The "Safe Tourism Destination for Women in Madhya Pradesh" project, initiated by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) under the Tourism Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, aims to create a women-friendly environment and boost inclusive tourism ensuring women safety . This pioneering initiative is the first project sanctioned under the Nirbhaya Scheme by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, GOI. Its core objective is to enhance both domestic and international women tourist's experiences by ensuring they can travel fearlessly and independently.
The project focuses on activities such as training and capacity building for stakeholders, raising awareness about women’s safety, conducting safety audits at tourist destinations, and providing self-defense training. Additionally, efforts will be made to increase the presence of working women at tourist spots as hosts and foster a supportive environment for women tourists. Strategic partnerships have been formed with UN Women for technical support, and the Madhya Pradesh Police Department to ensure successful implementation.
The project's vision is to make Madhya Pradesh’s tourist destinations safe and welcoming for women. The mission focuses on transforming these destinations to enhance women’s safety and increase their tourism participation. Key objectives include providing a secure environment, promoting women’s confidence, enhancing infrastructure, and offering self-defense training. The project also seeks to boost women’s workforce participation through skill development and employment opportunities, particularly in tourism-related sectors.
The initiative will cover 20 clusters and 50 destinations across Madhya Pradesh, aiming to train 40,000 women and girls in self-defense, provide skills to 10,000 women, and create job opportunities for 5,000 women in tourism. To ensure the success of the project, collaboration with various government departments, the signing of memoranda of understanding with technical partners, and community participation will be critical in fostering a safe and supportive atmosphere for women.