Kumarakam: Samridhi, the women-run restaurant that serves local delicacies to tourists, is about to open. The restaurant that operated in Kavanattinkara as part of the Responsible Tourism Mission project will open its doors in strict compliance with the pandemic protocols. The hotel, which closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is currently under renovation.
The restaurant, run exclusively by women, has received the Pacific Asia Travel Association Award, a prestigious international award in the tourism sector. Samridhi is a project initiated by the state’s Responsible Tourism Mission in Kumarakam to empower local women by creating employment opportunities in the tourism sector. The hotel opened in 2012 with the support of the tourism department and received good reviews for its unique menu with a variety of local dishes and wonderful hospitality.
However, due to the pandemic, the hotel had to close. Now tourists have been flocking to Kumarakam since the government eased restrictions on the tourism sector. Officials have decided to reopen Samridhi, especially since the village life experience packages sponsored by the Responsible Tourism Mission have resumed. The place was run by a group of 10 women. However, many of them returned to other jobs after the hotel closed, including jobs under the MGNREGA program. These women had made amazing incomes during the tourist season. Each person earned up to Rs 10,000-15,000 in profit. The Samridhi Project is led by Vijayamma Saralappan as President and Geetha Sahadevan as Secretary.
Boost for the tourism sector
Women associated with various jobs in the tourism industry have started working again. Many local women are employed at the hotels and resorts in and around Kumarakam. However, they lost their jobs when the tourists stopped coming due to the COVID-19 situation.
From lighting traditional lamps at dusk to performing at cultural events, housekeeping and gardening, hundreds of women were employed in the various resorts in the area. However, they had completely lost their income when hotels and resorts closed during the lockdown. Now hotel and resort managers have started to reinstate them as tourists arrive to take in the scenic beauty of Kumarakam.
