Bhubaneswar ,3rd Oct 2025: Tourists will now stay in rural homes — creating employment in villages. To achieve this, the Odisha Homestay Establishment Scheme – 2025 will soon be implemented. The scheme will run for five years, until the financial year 2029–30, as announced by Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida.
Objectives of the Scheme:
Promote homestay accommodations in rural and lesser-known locations across Odisha.
Encourage community participation in tourism.
Generate local employment opportunities.
Provide tourists with authentic cultural and rural experiences.
Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries from underserved Gram Panchayats will receive incentives to establish new homestay units.
Approximately:
450 new homestays
With a total of 1,800 beds
will be set up across rural Odisha.
A budget of ₹50 crore has been allocated for the implementation of the scheme till FY 2030.
Financial Support:
Each homestay will receive up to ₹2.5 lakh per room.
For a homestay with up to 4 rooms, a maximum of ₹10 lakh will be provided.
Eligibility Criteria:
Any resident of an underserved Panchayat aged 18 years or above.
Must possess:
A valid Aadhaar card,
An Aadhaar-linked bank account,
No criminal record under any law.
State or central government employees will not be eligible under this scheme.
The scheme will be implemented jointly by the District Administration and the Department of Tourism.