V olume 4 lssuc 2 N wmtber 7995
For Private Circulation Onlv
From Periphery to Centre
Need for Collective
Neeil for an inter-group anil inter-issue collectiae. Space
to articulate the specifics and to create a cotnmofl
platform for meaningful unilerstaniling anil action in
the larger spectrum of contemporary reality.
Each dawn brings to us a new 'deoelopment' project. And
with each new project a community looses its lioelihood and
identity. Their occupation is no morc what they haoe been
practising traditionally. Their land is no more traceable in the
name it had been knoutn for ages. Nor is the community
traceable for they are not left behind to enjoy the 'fruits of this
new daselopment'.
Till the last decade, mega projects were a rare phenomena in
this country. Dams for hydro-power and irrigation, steel
plants and defence centres were occasional happenings and
that too undertaken by the central, state goaernments or
public sector. But today, with the introduction of
liberalisation and prioatisation policies, the scenario has
drastically changed. The race to tap natural resources like
forests, minerals and sea haoe reached its peak, while
conzteniently elbowing out the rightful inheritors of these
resources. Simultaneously, multinational and global
companies are competing each other to dump all their
hazardous industries and their obsolete technologies. Their
requirement of land and water are enormous. Added to this is
the destruction they bring to land, water and air. The sum
total of this policy is displacement of people from their land
and occupation, change in land-use pattern and
enoironmental threats. When profit becomes the ultimate
motiae there is no space for the rational.
Mainstream politics largely is not yet prepared to critically
under stand' deo elopment' . Global strategies of ' deo elopment'
and its ability to blackmail the weak-willed nation into debt
trap is no secret. But the refusal of mainstream politics to
critically understand this, is eoident in their inability ta check
this unjust deaelopment. Policy implementation of oarious
state goaernments under the rule of different shades of
political parties oouch this.
Resistance against these prejudiced deoelopments are also
mounting.Indiaiduals and groups in aarious capacities are
bringing to focus, issues fot interoention through uiticat
studies to spell out the often hidden effects of these
deoelopments. They are also .'successful' in poticy
interoentions, educating the affected people, bringing
awareness to the larger public and also building protest
moaements. The emergence oi neu) mooements and their
ability to understand the specifics and the cause, is now a
reality. Though they haoe not come out with aiable
deaelopment models in the ooerall context, their abitity to
scrutinise and critically understand'practised, deoelopment
has certainly made them capable of creating a space by which
the fficted people protest. The better known peoples' struggles
like Baliyapa!, Narmada and Chipko moaements itand
testimony to this. While numerous others, that haue not been
so successful, haae still left their mark in peoples' moaements
and protests. These struggles were able to ooercome
conaentional party politics and break the rigidity of non-
plur alistic, conuentional mouements.
The contribution of this new unilerstanding and moaements
based on this realisation haae to be oieuted historically. lssues
that were submerged and diminished by generalisation haoe
been critically lifted to their specificities. The peo/le who were
pushed into the periphery for centuries together from their
rightfuI space are being brought to the centre, their aoices
being heard. lt
is a fact that the middle-class enjoys policy
priorities and media prominence. But it is the issues of the
people in protest that engages much of the critical studies. It
will be these studies that would determine the future. Gioing
the lineage of time to this comparatioely new awareness, u)e
could still trace a thin but strong thread of a common culture
slowly being wouen between these issues, moaements and
their protests.
As stated earlier the scenario is fast clunging, ileaelopmental
projects are no longer occasional happenings and are of
alarmingly mega proportions. Therc is a steep aertical growth
in the number of projects along with project related rcsources
requirements. More anil more projects are nou, proliftrating
on cornmon resources. Forests anil forest lanils till recently
were exploiteil for forest products and projects like dams. But
now the same is being additionally used for tourism, resorts
and hotels, inilustrial and commercial plantations. Similarly
the shifting of the sea and coast from fishing and harbour
projects to siting oil rigs, refineries, thermal and nuclear
power projects, tourism resorts, golf courses, aquaculture
farms and many other kinds of large and polluting inilustries
has been happening at fast pace. The fate of prime agricultural
lands and baclcztaterc is also not dffirent.
There are various groups anil inilktiduals concerned all along
these regions with their specific interests and agenda. This
helps in the understanding of the region from dffirent
perspectioes. There is also a solidarity among these groups
when it is called for. But the increasing threats to these entire
regions asks for some thing more. The system has been
successful in dioiding the people and making them feei that
each project is singular. The people in their turn assume that
it is the other and not them who will be affected. The success
of the system is that it thrioes by defusing these to factional
protests.
The need now is to search and debate for an inter-group / collectiae of different groups with their specific agenda like
issue collectiae - a space to articulate and dialogue - to resist
factionalisation and assert the need for inter-dependence of
groups and the people.
A collectioe for this praxis would require:
o Better understanding of both specifics and its relation to
the larger.
o lnter group collectioe and solidarity among people which
would be ffictiae in influencing policy.
o Broadening af mass base which would be crucial for
protests.
o Issue-specific protests that can be sustained longer.
When we come to the specific question of the coast, we haae
utough data to substantiate that the coastal region is going to
be the most abused in the future; the Dakshin Kannnda coast
is to haoe around 35 mega industries; tourist enclaaes lilce the
Beknl project on the Kerala coast ; the entire stretch of coast of
Tamil Nadu for aquaculture and chemical industries -
prizsatisation of the beach anil sea for fishing nctiaities.
EQUATIONS haoe primary interest in tourism related issues
along the coast. The kinds of aiolations in this single area
itself are many. Displacements of communities, coastal zone
oiolations in constructions, ground water drain and pollution,
destruction of coast and sea are some of the problems apart
from the cultural anil moral issues. Similar issues could be
traced in other mega industries too but with oarying
emphasis. And the common thread are the coastal
communities and aquatic life.
Taking the coast as the constant, will it be possible to haae a
displacement, prioatisation of the coast and sea, pollution,
community land rights and general awarenessT Each of these
issues is complimentary to both the groups and the coastal
communities' problems. Can these dffirent interest groups
come together and be supportioe to each other and thus
broaden the
for protests?
base

We are not setting any models or norms. But surely arc

c Boost the moral support required nmong communities in
seeking.
protest.

Har; gi/*

From this issue onwards we shall be inuiting Guest Editors for AlrlLetter with theme focus. Hari
has been with us at EQUATIONS for the past year inuolued in a study of tourisnr in Tamil Nadu
and the networking related to CRZ - Action Study Circle. He will be now working from MINDS,
Kerala.
(f. t ,4/ I IaeT* I,,ru

NewAddreses
EQUATTONS Our E-mail address is
POST BOX 847 E-mail : equations@indiatap.tool.nl
BANCALORE . 560 OO8
INDIA

You are welcome to reproduce,/translate aoy of the material in this newsletter. Please credit us
and send t$ a copy of tlre reproduced material for our infonnation. The vierss
q thry$glqare those of the authors and not necessarily o.f, the publislefs.
2
 Baned fromthe Beach
ihrdin lhueei
lll'.
j$i H,*
t ., .,i1"
,,iti
oes a uniforar coastal exclusion zone make ecological or
economic sense?
The battle for our beaches reared its head once again on 12
December, 1994 when the Supreme Court issued a controversial
order barring "the setting up of any industry or construction of
any type in the area at least 500 metres from the sea water at the
maximum high tide." From this date onwards, this area i.e the
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) was to be kept "free from all
construction of any type."
in the above action, the Indian Council for
The petitioners
Enviro-Legal Action, had alleged that unauthorised
constructions were being permitted by the various coastal states
and union territories in flagrant violation of an earlier
government notification. ThLs notification, issued on February
20, 1997 under Section 3(2XV) of the Environment Protection
Act, 1986, set out various prohibitions, requirements and
controls for the coastal areas of the country. It classified the
coast into four categories, CRZ I, II, III and IV, and laid out
separate rules for their development.
In brief, the categorisation under the 1991 notification was as
follows: In CRZ I areas, or ecologically sensitive areas such as
national parks and sanctuaries, no development was permitted
within 500 metres of the high tide line GffL).For CRZ II areas,
or those that have dready been developed close to the shoreline,
the notification allowed construction on the landward side of
existing structures subject to municipal guidelines.
