Tribal Women Boost Ecotourism near Debrigarh

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 19 October 2026

A network of 15 homestays operated by tribal families in Dhodrokusum village near Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is showcasing how community-based ecotourism can support wildlife conservation while creating sustainable livelihoods. The initiative is also opening up entrepreneurial opportunities for local women, enabling them to earn an income through tourism-related activities.

Situated about 500 metres from the sanctuary entrance, the village overlooks Hirakud Wetland and benefits from the increasing number of tourists visiting Debrigarh, a destination known for its diverse wildlife, forest cover and picturesque reservoir. According to forest officials, the initiative is helping connect conservation efforts with economic benefits for the surrounding community.

Launched in December 2025 with five rooms, the homestay program expanded by another 10 rooms this year following its initial success, bringing the total to 15. From December 2025 to May 2026, the first five homestays accommodated 532 visitors and generated nearly Rs 12 lakh in revenue. Women involved in the initiative earned approximately Rs 9,000 per month, while the enterprise covered its operational costs through the income generated.

Key Highlights:

• 15 tribal homestays are promoting ecotourism and women’s entrepreneurship near Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• The first five homestays generated nearly Rs 12 lakh from 532 visitors
• The initiative supports wildlife conservation and sustainable rural livelihoods

Divisional forest officer (DFO), Hirakud Wildlife Division, Anshu Pragyan Das, said the initiative is helping reduce dependence on forest resources while ensuring local communities become active stakeholders in conservation.

“The homestay project has demonstrated that conservation and livelihood generation can go hand in hand. Families living near Debrigarh are now earning directly from visitors who come to experience the sanctuary and the Hirakud landscape. This creates a strong incentive for protecting wildlife and natural habitats,” Anshu said.

Her accountant said the model is slowly transforming from a number of individual enterprises to a wider community-based economy focused on ecotourism. Earlier women were involved in manual work and gathering forest products or other informal jobs is now being handled by women for managing their accommodation, food services and visitor hospitality.

According to officials, this is an addition to Debrigarh's conservation policy. Habitat protection is to protect wildlife populations and ecotourism is to create economic values around a healthy ecosystem, thus providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for forest-fringe communities.

“When local households see tangible benefits from ecotourism, conservation becomes part of their everyday lives and household economy. The expansion of homestays is strengthening coexistence between people and wildlife while creating new opportunities for rural entrepreneurship,” Anshu added.

Officials view the Dhodrokusum model as a promising example of how community-driven ecotourism can support both biodiversity conservation and inclusive rural development around protected areas.