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First Post
3 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Are homestays becoming trouble-spots for Goa? Minister blames ‘people from outside'
Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte announced tighter enforcement on illegal tourist accommodations and updated the state's Homestay Policy to support rural women read more Multiple second residences and residential structures in Goa are being utilised for tourist stays by people from outside the state without informing the Goan authorities, state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said in the assembly on Monday. He also stated that the Goa government is regularly monitoring lodgings offered on online travel agency (OTA) platforms to ensure they are legally registered with authorities. His statement came when BJP MLA Michael Lobo raised the matter in the House, claiming that homestays functioning in residential communities are causing difficulty for locals by attracting disruptive tourists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Responding to the Zero Hour mention, Khaunte stated, 'Regular watch is kept on accommodations listed on OTAs. They are actively monitored.' He said, 'The government has ensured all inventory of hotel rooms, guesthouses and other stays linked with OTA platforms are registered with the tourism department.' 'Many second homes and residential buildings are being misused for tourist stays without informing the authorities. The people who come to these second homes and operate as tourist accommodations often do so without proper registration,' he added. 'The Goa government will work towards finding a sustainable solution that protects the interests of both residents and the tourism sector,' he assured the assembly. Later, addressing the reporters, Khaunte stated that the Goa government has updated its Homestay Policy to address critical difficulties confronting local people working in the hospitality business in the coastal state's rural regions. A direct grant of Rs 2 lakh will now be provided to eligible applicants to establish homestays, replacing the previous reimbursement-based model that posed financial challenges for many rural households, he said. 'The original policy required beneficiaries to invest first and claim the amount later, which was not practical for women in rural households,' he told reporters on the margins of the state assembly's ongoing monsoon session. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Based on their feedback, we have made the necessary changes to ensure the policy is inclusive, accessible and truly empowering,' says Khaunte. The updated legislation would apply to homestays with one to six lettable rooms within the owner's property, particularly in rural regions, according to the ministry. 'While the registration is permitted across Goa, incentives will be limited to non-coastal, non-urban zones to ensure the policy's rural focus is preserved,' added the official. Khaunte stated that the project is profoundly founded in women's empowerment, since homestays would be administered mostly by household women. 'This is not just about adding inventory to our tourism ecosystem, it's about creating livelihood opportunities, preserving cultural heritage, and giving rural women a leadership role in community-based tourism,' he said. The tourist department will launch the application procedure for taking advantage of this program once the current assembly session ends on August 8, he added. 100 homestays will be supported under the scheme in the initial phase, the minister said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Several Congress MPs move notices to discuss SIR exercise in Rajya Sabha
Several Congress MPs moved notices under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being carried out by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections while raising concerns over similar drive being planned in West Bengal and other states. Congress MPs Syed Naseer Hussain, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Ranjeet Ranjan, Neeraj Dangi, RajAshokrao Patil, Ashok Singh, and Jebi Mather collectively moved notices under Rule 267, demanding the suspension of house business to discuss the SIR drive in Bihar. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Others CXO Data Science PGDM others Healthcare Digital Marketing Public Policy healthcare MBA Data Analytics Data Science MCA Design Thinking Cybersecurity Product Management Project Management Operations Management Finance Leadership Artificial Intelligence Degree Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 months IIM Lucknow SEPO - IIML CHRO India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 28 Weeks MICA CERT-MICA SBMPR Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT-ISB Transforming HR with Analytics & AI India Starts on undefined Get Details Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan stated that the voter list revision in Bihar raises concerns regarding the "potential disenfranchisement of vulnerable sections of society," while calling for a discussion. "That this House suspend Zero Hour and the relevant rules pertaining to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and its proposed expansion to states such as West Bengal. These exercises raise serious concerns regarding the potential disenfranchisement of vulnerable sections of society, who are likely to face significant challenges in complying with the Election Commission's directives within a limited timeframe," Ranjan said in her notice. Meanwhile, Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil said that the SIR drive has "sparked grave apprehensions about potential electoral manipulation ". Live Events "That this House suspend Zero Hour and the relevant rules pertaining to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of elections, as well as reports of a similar exercise being planned in