Source: Business India - Feb 27,7995
In CRZ III areas, or those that are relatively undisturbed and
those that do not belong to either CRZ I or II, no construction
was permitted within 200 metres of the high tide. This area
could, however, be used for agriculfure, horticulture, parks, salt
manufacturing etc. Development of land between the 200 and
500 metres limit for this zone was permitted only if approved
by the ministry of environment and forests (MEF). The
expansion of traditional village units was also allowed within
this zone. The last category, CRZ IV, pertained to islands. [n
ttris zone, construction was not allowed within 200 metres from
the HTL an-d was restricted from 2fi) to 500 metres.
In addition to the creation of these categories, the notification
banned a variety of ecologically destructive activities such as the
discharge of untreated wastes, the storage of hazardous
substances and the alteration of the coastal topography in the
CRZ. Moreover, it required all the states to prepare a 'coastal
management plan'within the span of a year.
"Why has the Supreme Court banned the setting up of any
industry or construction of any type in the area up to 500
metres from the sea when the 1991 notification did allow
construction between 200 and 500 metres in certain zones if
approved by the environment ministry? When the petitioners
argued that unauthorised industries and other constructions are
being permitted in the CRZ, should not the resultant Supreme
Court order prohibit only unauthorised corutruction rather than
all construction of any type?" asks Vivek Nair, Managing
Director of Hotel Leela Venture Liimited and executive
committee member of the Federation of Hotels and Restaurants
 R0074 - (Gos)
On The Environmental Masterplaa for the Management of
Beach& Its Enoirons of Karnataka Coast by T Ananda Rao
This report sponsored by the Department of Ecology and
Environment, Government of Karnataka contains chapters on
Beaches & Estuaries; Resource & Development Perspectives;
Silvicultural Resources; Industrial Resources; Tourism
Resource Water Resources; Human Resources; Mineral
Resources; Status of Environment problems in and around
Beaches; Prospects of Management Action Plans & Perspective
Solutions and Need for Perscriptive Management Policy. Final
Report, March 1991, 1-585 pg.
R0190 - (G0s)
Corcl Reef Managemmt Hanilbook by R A Kenchington &
. BrydgetETHudson
The Coral Reef Management Handbook has been prepared as
the consequence of a resolution of the UNESCO Workshop on
Research and Training for Coral Reef Management held at
Manila in May 1981.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide political,
administrative and technical decision makers who have'
responsibility for coral reefs, with the means to ensure that
relevant issues are properly considered in the process of
making or reviewing decisions which affect coral reef. The
handbook should enable the decision-maker to assess the
relative merits of developing planning and managements
resources locally through investment in training or by
obtaining assistance regionally and internationally. For this
purpose a major section of the handbook is devoted to a
listing of sources of regional and international assistance and
to ensuring that approaches to such agencies are accompanied
by appropriate information. 2nd Edition 1988, \-321 pp.
R0191 - (c0s)
Action Plnn for the ptotection and ileoelopment of the
martne anil coastal arcas of the East Asian Region
This document reproduces the parts of the intergovernmental
meetings convened by UNEP in Manila, 27-29 April1981 in
Bangkok, 9 - 7l December 1981 as the final stage of the
preparatory work leading to the adoption of the Action Plan
for the protection and development of the marine
environment and coastal areas of the East Asian Region at
these meetings. 1983, 1-15 pp.
R0193 - (Gos)
for ileoeloping coastal water
GESAMP: Principles
quality citeia
This document has been prepared by the ]oint Group of
Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution
(GESAMP) sponsored by the UN, UNEP, FAO, UNESCO,
wHo, wMo, IMo, IAEA. 1984, 1-25 pp.
R0194 - (Gos)
Enaitonmental lmpact Assessment: Sewage tteatment plant
for Pott Said
The analysis of the case study and the description of the
procedures used in the environmental impact assessment were
13
prepared by the Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity
Centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan, with assistance of
consultants. The document describes, step-by-step the
application of the general approach advocated for the EIA
procedure. 7997, l-32 pp.
R0196 - (G05)
Marine Ptotected Areas Neeils in the South Asian Seas
Region - Volume 2: India
The Marine Conservation and Development Reports are
designed to provide access to a broad range of policy
statements, guidelines, and activity reports relating to marine
issues of interest to the conservation and development
community. IUCN, 7993, t-77 pp.
R0197 - (Gos)
Teluk Cendetazoasih - Mailne Consentation Area
IRIAN - IAyA Management Plan 7988-7992
This plan presents recommendations for developing and
managing the marine reserve over the first five years of its
existence. The proposed management strategy has been
designed to establish a strong basic structure for the
functioning of the reserve on which future developments can
be built. It serves as a guide for people involved in the
management of the area. 1987, 1-150 pp.
R0204 - (G0s)
Enoironment Problems of the South Asian Seas Region :
An Oaerciew
This report was prepared by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) as a contribution to the development of
an action plan for the protection and management of the
marine and coastal environment of the South Asian region.
1987, 1-50 pp.
R020s - (Gos)
Creating Coral Reef Protecteil Areas - A grassroots
consentation issue action guide
This guide includes an overview of the entire protected area
creation process
discussion of human - with principles and guidelines; a
threats to coral reefs; means for
attracting political, technical and administrative assistance;
and methods for developing, managing and implementing a
protected area pian. 1997, 1-74 pp.
A0s89 - (Gos)
Coastal Zone Management in Tamil Nsdu State, Indiaby R
Natarajan, S N Dwivedi & S Ramachandran
This is a crisp and comprehensive summary of some
important status papers and other information on coastal
processes to create public awareness about coastal problems,
to help in enunciating suitable policy for responsible coastal
zone management, to prevent further deterioration of the
coastal environment and above all for responsible utilisation
of our coastal resources.
 )> contirurcdfrompage 4
In response to the accusations of environmental negligence
directed at the tourist industry, Nair also says that "there can
', be not doubt that the hotel and tourism industry is equally
concerned about these issues....it is in their self interest to
preserve and protect the environment whidr alone can attract
tourists." As for the privatisation of the coast and issues such
as waste disposal, he points to the fact that the various
committees inspect the hotels regularly for violations. All the
necessary measures have, therefore, been taken.
R.M. Premkumar, Secretary (tourism) and Managing Director
of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, questions
the insistence on the 500-metre limit. "Why 500 metres?" he
asks. "Has anyone explained the rationale of this limit? Is it
not completely arbitrary?" Premkumar is sure that if enforced,
the order will prove deadly for the tourist industry as well as
for other builders.
Ronald Van Pelt, Director of Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, an
architectural firm which has designed coastal projects in India
as well as abroad, is also critical of the 500-Metre limit. He
believes that the establishment of a line, regardless of distance
R[Vl StD 6Ul Dt!.| |\lls fOR yvl !.DLlft'fouRl s]l\
INI PROTECITD ARTAS I |\IC!.UDI|\IG'[IG[IT RTSTRVIS
ildlife tourism has a very intricate relationship
with the conservation of wildlife the world over,
and India is no exception. While tourisrn can and
should play a positive role in ensuring the long-
ter m survival of the wilds it can also be responsible for the
degradation of the protected areas both by over and
inappropriate uses, directly or indirectly leading to dwindling
of wildlife.
Most often adverse effects of tourism emerge where commerce
replaces education as a prime motivating factor. Luxury
tourism is particularly prone to this abuse. Well-to-do
travelers seeking advenfure often choose to visit remote areas
but frequently they demand the comforts of urbania. This
causes problems of waste disposal, fuel-wood consumption
and also social tensions, when villagers prevented from access
to the protected areas themselves see rich outsiders enter with
ease.
The adverse impact of tourism is broadly due to two factors.
Firstly, the sheer quantum of yisitors and secondly
inappropriate and unregulated activities of the visitors
themselves. Both these matters are required to be checked,
first by regulat\g the number of visitors that can be allowed
inside the protected area at a given time and in a given area,
including the numbers which may be allowed to stay
overnight on the premises of the reserve outside the core area.
The second aspect of control is discipline regarding the
activities of the visitors during their visit to the protected areas
and for this a detailed set of instructions in the form of "Dos
and Donts" are enclosed, (Annexure-I).
