Catering service for visitors to Keibul
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 01 2011:
For the convenience of tourists coming to Keibul Lamjao National Park, two women Self Help Groups (SHGs) have started catering service offering a variety of indigenous Manipuri dishes.
The two women SHGs have started the venture with the help of the Park authority.
The two SHGs, namely Sangai Canteen Association and Keinya Bazar Kitchen, have been formed by a group of local women who earlier used to depend on the Park for sustenance through fishing, fire wood collection and plucking vegetables.
Along with formation of their SHGs, these womenfolk have been providing service not only to the visitors but also ensuring a steady income for themselves.
Apart from rice and other Manipuri dishes in the normal menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, visitors can also have the pleasure of relishing any other dishes of their choice from these two SHGs, provided the order/ booking is placed in advance.
Talking to The Sangai Express, president of Sangai Canteen Association Ningthoujam Ongbi Renubala Leima informed that 10 of them have formed the SHG and started its service with the help of the Park authority.
The income generated depends on the season, since the number of visitors coming to the Park is seasonal.
But on an average, each of the members in the SHG can earn Rs 1500 a month, Renubala disclosed.
Range Officer of the Park Kh Hitler explained that the Park authority took up the initiative with an eye on ensuring an alternative source of income for the local womenfolk, who used to depend on the Park earlier.
Interested visitors may contact the two SHGs through the Forest Office, Park and Sanctuary section at Sanjenthong, he informed, while appealing to the public for support to the initiative and the two SHGs.In addition to local boats made of wood, fibre boats have been deployed for conducted tour inside the Park and T-shirt and souvenirs with logo of Sangai have been made available to the visitors, he added.