By Our Correspondent
Bhairahawa, Dec. 6: A cleanliness programme has started in Lumbini from Friday to make it more beautiful. It started from the Mayadevi Temple in Buddha-born Lumbini.
The manpower involved in tourism has been deployed for the campaign through a temporary employment clause.
Under the Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP), Lumbini Hotel Association, Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality and Lumbini Development Trust have supported the campaign.
The beautification and cleanliness programme of Lumbini is to continue until December 12.

“The employment programme has been implemented through a support by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Several helping hands have supported the campaign,” said Mani Raj Lamichhane, director at NTB.
Lamichhane, who is also the national coordinator for STLRP, added that similar programmes will be conducted across the country including Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, among other places. An agreement was drafted on December 13 last year for the campaign’s implementation.

“In the past two years, tourism sector has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is coordinating with several stakeholders to uplift the sector,” said Lamichhane.
The manpower from tourism sector deployed for the campaign has been provided with the task so that the affected individuals can generate some extra income amidst hard times, said Lamichhane.
Under the programme, the major works are to clean the heritage sites and other structures which have been attracting tourists alongside supporting the manpower.
“While the heritages will get a facelift, many people will get employment to some extent through the campaign,” Lamichhane added.

The COVID-19 wrought a huge damage on the tourism sector, which also affected the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), said officials.
“In a bid to get out of the difficult time, tourism sector needs to be empowered once again. We have also initiated some prorgammes for this cause. Beautification of heritages is also being supported as it is vital move,” said Sanu Raja Shakya, member-secretary at LTB.
Shakya added that LDT has paced up to complete the Lumbini Development Master Plan by the next two and a half years.
“Roads and sewage systems among other activities covered by the master plan will be completed in time. Once it is completed, Lumbini will glow brightly,” said Shakya.
Officials from the Hotel Association of Lumbini also expressed that the cleanliness campaign was a great move from the authorities.
“A total of 70 persons have enrolled in the campaign through the hotel industries in Lumbini.
They will be cleaning Parsa chowk to Lankapur and several areas of LDT on Sunday,” said Purushottam Aryal, general secretary of the Lumbini Hotel Association.
Started from Friday, the 10-day campaign is expected to be of some help, said tourism stakeholders. They, however, noted that more needs to be done.