New Homestay Policy is Anti-Employment and Anti-Rural Economy: Jairam Thakur

Shimla, February 18: Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur, has strongly criticized the Himachal Pradesh government’s new homestay policy, calling it dictatorial and impractical. He accused the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government of neither providing employment opportunities nor allowing people to create self-employment avenues.

Jairam Thakur stated that rural homestay operators, especially women, will suffer immensely due to the massive hike in registration fees and the mandatory GST registration requirement.

Key Concerns Raised by Jairam Thakur:

• 150-Fold Increase in Registration Fee
  • Earlier: ₹100 for five years
  • Now: ₹3,000 per year
  • Many small homestay owners do not even earn this much annually, making the new policy exploitative and unjust.
• Mandatory GST Registration
  • GST is exempt for businesses with turnover under ₹20 lakh, but the state is forcing small homestay owners to register for GST, leading to additional compliance burdens.
  • Many rural women running homestays will struggle with tax filings, documentation, and accounting expenses, making homestays financially unviable.
• Commercial Tariffs for Water & Electricity
  • The government plans to charge commercial rates for utilities, adding an extra financial burden of ₹30,000 for rural homestays and up to ₹60,000 for urban areas.
  • This move could force many homestay owners to shut down their businesses.
• Impact on Rural Economy & Women Empowerment
  • Homestays have provided financial independence to women and boosted rural tourism and local industries.
  • Tourists experience Himachali culture, cuisine, and handicrafts, indirectly benefiting self-help groups and cottage industries.
  • The policy will cripple rural livelihoods and destroy self-employment opportunities.

Political Allegations & Call for Policy Rollback

Jairam Thakur accused the government of betraying women voters who were promised ₹1,500 per month but are now being forced to pay ₹3,000 annually in fees. He also slammed the government for shutting down self-employment and skill development programs.

He urged the state government to withdraw the policy and support rural entrepreneurs instead of burdening them with unnecessary regulations and taxes.