It must be recognised that a national park or sanctuary,
including a tiger reserve, is primarily for the conservation of
from the sea, "has nothing to do with protecting a site or
creating a basis for managing the many interrelated factors that
can guide quality development. For example, take a coastal
wetlands area or estuary if such an area is a habitat for bird and
aquatic life, a 500 metre setback simply isn't enough. Such an
area will require comprehensive planning including the
designation of areas for nafural sanctuaries, permanent open
spaces and the creation of design and development guidelines to
ensure sensitive development in specific locations."
In his view, it is thus necessary to assess each ,physical
environment independently and estabUsh prescriptive guidelines
to either preserve or modify it. Local bodies which consist of
citizens, specialists, interest groups and officials should be
responsible for this job. "To simply draw a line around the coast
of India is not enough... it does not adequately respond to local
conditions," says Van Pelt.
In the final analysis, it is obvious that careful planning on a
local level and an open and honest approval process are the two
most important mechanisms for the protection of sensitive
environments. The question which then remains is when, if
ever, will our gonernment recognise this simple truth? a
nature and of the genetic and natural resources of India's
national heritage. Any tourism activity that may be
permissible would be only subservient to and in consonance
with this principle.
The officer in charge of the park/sanctuary should have the
final say in the matter of regulation of tourism in his area and
tourism should be in consonance with the directions laid
down by him.
Other general points which are required to be followed for use
of Protected Areas by people for education and enjoyment
should encompass the follon'ing:
1. Each protected area must have its own tourism plan
which should indicate the area open to tourism and
closed to tourism. For any sizable protected area there
should be more than one spot developed for tourism
preferably in the peripheral area so that tourist pressure
can be distributed to make it compatible with
conservation. Such tourism zones should be adequatelv
rich and representative in wildlife, so that their fioristic
and fauna features may be seen and experienced by the
visitors.
2. The core areas of the National Parks/Sanctuaries
including Tiger Reserves should be clearly demarcated
and protected as a 'Sanctum sanctorum'. No tourism at
all should be allowed in this natural reserve. This is not
necessary not only for long term research data, but also
because this will be an indicator of the health of the
entire sancfuary.
3. There should be a ceiling on the number of visitors
allowed to enter the National Parks and Wildlife
 Sanctuaries at any time in a given part of the area. This
Principle has to be determined by the Park Director in
terms of carrying capacity, available facilities, transport
and guides.
4. To avoid large number of tourists staying inside the
forests, day-trippers may be allowed inside the
protected areas, but they should not permit 'picnics'
which could result in danger to the tourists disturbance
to wildlife and create fire and other hazards to the
habitat. Routes of day-trippers should be pre-
determined and may need to be somewhat different
from overnight visitors to avoid interest clashes.
sF-
z
U)
d
U)
A close encounter in a'Tiger Show'
5. An interpretation centre adeqrrately equipped with
maps, guides, books and audio-visual aids should be set
up at the entrances to each of the protected areas so as
to provide nature education and park interpretation and
proper orientation to visitors. This will enable the
visitors to develop the right attitudes before they enter
the protected area.
6. If any Tiger Reserve has a core area of more than 300 sq.
km., which is the prescribed minimum area for the
'sanctum sanctorum', guided entry to the tourist may be
perrnitted on scheduled routes beyond the demarcated
area of 300 sq. km, subject to strict control on the
number of tourists, type of vehicles, their tirning and on
the express condition that a panelled and qualified guide
will have to accompany the party for such visit to
interior areas,
7. Cooking of meals or carrying of transistors, musical
instruments, loudspeakers or any arms or weapons
inside the sanctuary by *y visitor is strictly prohibited.
8. All accommodation for the tourists including
infrastructure such as cafeteria, shops, etc., should
preferably be located outside the national parks and
sanctuaries or, if that is not possible, in a corner of the
buffer area in a wild setting with natural attractions
around. The design and ambience should reflect the
concerns of authentic wildlife tourism.
9. The conveyance used should preferably be battery
operated vehicles, boats, riding elephants, etc. Mini
buses could be most suitable as these will minimise
entry of a large number of individual vehicles creating
more disturbance. Even cyclists and trekking can be
allowed on approved routes where there is no danger
from carnivores or wild elephants. This should be
allowed to groups of four to twenty persons at a time.
Visitors intending to go on foot may do so if approved
by the park authorities on a specified route specially
demarcated as nature trails.
10. The local people should be activeiy associated and be
given preference for the infrastructural and manpower
requirements of the tourists lodges and the transport that
are used for carrying the tourists inside the park.
11. The entry of tourists to the parks, including the vehicles,
will have to be on payment of required fees which
should be much higher for foreign visitors.
12. Rates for use of cameras for photography inside the
protected areas should be drawn up in a rationai
manner so that it does not discourage the wildlife lovers
to visit the protected area and document their
observation. The rates of use for cameras for commercial
purpose should be much higher than the personal
photography taken by individuals for the remeberance
of their visit.
13. The tourists guides and tour operators should be given
adequate orientation and training programmes so that
they are able to pass on correct information and an
appropriate value system to the customers they guide.
Very often the tourists behave in a manner detrimental
to conservation because they are not properly briefed
about the "Dos and Donts" or even sometimes wrongly
briefed about some exciting incidents.
14. Some controlled educational camps may also be
organised in earmarked parts of the sanctuary or
national park for staying in tents, with strict code of
conduct for occupation of such tents and maintenance of
camping sites.
15. All tourism structures that come up in the fringe of the
protected areas or in the periphery should blend in with
the surroundings, be moderately priced, clean and
wholesome. This is necessary to offer as "near to nature"
an experience to visitors, as possible.
16. There should also be some restrictions of setting up of
hotels within one km of the boundaries of protected
areas, and such permission should not be granted unless
cleared by the park authorities in terms of the carrying
capacity of the tourists visiting the parks.
Wildlife tourism in India is attractive to the foreigners because
of its precious biodiversity, natural wonder and the state of
tranquility. Let us not destroy this by the ritzy culture of five-
star facilities which will not only damage our environment,
but will almost certainly reduce the attraction and respect for
the areas to the visiting world community.
 TOTJRIST TO A NATIONAL PARIUSANCTUARY SHOI.JLD:
o Enter in a National Park or a Sanctuary with an
appropriate Entry Permit. The Entry Permit should be
produced for inspection on demand by any of the Park/
Sanctuary officials.
o Park vehicles only in parking area and road lay-offs.
r Avail of interpretation facilities, tourist guides, literature,
brochures etc., before moving inside the Park/Sanctuary.
o Always move within the Park/Sanctuary with an
approved guide and use approved boats/vehicles.
o Dress comfortably, Sober coloured (Khaki/Olive-Green)
clothes are preferable.
o Equip yourself with Binoculars, if possible.
o Obtain necessary permission for photography from the
competent official of the Park/Sanctuary.
o Ocupy or.enter only in the accommodation reserved for
you.
o Keep silent or talk in a low voice during outings to view
wildlife.
e Report the death or injury of any wild animal that you
may encounter during the outings, to the nearest Forest
Officer.
o Report any incident of forest ffire that you may see to the
nearest Forest Officer and also help the officials in
extinguishing fires, if they so request.
o Carry back their non-degradable litter with them and
deposit at the appropriate place at the exit point of the
park.
NOTE : Tourist guides should be weII acquainted with the details
aaailable in the Park and should explain the same t0 the tourists
before they enter the park.
Tharrreer$Bhavi
A 1\[ernr l,ools?
Amhory Raj
The Thanneeru Bhavi issue has gained momentum
,-fl
Vl ll over the last year not only as an injustice done to
I the already marginalised people but also as an
I t issue resulting from the unjust system that has been
I t prevailing around us. Profii-orientation, competition
and manipulation of the ignorant and the powerless have
always been a phenomenon existing and practiced around the
world. This practice still continues and the people of Dakshina
Kannada are a witness to this.
As Paulo Freire has rightly put it, " humanisation is human
being's vocation, since every human being tries to experience
a happy life during his or trpr life time, yet the vocation is
Il MSW, School of SocialWork, Mangalore and IV year L.L.B,
S.D.M Law CoIIege, Mangalore respectiaely. They worked on the
for \{otking out Equitable Options
project for Thaneerbhaoi
community supported by EQUATIONS.
