PATACHARKUCHI, Nov 24 - An awareness meeting was held at Natun Belona, the �First Clean and Green Village of Assam� under Bajali sub-division in Barpeta district recently for promotion of rural tourism.
The awareness meeting was organised by the Department of Tourism and Travel Management of Bhattadev University at Bajali in Pathsala in collaboration with the regional office of India Tourism of Guwahati under the Union Ministry of Tourism.
The meeting was presided over by Arindam Talukdar, Deputy Registrar, Head and incharge of the Department of History and Tourism and Travel Management of Bhattadev University.
Talukdar deliberated on the essence of the meeting and presented the keynote address. In his brief speech, he appealed to the villagers for maintaining their coveted recognition as the first clean and green village of the State. He also explained how the villagers can tastefully present and perform their daily chores related to their lifestyle, as well as cultural traditions and local heritage, for the tourists or visitors in a systematic manner.
The meeting began with a felicitation programme anchored by Plabita Lahkar, faculty member in the Department of Tourism of Bhattadev University. The main objective of the meeting was explained briefly by Plabita Lahkar.
Jitumoni Roy, president of NGO Drishti, who was instrumental in receiving the coveted recognition for Natun Belona village as the first clean and green village of Assam, in his speech explained how he and all other villagers had been labouring 24x7 in order to ensure a plastic-free village during the last 4-5 years. Roy also informed that attempts would be made to wrest the tag of cleanest village of Asia in the near future.
The Headmaster of Natun Belona Lower Primary School highlighted the poor transportation and surface communication facilities at Natun Belona village despite enjoying the recognition of �Clean and Green Village�.
Dr Satyajit Das, faculty member in the Department of Tourism, Bhattadev University elaborated on the basic strategy as well as action plan for rural tourism promotion at Natun Belona village and also emphasised the necessity of awareness among the villagers on rural tourism as well as cleanliness.
He appealed to the entire villagers to adopt some systematic and practical steps for transforming the village into a well-known rural tourism site of Assam.
Gunjanjyoti Das, faculty member of the History Department at Bhattadev University deliberated on the importance of cleanliness for rural tourism promotion during his thought-provoking lecture.
