On World Tourism Day 2023, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, orchestrated the global launch of “Travel for LiFE,” a pivotal program under Mission LiFE, dedicated to the tourism sector. This initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), took place at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event was also recognized and awarded the Best Rural Tourism Village Awards, celebrating their efforts in cultural heritage preservation and sustainable development through tourism. Awards were presented to 35 Rural Tourism Villages, with distinctions in Gold, Silver, and Bronze Categories.
TABLE A: GOLD AWARDEE
SL.NO VILLAGE AWARDEE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO RECEIVED THE AWARD
1 Dawar Jammu and Kashmir 1. Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah IAS, Secretary Tourism & Culture.
2 Sarmoli, Uttarakhand 1. Mrs. Poonam Chand, Additional Director Tourism,
2. Mrs. Malika Virdi ( Sarpanch and Director of Himalayan Ark)
3. Yati Dua, Photographer
3 Reiek Mizoram 1.Mr. Robert Romawia Royte, Minister for Tourism (i/c), Govt.
of Mizoram
2. Ms. Lalrampari Hnamte, wife of Hon’ble Minister
3. Dr. Lalrozama IAS, Secretary, Tourism, Govt. of Mizoram
4.Mr. V Lalengmawia, Joint Secretary, Tourism, Govt. of Mizoram
5. Mr. C. Lalrozama, President, Village Council Court Reiek cum Chairman, Reiek Development Board
6. Mr Lalnunmawia Pautu, President MZP.
7. Mr. RB Lalmalsawma, Advisor, MSU.
8. Mr. David Lalromawia, Journalist.
9. Mr. C. Lalhmingsanga, Journalist
10. Mr. Lalnunnema Ralte, Journalist.
4 Kanthallor Kerala 1. P.B Nooh IAS- Director, Tourism.
2. RUPESHKUMAR K – State Nodal officer.
3. P.T Mohandas – President, Kanthalloor Grama Panchayat.
5 Madla Madhya Pradesh 1. Mr. Vivek Shrotriya, AMD, MPTB
2. Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Director, Skill (MPTB)
3. Mr. Keerti Vardhan Singh, (CoordinatorProject Support Organization) Madla
4. Mr. Lakhan Ahirwar, Beneficiary, Madla
5. Mr. Sarthak Tyagi, (Coordinator- Project Support Organization) Khokhara
6. Mrs. Kaushalya Singh, Beneficiary, Khokhara
7. Mr. Jagdish Singh, Beneficiary, Khokhara.
TABLE B: SILVER AWARDEE
SL.NO VILLAGE AWARDEE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO RECEIVED THE AWARD
1. Lepakshi Andhra Pradesh 1. Mr A. L Mal Reddy, Executive Director
2. Mr Adi Narayan (Village Sarpanch)
3. Veerendra Pasupuleti, Manager, AP Tourism, Resident Commissioner.
2. Shergaon Arunachal Pradesh 1. Mitali Namchoom (IAS) special Resident Commissioner,
Arunachal bhawan.
2. Ms. Adong Moyong. Resident Tourism Officer, Govt of Arunachal Bhawan.
3. Ms. Sang Droma Thungon, OSD Rural Development.
3. Sarodhadadar Chhattisgarh 1. Dr. Shubhda Chaturvedi, Head communication and international PR & Sr. coordinator – Marketing & Promotions, Chhattisgarh Tourism.
2. Mangal Singh Dhurve, Villager
3. Krishna Kumar Kewat, Baiga Tourist Resort.
4. Ms. Kumud Mishra, Representative from District Administration.
5. Mr. R. Sampath, Liaisoning Officer, Chhattisgarh Tourism, Delhi
4. Kalpeni Lakshadweep 1. Mr Arjun Mohan IAS, Director of Tourism, UT of
Lakshadweep.
5. Hemis Ladakh 1.Ms. Kunzes Angmo, JKAS, Director of Tourism.
2. Sh. Tundup Dorjey, Representative from Hemis Village.
6. Menar Rajasthan 1. Pawan Kumar Jain, Joint Director, Rajasthan Tourism.
2. Mr. Pramod Dholi, Menar Sarpanch.
3. Sudhanshu Kasliwal, President Sh. Digambar Jain Atishay
Kshetra, Sri Mahaveerji.
4. Dr. Rashmi Sharm a, Director Tourism.
7. Pembarthy Telangana 1. Mr. V. Srinivas Goud, Minister for Tourism &Culture, Youth
Service and Sports.
2. Mr. Shailaja Ramaiyer IAS., Principal Secretary (Tourism).
3. Mr. K.Nikhila,IAS, Director, Department of Tourism, Govt. Of
Telangana, Hyderabad
4. Nithin, OSD Tourism
8. Khijadia, Gujarat 1. Dr. Sourabh Pardhi, IA S, Commissioner & MD,
Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited.
2. Sandip Kumar, Tourist Information Officer.
3. Shree Nikunj Vasoya
4. Khijadia village Representative & YouTuber
.