TOI,JRIST TO A NATIONAT PARIUSANCTUARY
SHOTJLD NOT:
r Enter any area of the Park,/Sanctuarl, which is restricted.
o Carry any fire-arms, weapons, bows, arrows and crackers
withhim.
o Take any pet inside the Park/Sanctuary.
o Kindle fire and smoke within a Park/Sanctuary
o Drive at a fast speed and honk inside the sanctuary.
o Go on foot within a Park/Sanctuary area except on
permitted nature trails and tracks.
o Shout or tease or chase wild animals
o Try to approach any wild animal or attempt to feed it.
o Swim in lakes or rivers.
,o Seek an entry to the Rest House without reservation.
o Play transistors, tape-recorders or musical instruments,
(except within a rest house, and that too at low pitch)
o Cook inside Rest House/other camp-accorunodation without
appropriate authority.
o Litter the grounds of any Rest
House or camp
accommodation with plastic bags, half-eaten food and empty
tins etc. These could harm and choke wild animals.
o Organise merry making like camp-fires within the Park/
. Sanctuary area.
o Try to fish within the boundaries of the Park/Sanctuary.
o Damage or remove any wildlife, tree sign-boards and the
boundary marks of the Park/Sanctuary.
nd Shiuakuuan Bhar
dehumanised by the kind of exploitative, oppressive forces
operating around the human being". This force has now taken
a new form by depriving people of their own land, and also
displacing them from the place to which they have been
emotionally attached and dependent on it for their socio-
economic and cultural life. While crime has always been a
reality in the world, violence is now inflicted on these people
who are striving to have just a decent living, leave alone their
efforts in acquiring wealth.
Thanneeru Bhavi
Bordered by the estuarine formed by the Gurupur and
Nethravati rivers to the East, and the Arabian sea to the West,
Thartneeru Bhavi is the land mass lying in the southern end of
the New Mangalore Port and located to the North West of the
Mangalore city, Karnataka state of the Indian Union. Though
the land strip is quite large and one can see villages scattered
till the end of the strp, this article is linited to the issue of the
tand in questiory the 127 acres in Thanneeru Bhavi village.
The striking feature of Thanneeru Bhavi is that it is one of the
most backward areas in the Karnataka state. In contrast, the
Mangalore city (half a km across the river or 5 kms on road)
is a flourishing town and is the centre of economic activity in
the Dakshina Kannada region.
About 150 families live on the land in question. The
inhabitants belong to Mugera, Mogaveera (fisher folk) Billava,
Catholic and Muslim communities. Nearly 40o/" of. Thanneeru
Bhavi's population are Dalits who belong to the Mugera sub
caste. Mugeras are considered as one of the most backward
group among the Dalits in Dakshina Kannada. It would be
perhaps the only area in the region where the Mugeras
constitute nearly half of the population.
Thanneeru Bhavi could be showed as an example of the
lopsided development paradigms followed by the government
with no intergenerational and inter-regional parity. (Perhaps a
live model for national integration on the scale of poverty...!?).
About 25 families sustain themselves by agriculture. Many
others work as daily wage earners (sweepers, attenders) in the
Mangalore city and the rest of them survive on fishing, Beedi
rolling and as coolies. Their life is totally dependent on the
river, the sea and the neighbouring Mangalore city.
The Issue
ln 1964, the state government acquired a few villages in
Panamboor area, north of Thanneeru Bhavi village, for the
construction of the New Mangalore Port. On Ihe 23 May, 1968,
the Government issued a notice to acquire 127 acres of
agricultural land in Thanneeru Bhavi for industrial
development. Much of this land belonged to the upper class
land owners and compensation naturally went to them. The
tenants were not even aware of the acquisition proceedings,
They received no notice to vacate the place. The government
agencies acted as if the thousands of people living in
Thanneeru Bhavi are'non-existent'.
One fine morning, nearly three decades ago, a section of the
fisher folk of Thanneeru Bhavi was pushed to another village,
Chitrapur. Many others were shunted to Krishnapura where
some srnall sites were given to them, part of which was again
acquired for the more recent Konkan Railway Project. Others
remained in Thanneeru Bhavi as if nothing happened because
nobody asked them to move out.
ln 1975, the New Mangalore Port became operational.
However for reasons unknown, a part of Thanneeru Bhavi
remained out of the port zone, though the land was vested
with the Port Trust, Thanneeru Bhavi remained undisturbed
except for a small portion where a guest house was built.
Later the land was transferred to the Karnataka Industrial
Area Development Board (KIADB). Though under KIADB,
this part of Thanneeru Bhavi was never used for Industrial
activity except for a small ship-breaking unit which had to be
closed due to the resistance of the fishing community which
alleged that the fish caich was decreasing in the region due to
the impact of the unit on the marine ecosystein.
The people of Thanneeru Bhavi continued to live there even
after transfer of the land to the KIADB. Though the land was
acquired in 1958, the people have paid land revenue (land tax)
till 7974, when the government refused to accept it without
stating the reasons.
The reasons for their continued stay range from social
isolation (caste factor), illiteracy, Iack of awareness, poverty
and of course the lethargic attitude of the bureaucracy. When
the inhabitants.of the neighbouring Mangalore city were
enjoying all the infrastructural facilities, people here were
compelled to live in sub-human conditions. Though the sword
of eviction had been hangrng over their heads since 1968, they
remained there since they have no other place to go and they
were too poor to afford a shift of residence.
The Tourism Connection
Thanneeru Bhavi was declared as unsuitable for industries,
thanks to the experts. But another 'development' vision
dawned on the politicians and bureaucrats who are waiting to
grab any opportunity to make massive promises as a means to
remain in power and to justify their existence.
The Tourism development mania imposed through the
National Action Plan for Tourism, l992,by the Government of
India became a convenient tool for those in search of a use for
the 127 acres of land at Thanneeru Bhavi. The government
agencies and politicians schemed to throw the thousands of
people out of their huts in Thanneeru Bhavi to make space for
'pleasure huts' for the rich foreign and domestic tourists.
About 26 prospective developers including the Taj group of
Hotels and the Embassy International lobbied to grab
Thanneeru Bhavi. It came as an attractive offer to the KIADB
which was holding the land for a long time and eager to
dispose it.
The people of Thanneeru Bhavi were not informed of the
proposals to convert their living space to tourist resorts; they
were not even served with the mandatory notice. The KIADB,
in typical bureaucratic fashion, resorted to petty acts of
auctioning the coconut trees in Thanneeru Bhavi ignoring the
fact that these trees belonged to the people of Thanneeru
Bhavi, who planted them and nurtured them during the last
so many decades. However, KIADB could not carry on the
auction as the Thanneeru Bhavi community raised their voices
against the illegal action. But somehow KIADB was successful
in raising the fear of eviction, which has made a deeper
impact on the psyche of the people living there.
The Present Scenario
At present, the people of Thanneeru Bhavi live under the
threat unleashed by the government to make way for the
multinational hotel chains.
The people of Thanneeru Bhavi are 'no people'according to
the democratic government and its agencies, since most of
them do not even possess ration cards and manv of the huts
are not bearing numbers.In short, most of the people of
Thanneeru Bhavi are non-existent in the world, according to
government records. In the last five decades after
independence, development never reacheci Thanneeru Bhavi,
now the poor people of this area are asked to get out to make
way for 'development' of the area.
Recently, a road was built in the area and the people of
Thanneeru Bhavi never realised this would be the road for
their exit from the area. Poverty was the problem of the
people of this area but they managed to survive till today.
Now the government asks them to pack their rags and go to
somewhere else. The merciless government machinery has
kept these people for the last 30 years in suspended animation
and since the land is acquired land, no one wants to risk any
kind of investment on housing. People do not build houses as
any time the arrow of eviction will be shot at them.
The Thanneeru Bhavi community has knocked on all the doors
in the past, from the District Commissioner (DC) to the Chief
minister, to get justice. Their appeals for land rights had been
shoved into the dustbin by the government agencies. But they
got sack full of assurances and promises, and the suspended
animation continues...!
When some of the activists and the leaders of the Thanneeru
Bhavi community met the present DC to get a clear statement
on Thanneeru Bhavi, they were told that sooner or later,
displacement is inevitable as the land belongs to the KIADB.
