Niti Valley (Chamoli): Secretary of Tourism and Rural Development, visited the remote village of Kailashpur in Niti Valley. Upon reaching the village, he held a detailed meeting with local residents and briefed them extensively about the Home Stay scheme being run by the Tourism Department.
Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal stated that in line with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s vision, the Tourism Department is fully committed to making border areas self-reliant. He informed the villagers that under the Home Stay scheme, their houses can be developed to host tourists, providing them with an additional source of income.
Kailashpur village is well-known across the region for its high-quality organic Rajma (kidney beans) production. The village also produces good quality apples. During the meeting, the Secretary urged the villagers to increase Rajma production. He assured them that the produce would be connected to national and international markets through the House of Himalaya initiative. This will ensure farmers get fair prices and freedom from middlemen exploitation.
Secretary also emphasized the need to promote apple cultivation. He suggested establishing new apple orchards and making fresh apples available to tourists along travel routes. This, he said, would not only increase farmers’ income but also boost tourism in the area.
The villagers and local residents requested the Secretary to develop the Timmer Sain Mahadev Yatra as a Winter Tourism destination. They highlighted its religious significance and said that promoting it as a tourism activity during winter would generate employment opportunities for local youth. The Secretary responded positively and assured that the department would work in a planned manner on this proposal.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s initiative to make border villages self-reliant. Secretary informed the gathering that the government is continuously working to strengthen basic infrastructure in remote areas, including roads, electricity, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. A special strategy is being implemented to strengthen the local economy by integrating tourism with agriculture.
Villagers also raised their problems and demands, which included better road connectivity, improved mobile network coverage, better irrigation facilities, and the establishment of cold storage for agricultural produce. The Secretary gave assurances that all demands would be seriously considered and necessary action would be taken in coordination with the concerned departments for early resolution.
Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal appealed to the villagers to empower themselves in the fields of tourism and agriculture. He assured them that the government would provide all possible support and training. At the end of the meeting, the villagers thanked the Secretary and expressed hope that this visit would prove to be a milestone in the overall development of their village.
