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| Jammu tourism promotion … only promise galore--ll | | Actions do not match words | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Feb 5
News Analysis
The Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has repeatedly stressed on developing Jammu region as hub of pilgrim tourism, with the region having plethora of ancient religious shrines of all the communities, particularly with abundance of Hindu religious shrines. He has recently also underscored the need for imparting training to the youth to serve as tourist and pilgrimage guides by giving them preliminary knowledge about the historical background, legends attached to as well as the locations and other aspects of potential tourist and pilgrimage spots. A laudable suggestion indeed!
But what is the reality? There is a vast difference between the professions and claims on one hand and the actions on the ground level on the other. About three years ago J&K Tourism Department had invited applications, through advertisement in the newspapers, for enrolling trainees for one year course in some disciplines related to tourism, such as receptionists, tourist guides, tourist councilors, hotel management, catering and some allied disciplines. All the expenditure of training courses was to be borne by the Central government and the project was a part of the programmes to be taken in hand under Prime Minister's announcement for creating employment avenues in the state in the tourism sector.
In response to the advertisement a good number of 10+2 passed, the minimum prescribed qualification, as well as some graduates both from Jammu and Kashmir regions applied for the same. It was given to understand that the courses will be run both at Jammu and Srinagar for the trainees belonging to the respective regions.
While selection of candidates from Kashmir division, to undergo training at Srinagar was made within a short time and even the classes started functioning, it was after one year of the receipt of the application from the candidates in Jammu division that the bona fide candidates were called for interviews and within few months of the same final selection of a batch of 50 trainees was made.
Whereas in the Kashmir division one batch has already completed the training course and the selection for second batch too has been made and classes started for the same, no such classes have started in Jammu for the selected candidates from the region. The reason for non starting the courses in Jammu is stated to be non availability of spacious premises required for the purpose. Initially it was contemplated to run the classes in the premises of Aparana Ashram, the Spacious and lofty building in Gandhi Nagar, raised by late Swami Dharindar Brahamchari, which has since been taken over by the state government and transferred to the tourism department.
For six months the selected candidates were given the excuse for non starting the classes as the renovation and alteration work in the Aparana Ashram to make it fit for the purpose was going on. They were given the hope that as the work completes and the rooms are furnished, the training courses will commence. But then came a bolt from the blue. A writ was filed in the court by some claimant of the property of Dharindar Brahamchari for restoring the property to him. As well as some residents in the area were reported to have raised objection in running the institution there on the ground that the same will create nuisance for them.
The tourism department then embarked upon hiring premises at Satyam resort, on one corner of Trikuta Nagar Jammu. But for hiring a private premises on rent sanction of the central government was said to be awaited, as per the authorities in the tourism department.
It speaks volumes about the non earnestness on the part of government towards providing avenues of employment to Jammu youth as well as initiating a step which can help tourism promoting in Jammu, for mere want of suitable premises, that has stood in the way of non starting of classes even one and half year after the final selection of the candidates for the same.
It will not be out of place to mention here that within the premises of Tourist Reception Centre Jammu, which is under the control of JKTDC, an allied organization of tourism department, both under the same ministry and secretariat, premises could be made available for the purpose, if the authorities had the will. The premises in the TRC vacated by the District Officer J&K Bank, which is quite spacious is under renovation for having additional banquet hall for customers to hire for holding functions and parties. But as the thing stand today, the existing banquet hall of TRC is booked in average once a fortnight. Then tourism department itself has some rooms in the TRC portion under its procession, which are still occupied by some retired officers of the department.
Obviously there is something more than meets the eye in non starting the courses in Jammu. |
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