Dehradun, 16^th March - Under the provisions of the Trekking Traction Center Home-Stay Scheme-2020 by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, 32 villages have been notified for development under the Trekking traction scheme. Ghutu of district Tehri, Budhakedar, Pantwadi, Dar of Pithoragarh district, Pangu, Tapovan of Chamoli district, and all villages of district Rudraprayag have been notified to provide benefits of the scheme to eligible persons. The selected applicants will be provided a subsidy of up to Rs 60,000 for the construction of new rooms including the attached toilet and up to Rs 25,000 per room for decoration of pre-built rooms.

Secretary Tourism, Mr. Dilip Jawalkar said, "The aim of the Trekking Traction Center Home Stay Scheme is to provide new heights to adventure tourism in the state by setting up residential facilities for tourists in remote rural areas. By providing aid, we are empowering the local people so that the rural economy can be strengthened. This plan is effective in preventing migration and making rural areas self-sufficient through tourism."

The trekking traction centers shortlisted to avail benefits under the scheme includes Ghuttu, Buddha Kedar under Tehri district and Richak, Gangi, Pujar, Sendwal, Chaitwan, Jogiyada, Bhaat, Akva, Malla gavna, Talla gavna, Buddh kedar, Koti, Pisvaad, Pantwari Baandasari, Teva, Autand, Devalsari in Pantvadi. Dar, Nangling, Saun, Dakar, Dugtu, Paangu, Bundi, Koonji, Kooti in Pithoragarh district, Tapovan, Ringi,Subhai, Saldhar under district Chamoli and Dilmi, Daira villages under Pithoragarh district. The notified villages will be benefited in compliance with the provisions and conditions of Trekking Traction Center Homestay Scheme 2020

Additional Secretary Adventure Wing Colonel Ashwin Pundir said that the beneficiaries will be selected through a committee constituted under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate and after the discretion of the evaluation committee; the amount will be transferred directly to the beneficiary's bank account through DBT. The District Tourism Development Officer of the respective districts will serve as the secretary of the selection committee and chairman of the evaluation committee. He informed that Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has selected a total of 66 villages in the first, second and third phase for availing the benefits under Traction Center Home Stay Scheme 2020. He said that this scheme will prove beneficial in the direction of boosting the rural economy during the Covid-19 period.