Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has strongly criticised the Himachal Pradesh government’s new home stay policy, stating that it would cripple the livelihood opportunities of rural families.
Jai Ram accused the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government of allegedly disregarding the struggles of the state’s residents and turning them into a source of revenue, rather than supporting their efforts to sustain themselves.
The new policy, according to Jai Ram, would burden home stay owners with excessive fees and complex regulations, ultimately forcing many to shut down their businesses.
Calls new norms ‘unrealistic’ for small-scale operators
He pointed out that the registration fees had increased by 150 times, which was an unmanageable amount for small homestay operators, especially those in rural areas.
“The policy also mandates a GST number for homestay owners, a requirement that is unrealistic for small-scale operators with minimal turnover,” he said.
The BJP leader further stated that many women running homestays, who relied on these businesses to support their families, would be unable to comply with the new regulations.
He expressed concern that the government’s approach, which imposes unreasonable demands on rural homestays, will undermine the rural economy and further hinder self-employment initiatives.
Claims will cripple livelihood of rural households
“The government is not only hindering employment opportunities but also preventing individuals who are trying to build their own livelihoods from doing so,” Jai Ram said.
He emphasised that the government should be encouraging self-employment, not putting roadblocks in the way. He called on the government to reconsider the policy, which he described as being insensitive to the needs of rural residents.
The new policy also proposes to provide electricity and water at commercial rates, which would add further financial strain on homestay owners, he said. Jai Ram has urged the government to withdraw the policy and consult stakeholders before implementing any further measures that could harm the rural economy.
TNR
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