And he was kind enough to make yet another promise;'The
land had already been acquired and therefore compensation of
any kind is impossible, but under humanitarian considerations
either three or five cents of land (depending on the
availability) can be given to the displaced wherever that is
available.(Perhaps the land would be available in the deserts
of Rajasthan!).
The Bootha Gudis of Mugeras, the 50 year old church and the
hundred year old mosque and the old Muslim school prove
that the people have been living here for a long time
peacefully though in extreme poverty. In the last 30 years
people have enhanced the value of the land in terms of
fertility and cost. But the bureaucracy has turned a blind eye
to the reality in Thanneeru Bhavi. The ever increasing land
value and its proximity to Mangalore city has made
.,iii,tffi*;:#
+
€quqttons
BEGKOINS,,",,",,
Bekal, a small town in Kasargod district of Kerala with a
historical fort set on its golden sands,is all set to surrender 1000
acres of space, along its coastline for a major tourism project
proposed by the Government. Since the announcements of the
project few years ago, there have been qontinued resistance
from local groups, These low key local resistance may not be a
hurdle on the path of the mighty planners. Therefore, the
Thanneeru Bhavi nore vulnerable to the onslaught of the
greedy resort developers. Other developments in Dakshina
Kannada prove that the Government is hell-bent on offering
larid to the indushialists.
The sovereign power of every state has the authority to
appropriate for purposes of public utility, lands situated
within the limits of its local jurisdiction. This power is termed
in the United States as 'eminent domain'. The principle
underlying appropriation by the State of private property is
that appropriation must be for public utility or public purpose
as it is called in India. What does public utility mean? Is it the
utility of some privileged class? Who is the public to be
benefited ? Does'public'mean only those who are wealthy
enough to wander around the globe in five-star luxury?
Here are some questions asked by the people li.ving in
Thanneeru Bhavi.
Why shoulil the people gioe up their lanil?
Why shoulil they go to some rehabilitatiofl area which is far
away ftom their place of zaork anil source of sustenance?
If only a small piece of lanil is gizten as a rchabilitation
package, wherc shoulil they go lor the money that is requireil
to builil a house...?
How can the Goaernment ot the Inilustrialists justify a
tourist resott which only caterc to the neeil of the few filthy
tich at the cost of the ight to life of the thousanils of people
Iizting in Thanneeru Bhaoi..,? a
Khalir-Juma-At Mosque, Hasanbad,,
Chettukundu.
First Mosque to be d.emolished in the
proposed Mega Tourism Complex, Bekal,
Keralam.
NOW AVArr"{BtB AT EQUATTONS
A slide tape presentation on Bekal
Format-Video (VFIS) 25 mins.
Produced by : Eq-IMAGES
Camera : Natesh Ullal
Script : Anita Ninan
Narration : Anita Ninan and K T Suresh
Graphics ; Dhanaraj Keezhara
Research: EQUATION S Docttmentation
Sugge ste d C ontribution
brstitution Rs.500
Ind ividuals/ Activists Rs. 350
support and solidarity was sought from groups and
individuals of other regions. To make this possible it was
necessary to generate inJormation packages on Bekal. It is in
this context the EQUATIONS has produced an audio-visual to
disseminate'inforrnation and raise support and awareness in
and to the local movement. This haJ6een culled out of the
existing slide resources collected over two years.
 ca,rnpai
enJ rwr
he Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing was
held amidst controversy and debate; yet it was the largest
gathering of women since the U.N. Decade of Women
began in 7970. China and its forward looking policies with
regard to the emancipation of women was a motivating factor.
Despite the propaganda on China's human rights record, most
participants felt inspired by Chinese women and their
achievements in the period between 1970 and 1995. This
inspite of Ms. Clinton's repeated reference to female
infanticide and the Western Media's search for abandoned
girls as ln indictment of China's one child family policy.
Indian delegates to the NGO forum felt safe, secure and
welcome at Beijing. The China Organising Committee took on
the immense task of housing, transporting, organising
workshops, feeding and entertaining (170 cultural events) the
20,000 women who began to arrive at Huairou on 29th
August. One lakh volunteers from Schools and Universities,
who had undergone 1 month training prior to the conference,
were on hand to answer questions, guide and help the
delegates round the clock. A fleet of buses and taxis connected
Huairou to Beijing, with the highway between the two cities
being kept clear to ensure speed. Regular time-tables were
delivered to the delegates to ensure that time was not wasted.
Language was a problem, but we all managed to get where
we wanted, thanks to the smiling and cheerful volunteers.
The forum was a lively, often creative and very militant event,
although the U.S. and European feminist perspective was
rather over represented. Some of the grass root workers who
had been sponsored by the C.C.U. faced cultural shock and
disorientation with the scale of the forum and the language of
the discussion. Many were used for ayah duty by their
benefactor. Indian delegates held fast to their sectarian
position and did not network amongst themselves and many
delegates complained of the lack of solidarity amongst the
large Indian delegation. Inspite of these problems grass root
workers mingled with academics, the media and professionals
with an equal sense of commitment and status.
Although the weather remained unfriendly, the Forum went
ahead without disruption. The agenda, to see the world
through the eyes of women was never lost sight of. It is not
the prerogative of men to bring light to the day, said Aung
San Suu Kyi, in her keynote address, at a moving opening
ceremony. 4,000 women packed the Convention Centre at
Huairou (capacity 1500) to hear her video presentation as she
kept vigil with Myanmars democracy movements at home.
Gender equality was .linked with peace, human rights,
tolerance and economic security. The nurturing role of women
was needed not only by the family but society at large. Where
men are secure, she said, women are highly valued. In her
Teachers at College of Vocational Studies, Delhi llniversity and is a
member of the Programme Sub Committee, EQUATIONS.
10
ilDtt
gDnawy
lllinn Rto
opinion it was want and insecurity that drove women across
borders towards degredation and sexual exploitation. It is fear
of persecution that makes it impossible to live even within the
family in peace and free from fear. There were no gender
barriers that could not be overcome she felt, as she referred to
her own experience in leading the democracy movements in
Myanmar.
Winnona La Duke, co-chair of the Indigenous Women's
Network, a member of the White Earth Reservation,
Minnesota, U.S.A. spoke about the disregard for the rights of
indigenous people, numbering 500 million, by industrial
society. The decision makers at the U.N. are not the 1000 yrs.
old nations but 180 nation states with a history of 200 yrs.
Most decisions are made, she said by the 42 transnational
corporations whose annual profits exceed the GDp of many
countries. Rights are therefore not human oriented but based
on wealth and power.
The 1995 Human Development Report written by Muhbubal
Haq, provided key insights into the status of women: farming
is largely a female occupation in Third World Countries, yel
97.60/o of the senior administrators are men. Women have
joined the work force in large numbers yet hold only 1% of
the_executive positions. The male bias in employment, training
and promotion rules out access to wealth and resources bv
women. Similarly, in education women are falling behind ani
are culturally pushed into subordinate areas of knowledge.
The challenge before women at Beijing was to work out a plan
of action that would confront the model being promoted by
the Global Government, which is beholden to its constituencv
of international organisations like the World Bank, the I.M.f .
and the W.T.O.
Gita Sen of DAWN said that womens' lives have been shaped
by three economic developments:
a) Priority to economic growth rather than human well-being
b) the debt crisis in poor countries
c) Uneven distribution of the fruits of development
She pointed out the speed
with rvhich technology was being
adapted and the changing use of womens labour acrosi
borders in electronics, sex tourism and migrant work.
Winnie Karagua Byanyma from Uganda asked: Who designs
adjustment programmes? Who benefits? Are free markets
really free? How global is the global economy?
Charlotte Bunch, U.S.A. noted that women were the original
"other" and violence against women had caused a major shift
on the understanding of human rights to include the rights to
life, to exist, to food, to freedom, from violence at home and
in the street, to work and to political power. She wanted
women to provide a third option - an altirnative to global
hegemony and regressive conservatism.
While the U.N. talked, the Forum acted. Thousands of
delegates marched in pouring rain to demonstrate against U.S.
imperialism when Ms. Clinton came to address the Forum on
carnpai
September 6th to set the records straight on the U.S.
infringement of human rights at home and abroad. While
Governments and Lobbyists worked out a consensus at the
Beijing Convention Centre the participants to the Forum
returned with information, analysis, data and a plan of action
to push governments around the world in the right direction.
