Facilitation Camp Promotes Astro-Tourism Under RAMP Scheme in Shaheed Dweep

Sri Vijaya Puram | September 12, 2026

In a serious initiative to advertise experiential tourism and grassroots entrepreneurship, the Department of Tourism, in affiliation with the Department of Industries, organised a Special Facilitation Camp on the Community Hall in Shaheed Dweep lately.

The camp was organised to create consciousness and facilitate entry to monetary help beneath the World Bank-assisted Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Scheme. The initiative acquired an encouraging response from native residents, youth, potential homestay operators and tourism stakeholders.

As many as 50 beneficiaries submitted software varieties on the spot to avail themselves of the advantages beneath the scheme. On-the-spot registration of beneficiaries beneath the MSME framework was additionally facilitated through the camp.

A key focus of the initiative is the promotion of Astro-Tourism in Shaheed Dweep. Under the initiative, the Tourism Department is offering focused monetary subsidies for the procurement and set up of astronomical telescopes, with the target of growing the island as a distinguished vacation spot for area of interest astro-tourism.

The initiative seeks to utilize Shaheed Dweep’s clear evening skies and comparatively low ranges of sunshine air pollution to create sustainable livelihood alternatives for native entrepreneurs, whereas diversifying the tourism expertise past standard daytime seaside actions.

Under the RAMP scheme, male beneficiaries are eligible for reimbursement of fifty% of the overall price of the telescope, together with set up. The reimbursement is enhanced to 75% for ladies and Scheduled Tribe (ST) beneficiaries, together with set up prices.

Officials from the Tourism and Industries Departments, together with consultants from the KPMG group related to the scheme, interacted with contributors all through the camp. They offered steering on documentation, eligibility necessities and attainable operational fashions for stargazing ventures.

The potential beneficiaries had been additionally inspired to develop night-sky statement services as value-added night experiences for vacationers, with the potential to generate extra native revenue and strengthen community-based tourism.

Those unable to attend the facilitation camp can get hold of the appliance varieties and detailed pointers from the Planning Section, Directorate of Tourism.