Kodagu was recently confronted with a disturbing headline—an alleged rape at a homestay near Kutta. This is not merely a crime against an individual; it is a stain on the very concept of Kodagu’s legendary hospitality.
The contrast could not be starker. On the one hand a village draws a firm line to protect its land, culture and safety. On the other, a horrific incident exposes the cracks in a system that has been allowed to grow unchecked. A land known for its warmth, dignity and fierce sense of honour now finds itself grappling with a disturbing question – where did we fail? This also exposes the darker and more uncomfortable truth – when silence replaces courage, injustice finds room to grow.
For years, Kodagu has been marketed as a serene escape, lush green landscapes, warm hospitality and a culture rooted in dignity and respect. But beneath this glossy image, a dangerous reality seems to be emerging. The unchecked rise of Homestays, poorly regulated tourism and the influx of unverified workers have created a system ripe for exploitation and crime.
The question that must be asked loudly and without hesitation is who allowed this mess to happen?
- Was there proper background verification of staff?
- Are Homestays being monitored at all? Or has tourism been reduced to a reckless business model where profits matter more than safety?
- Where are the routine inspectors and more importantly village level safety norms?
- Where is the accountability of Owners?
- Where is the responsibility of the tourist department?
- Did the homestay function without basic surveillance? Was it a deliberate disregard for safety?
The silence of the authorities is deafening. We cannot continue to react only after tragedy strikes. Kodagu cannot afford to become another controversy tale of how paradise was lost to greed and negligence. The Coorg Homestays Association and COHERA should set standards of self-regulation. The latter has issued a proactive rejoinder of the need to act with purpose and self-regulation.
This incident must not be brushed aside as “just another case” or “there’s more to it than meets the eye”. It demands immediate, transparent investigation and determined action, not only against the accused but also against any lapse in regulation and oversight. Every Homestay and Resort must be audited. Staff must be verified. Safety protocols must be mandatory, not optional. Every Homestay should be set up with self-imposed standards of quality, security and trust that brings Kodagu a fair name. This instance exposes the moral future of this business. It is not an uncommon perception of visitors from Bangalore and Mysore that this is a weekend destination for uncontrolled consumption of alcohol, noise and irresponsible revelry.
If Kodagu truly values its much-admired cultural identity, then this is the moment to draw a line. Tourism cannot come at the cost of dignity, safety and humanity. Shame, silence and complicity must end here. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen, felt and upheld without comprise.
Maybe the Hockey finals has stolen the attention from Ms Mamatha Subbaiah’s article! Those running homestays and equally importantly tourists using such establishments will do well to undertake proper verification protocols.
Without casting aspersions on what happened in this instance, it is DEFINITELY A WAKE UP CALL FOR THE HOMESTAY ASSOCIATION TO ACT. If the buck is going to be passed on to the Police and District Administration, it will bring in more bureaucracy and avenues for road blocks, as was evidenced in the registration process.
Amongst other points, a few important measures that come to mind:
1. The concept of a Homestay is essentially like having a guest at home. Why would you invite “uncouth and troublesome” guests to your home without proper background checks?
2. The reputation of any Homestay these days gets easily tracked on social media. Act responsibly. Try and improve the billing rates by getting better standards of guests and not unwanted people who wish to only come and spend their weekend consuming alcohol, playing loud music and being a general nuisance in the neighbourhood.
3. Do not succumb to employing “unverified” staff – especially from the North East. They have already formed their own “groups” and have become a real menace – unfortunately created by the expediences created by ourselves.
4. In the event of any unwanted behaviour – ACT SWIFTLY. This is where regional voluntary Self Help Groups affiliated with CHA and COHERA would be useful.
The peace-loving people of Kodagu are waking up to increasingly disturbing headlines as it relates to tourism. From reports of missing persons on the Thadiyandamol trails, to drug rackets busted in Napoklu and heinous crimes in Kutta, the tranquillity of our Kodagu is being shattered.
It forces us to ask: Has Kodagu become unsafe due to the sheer volume of tourist footfall? Has our district been reduced to nothing more than a revenue-generating machine?
The Need for Strict Oversight and Pre-emotive Protocols looks inevitable.
While rigorous policing is the way forward to curb these illegal activities, Coorg Homestay Association (CHA) and COHERA have to institute self-regulation norms. In many places abroad where Farm Stays have been operating for over 50 years, guests have to register with the equivalent of CHA so that safety of both the host and guest is ensured. In addition, Mandatory Guest Logs should be enforced for inspection. Every hotel and Homestay should share their daily guest lists with local police stations.
Employee Verification: Strict background checks for all staff working in the hospitality sector and registration with the nearest police station should be mandatory.
A Look Back at the Turning Point –
In 2005, under the leadership of then-Tourism Minister Shri Sriramulu and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Subodh Yadav, the “Atithi Devo Bhava” campaign began. While intended to welcome the World to Kodagu, we did not fully realize that we were opening the floodgates to an unregulated explosion of resorts and homestays.
The Path Forward
It is better late than never. We must strengthen our policing and regulatory frameworks now. Furthermore, the hospitality industry should act with integrity—let no establishment use these unfortunate incidents as a cynical opportunity to promote their own business.
Kodagu’s peace is not for sale; it must be protected.
Every home stay should have a license issued by the District HQs, the same has to be framed and displayed at the enterance/ reception. The license also should be found in their website through which online booking is done.