Bageshwar Homestay Boom: Government Funds Empower Villagers, Curb Migration

• Uttarakhand government promotes homestay schemes in Bageshwar to boost tourism and self-employment, aiming to curb rural migration.
• Five key areas identified for homestay development: Baijnath (religious), Kausani (hill station), Kapkot & Khati (trekking), and Liti (rural tourism).
• Homestays offer tourists local culture and lifestyle, while providing villagers stable income and employment opportunities.
• Government provides financial aid: subsidies up to INR 15 lakh (hilly areas) and interest subsidies up to INR 1 lakh annually for five years.
• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana offers loans up to INR 20 lakh for homestay setup, with training also provided.

Why It Matters: Bageshwar's homestay scheme empowers villagers, boosts tourism, and fights migration with government support.