These Mitras will make travel safer

HUBBALLI: The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), in association with the departments of tourism and home, has deployed Tourist Mitras at tourist spots in Dharwad and Gadag districts.
The tourist-friendly police personnel joined in the first week of June and there has been a good response to their deployment, M B Sabarad, assistant director, tourism department, Dharwad district, told TOI.He said that the district has 12 members of the tourist-friendly force, recruited and trained by the government. Currently, there are five guards at Sadhan Kere, five in Nrupatunga Hills, one at Varur and another one at Amruteshwar Temple in Annigeri. "Based on the response, the government will expand and deploy the force at other tourist places in the district in the later stages," he said.
Gadag has 10 Tourist Mitras at Bhishma Kere, Someshwar Temple, Trikuteshwar Temple, the monuments at Lakkundi, Someshwar Temple in Laxmeshwar and Ardhanarishwar Temple in Dambal. "This force has been helpful in controlling illegal activities and guiding visitors on nearby tourist places and other necessary information," said Sharanu Gogeri, assistant director, tourism department.
The Tourist Mitras are paid Rs 325 a day and provided two pairs of khaki uniforms: shoes and jacket with logo. They work for eight hours a day in a general shift. "In some places, like Bhishma Kere, there are tourists till around 8pm. So, we've requested one or two members of the tourist police to adjust their shifts accordingly," said Trupti Patil, a district tourist consultant in Gadag.
Nagaveni Koalar, a visitor to Nrupatunga, said that due to the initiative, eve-teasing has become nil, giving a lot of security to women. The Tourist Mitras also help in maintaining cleanliness at tourist sites. "Visitors usually litter, but now the guards are convincing tourists to use dustbins," said Mahantesh Pujar, a tourist from Kalghatgi.
The Tourists Mitras at Nrupatunga Hills were trained at Chitradurga. "Training included issues like taking care of tourist spots and providing information on places of tourist interest. We are also trained to communicate in English and Hindi, apart from Kannada," said a Tourist Mitra.