Equations led a workshop on international Tourism and
worked out a strategy with representatives from five
continents. The discussed how to:
1. ensure a ban against the promotion of sex tourism Silmce
2. to ensure peoples participation in tourism plan and
targets.
3. to focus of the role of women and the impacts of tourism Too rnany uo'ilten
on their lives and livelihood and to look particularly at in too many countries
the case of indigenous women. speak the sarne language
of silence.
4. to resist S.A.P. and to end the unequal exchange in
tourism for the Third World. My grandmothn was alway silent
5. to compensate women and communities that had suffered always aggrined, -
from Tourism development. only hn husband -had the cosmic right
(or so it was said)
6. to network with like minded organisations and
individuals to analyse, study and inform each other on the to speak and be heard,.
impacts of tourism.
ThE say it is d,ifferent now
(After all, I am always uocal
and m,y grandmother thi.nks
I talk too much)
Bzd sometimzs, I wond,er.

Tt
When a trotnan giues hn loae,
as rnost wornen d,o, generously
it is accepted. -
When a uornan shares her thoughts,
as soTne uornen do, graciously
it is allowed. -
When a uomo,n f.ghts Jbr pouer,
as all women would like to.
quietly or loudly
Whereas sexual and reproductive rights were the mission of it is questioned.
western women, the cause of economic sovereignty and And, yet, there rnust
womens rights to life and livelihood were raised every where
be freedom -
iJ'ue are to speak.
by third world women. The broader impacts of international
tourism on women was raised at all the workshops dealing And yes, there must be power -
with trafficking, prostitution, sexual exploitation, politics and if we are to be heard.
structural adjustment by EQUATIONS. A'nd when we haue both
(freed,om and power)
EQUATfONS, has begun to look more explicitly at the impact of
let us not be misundsrstood.
tourism on u)omen, and to collaborate both to make tourism part of
utomen's agenda and Taomen a more prominent part of the tourism lUe seek only to gfue uords
agenda. The time is especially ripe because overall questions about to those uho cannot speak
tourism policy and actiztism are being redefined. This utas with the (too many wornen
qbjectioe of wanting to articulate the complexity of tourism as a 'in too many countries)
wornen's issue, in collaboration with women concerned about such
issues in India, but with the oaerall aim of creating links with the
I seek only to forget the soryous
women's moaement,
of my grandnxoth.er's
silence.
As follow up of the Women's Conference at Beijing, and for our
a
programme on Women and Tourisnt, EQUATIONS is holding a
preparatory meeting of South-East Asian Women in April nt
Bangkok. Like wise similar meetings wiII be held by our netri)lrk Anasuya Sengupta
friends in Europe and United States. March 1995
a
11
cornpal
FnrlsntnitsAgrllrr*ttrlu4r*m
rrr
I
I ourism, slated for a global growth of around 20 per cent
this year, faces opposition from quite an unexpected quarter
in Kerala - Women.
The women, especially the impoverished and the marginalised
have raised their banner of revolt under the umbrella of
INSAF.
It is for the first time in the country that women are
mobilizing io fight the evils of tourism, which, according to
them, debase women. They are inspired by the women's
mobilization in Andhra Pradesh, fuelled by the alcoholic
abuse of wornen, which had, in part, helped fell the Congress
Government there.
Representatives of women's organisations assembled at a State
seminar organised by INSA-r- at Kanhangad in North Kerala
with poet-activist Sugatha Kumari at the helm, declared war
against tourism from no less a place than Bekal, which heads
the tourist agenda of Kerala.
Bekal is expected to be the second largest tourism heaven in
Asia, with a multi-crore investment. And it was here that
these women congregated to lift their bangled fists against the
possible exploitation of women and the likely dilution, it not
loss, of Kerala's ethnicity.
Says Sugatha Kumari:"We don't want Kerala io be another
Thailand. We swear that we'll treasure the culture of Kerala
and will not allow any foreign influence to dilute it".
Speaker after speaker reiterated that tourism would herald not
only drugs and liquor, but also prostitution, a la Thailand or
Philippines. "What's tourism, if not sex tourism", they asked,
ruling out the possibility of punishment of pimps.
Disclaiming possibilities of development or avenues of jobs,
the women apprehended displacement of more than 5,000
tobacco cultivators of the world-famous tobacco of Bekal-the
only tobacco field in Kerala-and uprooting of thousands of
Dheevara fishermen.
But what disturbs the women is the possibility of women
descending to the genre of a consumer item for the pleasure
tourists.
Women expressed the grouse that any issrre launched by
rvomen are shelved as a women's issue, including atrocities
against them. "When we approach a police station with a ethnicity, and mbral fabric of Kerala.
12
lech lletu
women's issue, the police ridicule and ignore us", complained
Ms. Subaida, an activist in the area which had witnessed the
gang rape of a woman, possibly with the collusion of her
husband, in Kannor Kotta, a tourist spot.
"Women's issues are being privatised", said Ms. Ajitha. She
added that tourism is neocolonisation and not people-
oriented. "Tourists come for leisure and pleasure. Kovalam is
a concrete example of the destructive impact of tourism where
drugs, alcohol, and prostitution flourish".
Women have begun to cry out for an alternate tourist policy
where their lives, morals, and lifestyles are not upturned, their
value system is not disrupted.
World tourism is flowing towards the Far East even as around
85 million domestic tourists are eligible to indulge their
itching feet.
"Child sex is also on the increase, with German chartered
tourists focused solely on this" , a speaker pointed out.
They were unanimous that the Government is impotent to rein
in prostitution, especially in the corrupt law-enforcing system
of Kerala.
A battery of statistics buttressed their apprehensions about
women's safety in a torrrism-oriented culture. The US has
experienced a 560 per cent increase in violent crimes, 419 per
cent increase in divorce, 300 per cent increase in children
under single-parent custody, and an 80-point drop in
scholastic aptifude test scores. It ranks first among murders,
rapes and obsession with individual fulfillment.
"We don't want the infiltration of this type of foreign culture,',
Kuinari averred.
Women are also terrorized by the possibility of the import of
AIDS into Kerala. It is in these contexts that the women
decrded to get together to spread awareness about the implicit
danger to women in the spread of tourism.
As a first step, the INSAF, which has around 25 member
organisations in all L4 districts in Kerala, will launch a house-
to-house canrpaign, to enlighten women about the dangerous
possibilities that lurk behind the glamour and glitz of tourism.
Even globally the need to have developmental planning in
tourism is being stressed.
The women's groups plan to organise resistance against the
indiscriminate spread of tourism which threatens the cultur^e,
a
 R0074 - (G05)
On The Enoironmental Masterplan lot the Management of
Beach fi lts Ewhons of Kanataka Coast by T Ananda Rao
This report sponsored by the Department of Ecology and
Environment, Government of Karnataka contains chapters on
Beaches & Estuaries; Resource & Development Perspectives;
Silvicultural Resources; Industrial Resources; Tourism
Resource Water Resources; Human Resources; Mineral
Resources; Status of Environment problems in and around
Beaches; Prospects of Management Action Plans & Perspective
Solutions and Need for Perscriptive Management Policy. Final
Report, March 1991, 1-585 pg.
R0190 - (Gos)
CorcI Reef Managennrt Hanilbook by R A Kenchington &
. BrydgetETHudson
The Coral Reef Management Handbook has been prepared as
the consequence of a resolution of the IJNESCO Workshop on
Research and Training for Coral Reef Management held at
Manila in May 1981.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide political,
administrative and technical decision makers who have'
responsibility for coral reefs, with the means to ensure that
relevant issues are properly considered in the process of
making or reviewing decisions which affect coral reef. The
handbook should enable the decision-maker to assess the
relative merits of developing planning and managements
resources locally through investment in training or by
obtaining assistance regionally and internationally. For this
purpose a major section of the handbook is devoted to a
listing of sources of regional and international assistance and
to ensuring that approaches to such agencies are accompanied
by appropriate information. 2nd Edition 1988, 1-321 pp.
