A pioneering establishment fully operated by women was recently inaugurated in Madhya Pradesh. The Hotel Amaltas in Pachmarhi is run entirely by 23 local women who have been trained as managers, housekeepers, receptionists, kitchen staff, servers, gardeners, security guards and chefs.
At the opening, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed pride about the initiative and emphasised the state’s commitment to women’s empowerment. He hoped that the model would inspire other states to follow suit and highlighted the crucial role of women in Indian culture, both in mythology and societal norms. Yadav pointed out that in the celestial realm, Mother Earth is revered and asserted that India is often personified as a motherland, invoking feelings of reverence and patriotism. He also emphasised the significance of the divine feminine in Hindu mythology, noting that the names of goddesses are often invoked before those of gods, as exemplified in pairs like Sita-Ram and Radha-Krishna.
During the launch, Yadav interacted with the female staff at Hotel Amaltas and presented them with gifts as a token of appreciation. Security guard Mala Chaudhary thanked the chief minister for providing training and employment opportunities to women.
The Tourism, Culture, Religious Trusts and Endowments Minister (Independent Charge), Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodh, said that under the guidance of Yadav, various efforts are being made at different levels to make Madhya Pradesh a major tourist destination in the country. For instance, the Hotel Neelamber Sky Line has been upgraded to offer better amenities for tourists and now features 16 luxury rooms, a high-quality dining area and modern bathrooms. Other improvements include an infinity pool, a beautifully landscaped garden, ample parking and energy-efficient systems. A special viewing point has also been added to offer stunning panoramic views of Pachmarhi.
Sheo Shekhar Shukla, the principal secretary at the Tourism and Culture Department and managing director of the MP Tourism Board, said that it is fortunate that this innovation has been made toward women's empowerment. Under the “Safe Tourism Destination” project for women, 40,000 women at 50 selected tourist destinations are being given self-defence training, and 10,000 women are being given skills training in tourism and hospitality. It is hoped this will boost women's confidence and improve their economic condition. Additionally, people with disabilities are also being trained and in the near future, an initiative will be launched to operate hotels run only by differently-abled people.
At the inauguration of the Hotel Amaltas, a film based on the efforts and achievements of the “Safe Tourism Destination” project for women was also screened. A local Bundelkhandi folk dance dedicated to Goddess Durga was performed as well.
(With inputs from a press release)