West Bengal and other states. These actions have sparked grave apprehensions about potential electoral manipulation, particularly in view of concerns that had emerged in Maharashtra during the 2024 Legislative Assembly Elections," she said. Earlier in the day, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala moved a notice for the suspension of business in the upper house of Parliament on Tuesday, demanding a discussion on the SIR. Writing to the Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha, Surjewala, stated, "I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for 29 July 2025." MPs of the INDIA on Tuesday earlier continued their protest against the ongoing SIR, holding up cartoon posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi shackling Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to of the INDIA bloc have been protesting against the voter roll revision on since the commencement of the monsoon session on July 21 both in an outside of Parliament. Multiple political leaders, including Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi, Manickam Tagore, Hibi Eden, DMK MP Kanimozhi, JMM MP Mahua Maji, and RJD MP Manoj Jha, protested in the ongoing rain ahead of the commencement of today's session in Parliament, holding up posters and demanding a halt to the exercise. Proceedings of Lok Sabha began on Tuesday morning to continue discussion on Operation Sindoor for the second day, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah set to address the Lower House today. This is the seventh day of the ongoing monsoon session. Minutes after it was convened at 11 am, the Rajya Sabha got adjourned till 2 PM. Meanwhile, the upper house plans to hold a 16-hour-long discussion on Op Sindoor today. The Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon began discussion on 'India's strong, successful and decisive Operation Sindoor', launched in response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The debate was initiated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh .
News18
16 hours ago
- Business
- News18
'Second Homes, Residential Flats In Goa Misused By People From Outside': Tourism Minister
Last Updated: Second homes and residential buildings in Goa are being misused as unregistered tourist accommodations without informing local authorities, minister Rohan Khaunte stressed. Multiple second homes and residential buildings in Goa are being misused for tourist stays by people who come from outside, without informing the authorities in Goa, state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said in the assembly on Monday. He also said that accommodations in Goa, listed on online travel agency (OTA) platforms, were being actively monitored by the state government to ensure they are properly registered with authorities. His remark came as BJP MLA Michael Lobo, while raising the issue in the House, said citizens are getting inconvenienced by homestays operating in residential societies, which often attract unruly tourists. Responding to the Zero Hour mention, Khaunte said, 'Regular watch is kept on accommodations listed on OTAs. They are actively monitored." 'The government has ensured all inventory of hotel rooms, guesthouses and other stays linked with OTA platforms are registered with the tourism department," he said. 'Many second homes and residential buildings are being misused for tourist stays without informing the authorities. The people who come to these second homes and operate as tourist accommodations often do so without proper registration," he added. Later, speaking to reporters, Khaunte said the Goa government has amended its Homestay Policy to address key challenges faced by local communities involved in the hospitality sector in the coastal state's rural areas. A direct grant of Rs 2 lakh will now be offered to eligible applicants to set up homestays, replacing the earlier reimbursement-based model that posed financial hurdles for many rural households, he said. 'The original policy required beneficiaries to invest first and claim the amount later, which was not practical for women in rural households," he told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing monsoon session of the state assembly. 'Based on their feedback, we have made the necessary changes to ensure the policy is inclusive, accessible and truly empowering," Khaunte added. The revised policy applies to homestays with one to six lettable rooms within the owner's residence, specifically in rural areas, the minister said. 'While the registration is permitted across Goa, incentives will be limited to non-coastal, non-urban zones to ensure the policy's rural focus is preserved," he said. The initiative is deeply rooted in women's empowerment, as homestays will primarily be managed by the household women, Khaunte said. 'This is not just about adding inventory to our tourism ecosystem, it's about creating livelihood opportunities, preserving cultural heritage, and giving rural women a leadership role in community-based tourism," he said. The tourism department will roll out the application process for taking advantage of this scheme once the ongoing assembly session concludes on August 8, he said. In the initial phase, 100 homestays will be supported under the scheme, the minister said. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Goa tourism minister's latest grievance: ‘People from Delhi… who bought second homes here during Covid'
