A two month long training course on Nature Conservation & Livelihood: Ecotourism, which was organized by ENVIS Resource Partner Ecotourism began on 9th August 2018. This training is a part of the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) an initiative by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India. The ecotourism training module is designed according to the National Skills Qualification Framework (Level-4) and was prepared and proposed by ENVIS Resource Partner Sikkim on Ecotourism in partnership with State ENVIS HUB and ECOSS (NGO). This two month long training programme will be imparted to 20 trainees who were selected from the list of 185 candidates. Various regions of the country have applied for this course. The candidates are expected to hone the following skills at the end of the basic course.
1. To be employed as Nature guide, eco-tour guide, trekking guide
2. To be employed in homestay, ecolodge, national parks, travel agencies
3. To be able to manage and operate one’s own homestay independently
4. To be able to understand Sustainable Tourism Development and its significance to the environment
5. To be able to inculcate interest in ecotourism related entrepreneurship.
6. To be able to pursue ecotourism activities, like bird - butterfly watching guides, ecotourism travel agencies, adventure tourism activities.
(Top left)Shri. Dorjee T Bhutia – ENVIS Resource Partner Sikkim on Ecotourism, Coordinator cum Addl. Director of Department of Science and Technology, Vigyan Bhawan, Deorali, Gangtok along with Resource Persons.
The chief guests for the inaugural session were Shri K. Jayakumar, Addl. Chief Secretary, DST&CC, Govt. of Sikkim, Dr. Anandi Subramanian, Senior Economic Adviser, MoEF&CC, Shri. Kumar Rajnish, NPC and Mr. P.K. Dong, Professor. The inaugural session was also graced by the Resource Persons who will be imparting valuable knowledge to the candidates. The Resource Persons have been invited from various Universities, Colleges, Institutions and NGO’s. The welcome address was given by Shri D.T. Bhutia, Additional Director-cum-Coordinator wherein he extended a warm welcome to the esteemed Chief Guests and Resource Persons including the participants for the training.
Dr. Anandi Subramanian gave the key note address where she spoke about GSDP and how this progamme is aimed at making an individual self sufficient. She advised the trainees to take this opportunity to gain knowledge and make use of the information provided by the Master Resource Persons. Dr. Anandi also stressed on the importance of entrepreneurship that is required in the field of ecotourism and employment opportunities that this field creates. The Master Resource Persons were offered khadas and given introduction to the participants. Then the participants were addressed by Dr. K. Jayakumar, Addl. Chief Secretary, DST&CC. He stressed on the role played by Gram Panchayat Units in creating employment to unemployed youth. He advised all the participants to take the help of GPU’s to gain extra knowledge on how to be self sufficient.
Inaguration of GSDP course on Nature Conservation and Livelihood: Ecotourism in Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology, Deorali, Gangtok by Dr. Anandi Subramanian Sr. Economic Adviser and Mr. Kumar Rajnish, ENVIS India Coordinator.
Addl. Chief Secretary Dr. K Jayakumar, IAS - Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Sikkim.
(Left)Mr. Sherap N Bhutia – Sr. Programme Officer. (Right) Orientation given by PK Dong one of the Resource Person for GSDP Course.
Principal Secretary also gave valuable inputs regarding how individuals can develop themselves through this training programme. The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Sherap Namgyal Bhutia, Sr. Programme Officer, ENVIS. After the vote of thanks the inaugural programme of GSDP came to an end.
Group photo of GSDP candidates, ENVIS Team, Addl. Chief Secretary along with Dr. Anandi Subramanian Sr. Economic Adviser and Mr. Kumar Rajnish, ENVIS India Coordinator and Resource Persons.