*Tourism is a Key Sector Driving the State’s Economy – Managing Director Dr. Ilayaraja T.
*Women’s Safety Will Strengthen MP’s Tourist Destinations; Three-Day Workshop Begins in Bhopal
*Safe Women, Empowered Madhya Pradesh: Joint Initiative of Police and Tourism Department
TTT NEWS NETWORK
BHOPAL | 26 FEBRUARY 2026
Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Culture, Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla said that women’s safety is being continuously strengthened across districts through active police participation and administrative coordination. “Our guiding principle is that when women are safe, everyone is safe. The trust of every woman and child, including women tourists, must be protected down to the grassroots level,” he said. Shri Shukla was addressing the three-day Orientation Workshop on “Women’s Safety at Tourist Destinations: Role and Strategy of Police,” organised at MPT Hotel Palash by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) in coordination with the Police Department and UN Women.
Shri Shukla stated that the Tourism Department, in collaboration with the Police Department, is ensuring that safety mechanisms function effectively at every tourist destination. With initiatives such as the “Nirbhaya Framework” and an investment of ₹19 crore in camera surveillance systems, Madhya Pradesh is gaining national recognition in the field of women’s safety. He said safety is not merely a law-and-order issue but a governance priority directly linked to tourism development and public trust.
Secretary, Tourism and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Dr. Ilayaraja T., while highlighting the economic importance of tourism, said that tourism is a major sector driving the State’s economy and therefore the safety of tourists is paramount. He said that the desire to travel is increasing worldwide, but the sense of safety, particularly women’s safety, remains a decisive factor. Women are progressing in every field, yet concerns regarding their safety in public spaces persist. This situation must change and it cannot be achieved without strong cooperation from the Police Department and UN Women.
Referring to inclusive initiatives, Dr. Ilayaraja T. stated that the Tourism Board is promoting greater participation of women. Women are being encouraged to come forward as drivers, guides and homestay operators, as empowered women play an important role in creating safe tourist destinations. Efforts are also being made to identify and train women at the community level to enhance their economic self-reliance and strengthen grassroots participation.
It is noteworthy that the three-day workshop is being organised until February 28 under the “Safe Tourist Destination for Women” project. Its objective is to establish better coordination among various departments, strengthen the safety framework, and ensure a secure and sensitive environment for women travellers across the State.
On this occasion, Special Director General of Police (Women Safety), PHQ Bhopal, Shri Anil Kumar; Deputy Inspector General of Police (Women Safety Branch), Shri Santosh Gaur; Deputy Inspector General of Police (Women Safety Branch), Smt. Kiranlata Kerketta; Superintendents of Police (Women Safety), Ms. Beena Singh and Ms. Swati Murav, along with senior officials from the Home Department, Police Department and Women and Child Development Department were present.
On the first day of the workshop, the Tourism Department shared details of initiatives being undertaken under community-based tourism models to enhance women’s safety. The Police Department elaborated on legal provisions, rapid response systems, helpline mechanisms and gender-sensitive policing practices. Thematic discussions were held on issues such as religious tourism, rural tourism, archaeological sites, forest areas, large events, adventure tourism, hospitality establishments and cyber-related challenges.
In the upcoming sessions, case studies, practical exercises and strategy-based discussions will be conducted to prepare concrete and implementable measures to further strengthen women’s safety arrangements within the State’s tourism ecosystem. This initiative is being viewed as a structured and significant step towards establishing Madhya Pradesh as a safe, inclusive and responsible tourism destination, where security and sensitivity form the foundation of the visitor experience.
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