Rajasthan tourism may be discussed all over the world but problems persist at tourist places here. Tourist guides in the state also face major problems including problems like snatching and arbitrary recovery. There are about 20 thousand such registered tourist guides in Rajasthan who, despite being selected, have not been given permanent appointment in the Government Personnel Department.
After the exam, 12 days of training is given and after police verification, the affidavit is approved. But due to a lack of permanent appointment, sick leave guarantee and honorarium are not given. That is why tourist guides have protested thrice in the last few years for their various demands. At present, demands for a change of government have started once again.
In connection with the problems of tourist guides, National Youth Award winners and tourist guides of Rajasthan had together applied on December 22 to meet Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma after the formation of the government.
A letter was written demanding a meeting on 29th December, but no reply was received. Therefore, on February 3, an application was again written to constitute a Licensed Tourist Guides Welfare Board in Rajasthan and to implement the 11-point demands of the tourist guides. A time order was sought to share all these demands and the ongoing problems in the tourism sector.
National Youth Award winner and social worker Ravi Shankar Dhabhai is representing the tourist guide. Therefore both the issues were raised together with the government.
An application was written to the Chief Minister along with Tourism Minister Diya Kumari on January 9 and 12. Also, 2 letters have been written to Industries Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Time was sought to meet the National Youth Award winners of Rajasthan State. But till now the National Youth Award winners have not got a chance to meet the BJP representatives.
Tourist representative Ravi Shankar Dhabhai said that in the demand letter, it was said that suggestions should be sought from all the citizens before the announcement of the budget of the state government.
Through this letter, a demand has been raised to provide employment, accommodation in the circuit house and other basic facilities to 57 social workers who have been awarded the National Youth Award from the Government of India in Rajasthan State. But till now no representative of the present government has paid attention to this.
At the same time, in the past also the delegation met the Joint Secretary of the Chief Minister’s Office and was informed about all their problems. Protests have also been held last year to ask the Rajasthan government to include all the state and local guides in the personnel department and give them a monthly salary. However, the state government has not yet made any concrete plan and issued orders for their welfare.
A total of 11-point demands including permanent appointment and monthly allowance for tourist guides in Rajasthan are putting them under stress. Since the tourist season in Rajasthan is only from October to February, the guides remain idle for the rest of the year.
This is because of the affidavit which is signed after the training. It is clearly written in it that a licensed tourist guide cannot work anywhere else. At the same time, the government has fixed the amount for each museum and memorial visit at Rs 400. Due to the current circumstances, new tourist guides are forced to work for only Rs 50-100.