“Italy’s Calabria Offers ₹25 Lakh Incentive to Revitalize Small Villages, With a Twist”
The Calabria region in Italy is luring people with an offer of ₹25 lakh to relocate to small villages and establish a small business to combat declining populations. Applicants must be under 40 years old and commit to moving within 90 days if approved.
In a unique effort to address the issue of declining population, Italy’s Calabria region has introduced a plan to provide individuals with approximately ₹25 lakh (€28,000) if they are willing to move to small villages. However, there’s a catch: incoming residents are required to establish a small business, either a new venture or accept existing offers for specific professions sought by these towns.
To be eligible for this initiative, applicants must be no older than 40 years and should be prepared to relocate to Calabria within 90 days following the approval of their application.
Gianluca Gallo, a regional councillor, explained that the technical details, the exact monthly amount, and the duration of the funds are still being worked out. He also mentioned the possibility of including slightly larger villages with up to 3,000 residents in the program.
This initiative, known as “active residency income,” aims to make Calabria more appealing for “south-work,” a concept tailored for southern Italy, akin to remote work. Gianpietro Coppola, the mayor of Altomonte and a key supporter of the program, shared his vision, emphasizing that it intends to be an experiment in social inclusion. The goal is to draw people to live in the region, enjoy its unique settings, and revitalize unused town locations, such as conference halls and convents, with high-speed internet.
Calabria has been facing a concerning trend of depopulation, with more than 75% of its towns, roughly 320 communities, having fewer than 5,000 residents in 2021. Without regeneration efforts, there’s a risk that some of these towns could face complete depopulation in the coming years.
The “active residency income” program is seen as an innovative approach to rejuvenating these communities and making Calabria a more attractive destination for those looking to blend work and the unique charm of the region, shifting away from traditional tourism and the practice of selling houses for just one euro.
Sources By Agencies
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