R01e1 - (G0s)
Action PIan fot the protection anil ileoelopment of the
marine and coastal arcas of the East Asian Region
This document reproduces the parts of the intergovernmental
meetings convened by UNEP in Manila, 27-29 April 1981 in
Bangkok, 9 - 11 December 1981 as the final stage of the
preparatory work leading to the adoption of the Action Plan
for the protection and development of the marine
environment and coastal areas of the East Asian Region at
these meetings. 1983, 1-15 pp.
R0193 - (Gos)
GESAMP: Principles
for ileoeloping coastal zoater
quality criteia
This document has been prepared by the ]oint Group of
Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution
(GESAMP) sponsored by the UN, UNEP, FAO, UNESCO,
wHo, wMo,IMo,IAEA. 1984,7-25 pp.
R0194 - (Gos)
Enoironmental Impact Assessment: Sewage treatment plant
for Pott Said
The analysis of the case study and the description of the
procedures used in the environmental impact assessment were
13
prepared by the Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity
Centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan, with assistance of
consultants. The document describes, step-by-step the
application of the general approach advocated for the EIA
procedure. 1991, 7-32 pp.
R0196 - (Gos)
Maine Protecteil Areas Neeils in the South Asian Seas
Regton - Volume 2t lnilia
The Marine Conservation and Development Reports are
designed to provide access to a broad range of policy
statements, guidelines, and activity reports relating to marine
issues of interest to the conservation and development
community. IUCN, 7993,7-77 pp.
R0197 - (G0s)
Teluk Cenilerazoasih - Maine Consercation Area
IRIAN - IAYA Management PIan 7988-7992
This plan presents recommendations for developing and
managing the marine reserve over the first five years of its
existence. The proposed management strategy has been
designed to establish a strong basic structure for the
functioning of the reserve on which future developments can
be built. It serves as a guide for people involved in the
management of the area. 1987, 1-150 pp.
R0204 - (Gos)
Enoironment Problems of the South Asian Seas Region :
An Ozterciew
This report was prepared by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) as a contribution to the development of
an action plan for the protection and management of the
marine and coastal environment of the South Asian region.
1987, 1-50 pp.
R020s - (G0s)
Creating Cotal Reef Protecteil Areas - A grassroots
conseroation issue action guide
This guide includes an overview of the entire protected area
creation process
discussion of human - with principles and guidelines; a
threats to coral reefs; means for
attracting political, technical and administrative assistance;
and methods for developing, managing and implementing a
protected area pian. 7997,7-74 pp.
A0s89 - (G0s)
Coastal Zone Management in Tamil Nailu State, Indiaby R
Nataraian, S N Dwivedi & S Ramachandran
This is a crisp and comprehensive summary of some
important status papers and other information on coastal
processes to create public awareness about coastal problems,
to help in enunciating suitable policy for responsible coastal
zone management, to prevent further deterioration of the
coastal environment and above all for responsible utilisation
of our coastal resources.

Scnibbtr Rncr To
U n snnrh Pnnnd isr
C K Dfeeu
sn't it peculiar how the travel sections of all newspapers
and magazines look pretty much the same? You could
easily mistake one beadr, monument or mountain lake for
the other.
If travel articles tend to sound like clones of one another that's
because their writers go down the same beaten track. It is a path
that was first laid out by white explorers of "dark" continents. The
travel writer of today is really a Marco Polo "discovering" new and
exotic places and thrilling his readers with accounts of his exploits.
But let us not get carried away. Our travel writers face none of the
life-threatening situations that their forbears did. However, they
appear to have one aim in common - commercial gain for their
patrons. If European explorers were sent forth on the high seas by
kings and queens/ many modem travel writers are backed by ttre
hotel and tourism industries.
In several cases, such patronage is blatantly evident, as when a
large newspaper sends its staff on freebies, including foreign
junkets, sponsored by this or that hotel chain. Freelance writers too
have realised that the tourism deparhnent is eager to smooth their
way, and the hotel industry quick to offer free hospitality, in retum
for a write.up.
But travel writing was not always part of the tourism package. In
the days before tourism became big bwiness, people havelled only
to get from point A to point B. During the children,s summei
vacations, middle class Indians would descend upon their relatives,
houses. Bed and board were thus free, and sightseeing was limited
to an evening out to "see the town".
As society and the economy changed, travel becarne serious
business. It became tourism. The Indian tourist started emulating
his western brethren; he travelled in order to expand the mind and
provide an educational experience for his children. Tours to historic
monuments - the Tai or Khajuraho or the Ajantha-Ellora caves
became popular. The domestic tourist visited the Ivladurai
Meenakshi temple not only to pray but to admire its architectural
beauty. As life in the urban jungles grew more hectic, the Indian
tourist discovered the soothing qualities of nat.ure; mountains,
forests and rivers were eagerly sought after.
The tourist was not very particular about where he stayed; any
local lodging house which was cheap and reasonably clean would
do. Travel columns emerged, reflecting this newfound wanderlust.
The writers would describe the tourist spots as well as provide
information on distances, bus or train rates, hotel tariffs and so on.
Businessmen, engineers and bank employees, joint families and
honeymooning couples, all swarmed towards the new pleasure
resorts. Overcrowding ruined their original charm but travel
writers still kept writing about them and people still kept coming.
However, travel writing underwent a sea change during the past
decade. It coincided with the influx of wealth into the middle class,
lournalist, at Asian College of lournalism and a member of
teaches
the General Body o.f EQUATIONS.
I4
which was pushed into a higher income bracket. The newly
affluent Indian tumed up his nose at Ootv lake and the Brindavan
Gardens; he would have nothting less than the Andamans.
Singapore, Mauritius and South Africa became the'in'destinations
that were actively promoted by the travel columnisb.
Travel writers ditched the good old middle class and started
catering to the elite. There has to be a reason why they switched
loyalties. The reason becomes apparent once you look at what a
typical travel piece contains: description of scenery, a bit of local
history, list of hotel facilities and shopping opportunities... But wait
a minute. What happened to the earlier lofty motives of enriching
one's experiences, of getting to know about different cultures? The
stress today is on luxury stay. The Indian yuppy would rather
wallow in a hotel swimming pool or play golf than sweat it out on
a dusty road to look at some old stone temple.
The chicken-or-egg question pops up: was it people who started
giving precedence to holidays ensconced in plush hotels, or was it
the travel writer, encouraged by the hotel industry, who started
plugging them? Whatever the answer may be, there is no denying
that the travel writer has completely ignored the needs of the low-
budget tourist.
Meanwhile, the hotel industry which had been cashing in on the
tourist influx found itself in need of new venues, since competition
was stiff. This could possibly explain why the travel writers began
to home in on "unspoilt" places: virgin beaches, crystal clear lalies,
island paradises. His article inevitably ended with a call for
someone to "develop" the place. That someone, of course, is either
the tourism deparbnent or the hotel industry.
Does he ever raise the question of whether his great get-away can
rlut"i" a large number of tourists? What is the carrying capacity of
the place? Is it an environmentally fragile area which would be
destroyed by large scale development? What are the problems of
the local people? Do they welcome the prospect of a horde of
visitors inhuding on their land?
These are the questicns that should be but are never asked by the
modem travel writer. The genuine travel piece should capture the
essence of a place without resorting to stereotyped observations. It
should be sensitive to the feelingp of the local 'hosts,, rather than to
the indiscriminate demands of the tourist "guests,,. a
MINDS
MANAS IilFOBMANOil iIETTTOBK AIIID DOCUMEilTANOil SERVICE
1/2985 A, Rithika Apartments
East H|II Road, Kozhikode 6ZJ 005
Keralam Ind,ia
MINDS is the result of collective thinking by a group of concerned
individuals for a centre for collecting, documenting, networking
and dissemination of news and views in Keralam. The centre
proposes to inpart information on issues like human rights,
peoples movements, women's issues, consumerism, tourism,
environmental issues, cultural action and sustainable
development.
The centre would undertake News Ctippings Service on issue/
group specific in addition to the general, on request. The centre
would also facilitate critical research, surveys and investigation on
issues in Keralam and outside and also act as a network point and
collaborator for groups and movements who share the approach
and concern of the centre.
MINDS will be the centre of reference for EeUATIONS
documentation, research and tourism activities in Keralam.

Thank you fur the ANI-etter Volume 4 lssue 'l , August 1995 and the enclose.d
poster. We have published the poster in our office,
I congratulate l,-atheef Kizhisseri on his very important article 'An
Understanding of Tourism's Future'.