9. Kaurauna Uttar Pradesh 1. Mr. Himanshu Nagpal, IAS, CDO Varanasi
2. Mr. Akash Priyadarshi, OSD, Dept. of Tourism.
3. Shyam Narayan, Gram Vikash Adhikary ( Village Rep)
10. Raghurajpur Odisha 1. Biswajit Routray, Joint Director, Dept. of Tourism.
2. Laxmidhara, Subudhi, President, Raghurajpur.
TABLE C: BRONCH AWARDEE
SL.NO VILLAGE AWARDEE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO RECEIVED THE AWARD
1. Biswanath Assam 1. Moitreyee Das, Deputy Director of Tourism.
2. Dr. Kishore Hazarika, President of Shining Green Ashiana.
3. Mr. Ritutpaul Bordoloi, President of Tourist Guide A
Association of Assam
2. Devka DNHDD 1. Mr Balbeer Choudhary, Executive Assistant, Tourism.
2. Mr. Preetiben D Halpati, Sarpanch
3. Cotigao Goa 1. Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Resident Commissioner, Goa Sandan,
New Delhi.
2. Mr Anandu Ganba Desai, Sarpanch. (Village Representative).
3. Mr. Anup Anandu Desai (Son of Anandu Desai)
4. Talao Haryana 1. Dr. Neeraj Kumar IFS, Managing Director, Haryana Tourism
Corporation.
2. Mr. Pradeep Singh Phogat, Village representative.
5. Chitkul, Himachal Pradesh 1. Mr. Shashank Gupta, SDM cum DTDO, Kalpa, Distt, Kinnaur.
2.. Mr Subhash Chander, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat.
6. McCluskieganj, Jharkhand 1. Mr. Moinuddin, joint secy of Tourism.
2. Mr. Shailender, Dist. Tourism Officer, Ranchi.
3. Ashley Gomes, Representative of Anglo-Indian community.
7. Hampi, Karnataka 1. Smt. Anita Bhaskar, Deputy Director, Dept. of Tourism.
2. Smt. Rajini, President, Hampi gram panchayat.
8. Khokhra, Madhya Pradesh 1. Mr. Vivek Shrotriya, AMD, MPTB
2. Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Director, Skill (MPTB)
3. Mr. Keerti Vardhan Singh, (Coordinator- Project Support
Organization) Madla
4. Mr. Lakhan Ahirwar, Beneficiary, Madla
5. Mr. Sarthak Tyagi, (CoordinatorProject Support
Organization) Khokhara
6. Mrs. Kaushalya Singh, Beneficiary, Khokhara
7. Mr. Jagdish Singh, Beneficiary, Khokhara.
9. Patagaon, Maharashtra 1. Dr. B.N. Patil IAS (Directorate of Tourism).
2. Ms. Shama Pawar
3. Vilas Desai (Sarpanch, Patgaon).
4. Sandesh Joshi (Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow, Union
Ministry of Skill Development, Project Lead)
5. Vasant Vaskar (Veteran Beekeeper and Chairman of Patgaon
Honey FPC)
10. Kongthong, Meghalaya 1. Mr Ranald Wahlang, Tourist Officer, TIC, New Delhi.
2. Mr Rothell Khongsit, representative from Village
3. Mr Jipson Roy Sohkhlet, representative from Village
4. Mr Standing Riahtam, representative from Village
5. Mr. Bakhian Ly nrah, representative from Village.
11. Diezephe, Nagaland 1. Resident Commissioner, Nagaland, Delhi.
12. Thirunallar, Puducherry 1. Mr. Ravideep Singh Chahar, Joint Resident Commissioner
13. Nawanpind Sardaran, Punjab 1. Mrs. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal Secretary Tourism and
Cultural Affairs.
2. Mr. Himanshu Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Gurdaspur.
3 Ms. Sheetal Behl, Manager (Statistic & Projects)/ Nodal Officer.
4. Mrs. Satwant Sangha, Representative from village.
5. Mrs. Simran Kaur, Representative from village.
14. Naurangabad, Rajasthan 1. Pawan Kumar Jain, Joint Director, Rajasthan Tourism.
2. Sh Pramod Dholi, Menar Sarpanch.
3. Sudhanshu Kasliwal, President Sh. Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra, Sri Mahaveerji.
4.(Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Director Tourism.
15. Kitam, Sikkim 1. Principal Chief Engineer – Mr. Neeraj Pradhan
2. Sr. Controller of House affairs Mr. Vikash Rai
. 3. Assistant Engineer – Mr. Bidhan Sharma
4. Tourist Officer – Ms. Vijeta Chettri.
5. Ms. Savitri Chettri – Manager
6. Mr. Roshan Kaushik Village Member
. 7. Mr. K.N Pradhan – President
16. Vettaikaranpudur, Tamil Nadu 1. N. P. Sivaraj – Tourist Officer, Tamilnadu Tourism
2. MG Dhanasuryan, Assis tant Tourist Off
3. S. Sasikala, Executive officer, Vettaikaranpudur town panchayat office.
Also Read
Ministry of Tourism organised the Global Launch of ‘Travel for LiFE’
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