted by a District Committee, which the District Collector will chair and then a State-level committee, headed by the Chief Secretary of the State.
