States » NorthPosted at: Oct 6 2026 7:39PM


‘Chendru’ award to give Chhattisgarh’s rural tourism new identity

Raipur, Oct 6 (UNI In a significant initiative to give Chhattisgarh’s rich rural culture, tribal traditions, natural beauty and distinctive way of life a new identity on the national and international tourism map, the State Government has launched the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award’.
The Tourism Department has introduced the award to recognise individuals and institutions making outstanding and impactful contributions to rural tourism. The ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award Rules, 2025’ have been notified and will be applicable across Chhattisgarh.
With this award, a selected individual or institution making a notable contribution to rural tourism will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh along with a certificate of appreciation. The initiative aims not only to recognise exemplary work but also to promote rural tourism as a means of generating local employment and livelihoods while preserving cultural heritage and advancing sustainable development.
Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal said that the villages of Chhattisgarh are a living heritage of the State’s culture, traditions and natural wealth. The State Government is working to ensure that the benefits of tourism extend beyond established tourist destinations to remote rural and tribal areas as well. Rural tourism, he said, can create new livelihoods and self-employment opportunities for local youth, women, self-help groups, artisans and rural entrepreneurs.
Mr. Agrawal said the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award’ seeks to recognise individuals and institutions working at the grassroots level to transform their villages and regions through tourism. By promoting homestays, local cuisine, handicrafts, folk arts, local culture, natural and cultural heritage, and community-based tourism, Chhattisgarh can develop a distinctive model of rural tourism.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the State Government is continuously working to connect tourism with employment and the local economy. Rural tourism has the potential to enable visitors not merely to see a destination, but to experience its culture, traditions, cuisine, and way of life closely. This can help ensure that a greater share of tourism-generated income reaches local communities.
The name ‘Chendru’ evokes a distinctive chapter in Chhattisgarh’s identity that once brought Bastar and its simple, natural way of life recognition at the national and international level.
Chendru lived in Bastar, where his unique bond with a tiger shot into international fame during the 1950s. He became an inspiration for many books and movies. The State Rural Tourism Award established in his name will now honour grassroots individuals and institutions making notable contributions to tourism in Chhattisgarh’s villages, giving their work wider recognition.
The selected individual or institution will receive a cash award of Rs 1 lakh and a certificate of appreciation every year. As per the rules, an individual can receive the award only once in their lifetime. The provision is intended to bring innovative and impactful initiatives into the spotlight and create inspiring stories of rural tourism across the State.
A six-member jury has been constituted to evaluate entries received for the award. The Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board will serve as the chairperson, with experts and officials associated with the tourism sector as members.
As prescribed under the rules, the evaluation will consider the work undertaken in rural tourism, its impact, community participation, employment generation, and efforts towards conservation of cultural and natural heritage.
The Chhattisgarh Tourism Board will invite entries for the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award’ through advertisements in leading newspapers. Applicants will be required to submit their profile, photographs, proof of local residence in Chhattisgarh, Aadhaar card, and supporting documents relating to their work and achievements in rural tourism.
The selected winner or representative of the institution will be honoured on the occasion of Rajyotsav. An illustrated souvenir highlighting the winner’s work, innovations and achievements will also be released. The initiative is expected to bring wider recognition to noteworthy rural tourism efforts and encourage other villages and communities to explore tourism-led development.
Chhattisgarh’s rural tourism potential is closely linked to its diverse geographical and cultural landscape. From the tribal traditions of Bastar and Surguja to traditional cuisine, folk arts, handicrafts, fairs, festivals, natural attractions and distinctive rural lifestyles, the State offers visitors a range of unique experiences.
Homestays and community-based tourism models can strengthen local economies while enabling visitors to experience the authentic cultural identity of Chhattisgarh. Expansion of rural tourism will also decentralise tourism activity and ensure that its economic benefits reach villages.
This can create new opportunities for local employment and self-employment while encouraging the preservation of traditional arts, crafts, cuisine, folk culture and natural heritage.
Through the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award’, the Chhattisgarh Government seeks to establish rural tourism not merely as a tourism activity, but as an effective means of strengthening local communities economically and socially, preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable development.
UNI SRC NST RSA
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