Offering those living near forests, rivers, hills, lakes, or heritage sites of Chhattisgarh grants to upgrade their homes, training them on how to host guests and making registration of homestays simpler – these are among the major incentives that the state’s Vishnu Deo Sai Cabinet has approved as part of its new homestay policy.
Cleared by the cabinet Wednesday, the policy aims at boosting tourism in Chhattisgarh.
“The policy aims to promote tourism in villages, particularly in remote areas of Bastar and Sarguja. It will offer tourists a unique experience of local culture, art, crafts, and nature while directly benefiting rural residents by increasing their income,” an official said.
Under this scheme, those living in villages can offer some rooms “not only to help tourists experience the beauty and culture of rural Chhattisgarh but also provide a good earning opportunity to local families”.
A grant of up to Rs 10 lakh will be provided to help upgrade homes into homestays. Those running homestays will also receive training from the government to learn how to host guests. The scheme also proposes making registration and licencing simpler and relaxing taxation and regulation rules.
“This policy is especially designed to empower women and youth, helping them become self-reliant. Moreover, it will help spread the culture, food, language, and traditional lifestyle of Chhattisgarh to people across the country and even abroad,” an official said.
To promote art and culture in Chhattisgarh, 10 acres of land will be allotted free of cost to the Department of Culture in New Raipur for setting up a ‘Kalagram’ — a hub for artisans, folk artists, and traditional craftsmen.
Among other significant decisions are a national level Archery Academy in New Raipur. To be set up on 13.47 acres of land, the academy will feature both outdoor and indoor (air-conditioned) archery ranges, a high-performance centre, hostel and residential facilities.
In addition, the Cabinet also gave its nod to the Chhattisgarh Kifayati Jan Awas Niyam-2025 – an affordable housing scheme that aims to provide plots in cities to lower and middle-class families. The Cabinet also approved Transfer Policy 2025 to facilitate transfer of district level employees with approval from the appropriate minister.