'Unregistered homestays' being operated from residential units purchased by people from Delhi and other states are being misused for renting out to tourists, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Monday said, flagging these as a 'concern' for the state's tourism sector. The issue was raised during Zero Hour in the legislative assembly by BJP MLA Michael Lobo. Lobo, who represents Calangute constituency, said that many units that were originally purchased as 'second homes' within residential complexes are being illegally leased out for holiday rentals through the online aggregators, alleging that they often attract 'unruly' tourists and cause inconvenience to residents. 'There is a growing concern among Goans regarding illegal homestays in buildings and unregistered homes and estates. This unregulated activity is causing anxiety among the residents and raising concerns of safety, security and infrastructure strain. In buildings, if there are 50 flats, ten are given on rent for short-term holidays. No one keeps a track of who moves in and out. They drink in the common spaces [of the building complex]…play loud music,' Lobo said. Lobo added, 'I urge the government to take decisive action to crackdown against unauthorised homestays and ensure strict enforcement of registration norms and protect the interests of residents.' Tourism Minister Khaunte said the department is actively monitoring accommodations listed on online travel agency platforms to ensure they are registered with the authorities. 'We are keeping a regular watch on accommodations listed on online travel agencies. The government has ensured that all the inventory of hotel rooms and guest houses is registered with the tourism department. The issue is…that people from Delhi and other places who bought second homes here during Covid. Tourists come and stay in those homes and residential buildings. We have no details of these registrations. This is a serious issue because we are losing business [to unregulated and unregistered guest houses],' he said. He said that 'many second homes and residential buildings are being misused for tourist stays without informing the authorities.' 'The people who come to these second homes and operate them as tourist accommodations often do so without proper registration. This needs to be addressed on priority,' said Khaunte. The Minister said the government will work towards finding a sustainable solution that protects the interests of both residents and the tourism sector. Khaunte added, 'The Registrar of Cooperative Societies should be taken into confidence. Societies must remain alert and are encouraged to call the tourism department's toll-free number 1364 to report unregulated stays. The department is in continuous coordination with municipalities and panchayats to address this issue.' Goa government notified the 'Homestay and Bed and Breakfast Policy' to standardise services to tourists through homestays and Bed and Breakfast [B&Bs] establishments in December 2023. The objective of the policy was to streamline registration and to regulate the operation of homestays and B&Bs and augment the supply of accommodation units to cater to the growing demand in the state. Its primary focus was intended to promote tourism in the hinterland talukas of the state. According to data shared in the assembly last year, at least 230 homestays and Bed and Breakfast establishments have been registered with the Department of Tourism in the state.
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Aadhaar, voter id valid for SIR in Bihar: SC tells poll panel; says no interim stay on draft electoral roll publication
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the publication of draft electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar saying it would once for all decide the pleas against the Election Commission of India's special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The time schedule to conduct the final hearing of the matter will be fixed on July 29, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymala Bagchi said. According to a PTI report, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who was appearing for an NGO, said the electoral rolls should not be finalised in the interim and there should be an interim stay on the publication of the draft rolls. The bench observed the last order of the top court noted the petitioners not pressing for an interim relief and, therefore, it couldn't be done now and matter would be interpreted once for all. The top court also asked the poll panel to continue accepting Aadhaar and Voter IDs for the SIR exercise in Bihar as both have 'some sanctity'. 'As far as ration cards are concerned we can say they can be forged easily but Aadhaar and voter cards have some sanctity and have presumption of genuineness. You continue accepting these documents,' the bench said. The top court also said that the EC had accepted one of its previous order and said in its counter affidavit that Aadhaar, voter cards, and ration cards were required to be accepted. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday as Opposition MPs continued to protest over the SIR exercise in Bihar. During the Zero Hour, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said he has received 26 notices under Rule 267 demanding discussion on various issues, including SIR, and alleged discrimination against Bengali migrant workers in other states. He declined all the adjournment notices, and called Sudha Murty (nominated member) to make her Zero Hour mention. However, Opposition members, including those from the TMC and the Congress, were on their feet protesting against the Chair's decision. They were raising slogans like 'Vote Ki Chori Band Karo' (stop vote theft), and the Chair adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon. As soon as the House re-assembled for the Question Hour at 12 noon, various Opposition MPs were on their feet and Sushmita Dev (TMC) trooped into the Well, and sought to raise various issues. As the din continued, the proceedings were adjourned again till 2 pm. When the Upper House met at 2 pm, the Chair tried to continue the debate on The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025. However, Opposition MPs continued to raise slogans demanding a debate on the SIR issue, and that the exercise be stopped. Some MPs also trooped into the Well of the House. Amid the din, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.
