Centre Starts Training Programme Under Amrit Darohar Scheme In Odisha’s Bhitarkanika

Bhubaneswar: In order to improve the livelihood opportunities of the local people, the Ministry of Tourism started its fourth training programme under the Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park on Friday.

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) organised the training in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for local community members, boat owners and Forest officials of Bhitarkanika National Park.

Under this initiative, two training programmes, each of 15 days duration, will be conducted. The training courses are Alternative Livelihood program (ALP) and Paryatan Navik Certificate (PNC).

With the help of the Odisha State Wetlands Authority (OSWA) and Mangrove Forest Division, Rajnagar, total 60 participants (30 for each course) were identified from the local communities in and around Bhitarkanika to impart trainings and subsequently certifying them as nature-guides.

This is part of the ongoing effort of enhancing livelihood opportunities for local communities by harnessing the nature-tourism potential of the Ramsar sites across the country under the scheme.

Sagnik Chowdhury, Regional Director (East), Ministry of Tourism; M Ramesh, Scientist, MoEF&CC; Md Sabir Hussain, Nodal officer and Head, IITTM, Bhubaneswar; Sudarshan Gopinath Jadhav, DFO, Mangrove Forest Division (WL), Rajnagar and other officials from Forest department were present on the inaugural day of the training.

In the first phase of the scheme, five priority Ramsar sites of Sultanpur National Park, Sirpur wetland, Yashwant Sagar, Bhitarkanika National Park and Chilika Lake were identified. The first three training programmes for Sultanpur National Park, Sirpur wetland, and Yashwant Sagar have been successfully completed in December, 2023.