Tinchuley,
(Takdha) May 30: Innovation has been the key to success for the villagers
of this sleepy hamlet which has not only excelled in tourism promotion
but is now seen as a model of rural development.
The 17-house village has made the most
of its tranquil environs and attracted droves of tourists in the
recent past. Now it has added another feather to its cap through
organic farming with bio-gas and a successful apiculture project.
The villagers have formed the Tinchuley Model Village Committee,
which oversees all development work in the area and ensures that
progress takes place in accordance with the need of the residents.
The hamlet has also been adopted as a model village by the Save
Enviornment and Regenerate Vital Employment Activity (SERVE) project
of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), which is providing technical
assistance to its endeavours.
President of the village committee R.S. Gurung said: `The panel
was formed in 1999 and WWF has also been helping us since then.
The committee assesses the development needs of the village and
acts accordingly.`
While three families in the village have turned their homes into
guest houses, others decided to opt for bio-gas production, manufacture
of hand-rolled tea and apiculture.
Tinchulay has also bagged the Most Innovative Product award at
the Travel and Tourism Fair 2002 in New Delhi.
`The success of the projects in this village is due to the fact
that ideas have not been imposed from outside. The development process
is participatory in nature so there is much enthusiasm among the
residents of the hamlet,` said Prabhat Rana, a senior project officer
in SERVE.
The WWF has provided logistical assistance and given villagers
equipment like chaff-cutter and a slug tank for the bio gas project. Lal Bahadur Bhujel, a villager who opted for bio-gas, said: `We
do all the cooking and since I have six cows, the bio-gas scheme
is of great help. SERVE has provide me with everything I needed.
Earlier, I had to shell out Rs 40 for a maund of firewood,` he said.
For those like Doma Sherpa, who have set up a metered-garden, the
ability to produce non-seasonal vegetables has come as a great help. `I recently sold spinach worth Rs 500, which was unthinkable earlier.
Since the vegetables are now grown in a fixed area, the quality is
better. I have also been able to protect the vegetables from pests
and insects, which used to ruin my efforts earlier.`
Sherpa also grows carrots, cabbage and cauliflower. The transformation of the village into a coveted tourist destination
is another important achievement for residents.
R.S. Gurung, the proprietor of Gurung Guesthouse, said: `I had never
thought that this could be a tourist destination. Now it is one
of the favourite haunts of serenity seekers. My guest house is fully
booked most of the time.`
Even though a number of people had shown an interest in setting
up commercial lodges in the village, the committee refused permission
in order to protect the environment.
Courtesy
The Telegraph |
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