J. Basu Roy Chowdhury
Tralnlng Task Group, Calcutta
I am thanKul br your ANlrtter. I am tuly interested in the su$ect and I really
feel hopeful to learn of 'Equations". However, I am not very clear about the
way you intend to go about things. My perception is that the maior obiective of
'Equations' is to seek promote tourism within the parameters of indigenous
culture and with due consideration to indigenous people. I have my
reservations here. I do not bolieve that this can ever be achieved becauso
tourism and indigenous culture exist and move in entirely different spheres.
When tourism gets in, it reaches its momentum and then, ib c-limax and there
will be no place for 'lndigenous culture' there. Tourism is basically a
mark€tting concept, the main idea in any kind of tourism, whether
commercialised or not, is to sell a destination to prospective lou.ists. In order
to achieve its sales, a destination must be groomed/proiected iust like any
other produc{ in the market. No matter how much we W to promote tourism
within the confines of indigenous culture/mileau, comes a time when we will
have to make a compromise.
All in all, tourism is an industry and industry means making money. How can
we hope to preserve our culture when the question of money arises?
I belong to the Khasi tribe, a maior tribe in Meghalaya. We are a matrilineal
society and have a rich cultural heritage, one of which is the unique 'Sacred
Grooves' - virgin brests that remain untouched since time immemorial. I am
afraid il such a place comes in the tourist map, it will be the end of the
Groove, the end of Culture.
I therefore believe that our culture should remain what it is and let tourists
decide for themselves what they wish to s€e. Those truly interested may
experience our culture in whichever way they want. But it would be wrong to
bring people in batches to see the Sacred Groove or the Nongkrem Dance.
Loreta Kharmawphlan
Shlllong, ileghalaya
Thanks for tho latest ANLett€r. Like life EQUATIONS flows through that
various avataars you traced back Down The Memory [ane. lwelcome very
much that Central American winds, storms and forecasts blowing into the
hence more international voice of EQUATIONS. The article on the bribing of
Kovalam expresses a shocking praxis which certainly is reality in lots of other
business and future lGvalams too.
Nina's known voice speaks in her article on the imporiant feminist movement
and a critical comment on the Social Development Summit. (How to see
mental blind spots? How to see clearly when being eye washed?). We all
fight the threat of a world wide genocide! Arun Nag's article offered a poelic
and sensitive description of the tourism around Tagore. What offence for this
independent thinker and great poet...
Enol D'Souza is raising the right questions on the quality of the transactions,
and on the normalive dimensions of iustice. Particularly interesting are his
considerations on public cultural performances. But the tourist and the
performer are participants of a social universe which creates other post-
traditional identitiesl They become members of a difierent "community". lt
depends on the conditions and organisation whetherthe shared transactions
of the multiplied, trans-traditional meanings are an alienation and hence
negative interference concerning the satistaction of social and higher noeds.
How to determine, from which supposed non-estranged position, what an
alienated conscioness means?
I doubt that a cultural performance produces economically understandable
"use-values'. But Errol D'Souza is right in mentioning ihe decisive issue of
property rights. Aren't the elements of impersonal relations always inherent in
any cultural performance? Using mask, costumes, nondaily representations
all these are symbolic functions which not iust enter when they are enacted
for tourists! lt is right that mostly the payment as a momentary one will be the
only relationship between tourist and host, and very often will leave no direct
trace, misusing the other merely as a commercialized means, disrespecting
that they are ends in their own rights (which would be best Kantian
15
Enlightment whicfi it seems only ia,v Westerners know about).
But not necessarilyl In a time where through self-reinforcing dynamics,
western "modernization" takes place all over the world, where T.V., Video,
and Western life-style will penetrate to the remotesl village, traditional
performances will be on the brink of extinction. Perhaps post-traditio.nal
performances even as staged presentations could create a new form of
expression of culture. The sensed threat of exploitation and negalive
consequences of the iniust tradeoff should not oversee the potentials and
possibitities. The post-industrial industry tourism and all its implicit effects
remains ambivalenl and ambigious. This will become more and morB
significant in tho years to comel
As an economist I realised lhe limitation of analysing in marginal costs (e.g of
dissemination of cultural event) or incentives for culiural transaclions.
Symbols are always different and more lhan economic analysis can say
about. To combine cost-benefit analysis with the special intrinsic socio-
cultural relationship would adapt those codes and interests according a
certain, infuential scheme of evaluation. To apply the rational of economic
terms and evaluation criteria can gloss over hermeneutical and
phenomenological qualities of cultural events, Errol will be interested in to
rescue.
Indeed the cultural aims of the host have an "independent'moral worth and
exacdy therebre we should be cautious in taking them into economic account
when fsmulating a host oriented tourism policy or evaluating the
phenomenon of tourism with non-economic crlteria.
The elglicit concem for the process of what is going on in the meeting (which
is not always an exchangel) can best be reached with a phenomenological
and hermeneutical approach, respectively, a perception and language which
sees and speaks from th€ "host'. (fhis requires as well an investigation of
the status of how people "being travelled' become what then is (from whom?)
called 'host". We should try to understand the complex conneclions of daims
and responses, expectations and concrete treatment in intercultural inter-
actions. The int€rdimension needs a a thinking which can not be reached
with a methodological individualism. And the quality dimension involved
requires regard for embodied-perceived and linguistic-symbolic processes
which constitute the meeting.
Wendelln Kupers
Germany
Wonkskop or
Susmimbk Tounism hirilrivrs
, Hinlchd Pmdsh
ORGAMSEDBY
. Equations, Bangalore
o Department of Tourism, Govemment of Himachal Pradesh
.
State council for Science, Technology & Environment,
Himachal Pradesh.
a International centre for integrated mountain development,
Nepal.
r NYAMSO, Spiti Tourism Management Society.
oBJECTTVES
e To get the various role-players and decision makers together.
I
The workshop will focus on the Sustainable Tourism
Approaches and Initiatives in various mountain areas and
bring into focus a number of case studies of tourism in
Himachal Pradesh.
o The r,r'orkshop would also seek to address the glaring issue of
eco-tourism, a term that has come to encompass all sorts of
tourism activities.
o The broad outconre of the workshop would be an Action Plan
and schedules for implementation of Sustainable and Equitable
Tourism lnitiatives in HP with focus on Tourism Policy, Govt.
Initiatives and Grass root level approaches.
This workshop is being held at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat,
Shimla between 14-16 November 195.
 ABOUT US
BY US
Tourism Workshop at NGO Forum,,Beijing
EQUATIONS led a workshop on lnternationalTourism at
the NGO Forum on Women'95, Beijing. Nina Rao,
member of the
Programme Sub-Committee of
EQUATIONS led the Workshop and worked out
strategies with representatives from five continents. The
issues discussed were :
1) ensure a ban against the promotion of sex tourism.
2l ensure peoples participation in tourism plans and
targets.
3) focus on the role of women and the impact of
tourism on their lives and livelihood and to look
particularly at the case of indigenous women.
4) resist S.A.P and to end the unequal exchange in
tourism for the Third World.
5) compensate women and communities that had
suffered from tourism development.
6) network with likeminded organisations
and
individuals to analyse, study and inform each other
on the impacts of tourism.
EOUATIONS also raised questions on trafficking,
prostitution, sexual exploitation, politics and Structural
adiustment at various workshops held there. (see page
10 for details)
Pan Himalayan Network, Nepal
Continuing the work on Himalayan tourism, Shubhendu
Kaushik - NYAMSO: The Spiti Tourism Management
Society and K T Suresh (EOUATIONS) visited Nepat.
Discussions were held with International Centre for
lntegrated Mountain Development (lClMOD), King
Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (its famoui
Annapurna Conservation Area Project) and HIMAL,
Himalayan Magazine. (see box for details)
Workshop on Lald Lavys, Policy & Practice,
Bangaloie
The Human Right Service Department of the Indian
Social Institute conducted a workshop on the above in
October. This workshop looked at the historical
perspective of land ownership, land-use and land
reforms. The workshop analysed the various land laws
governing land-use, acquisition, transfer etc.
EQUATIONS made the presentation on land acquisition
in relation to tourism - an overview, practises and
strategies for tho futurg. The case of Thanneeru Bhavi
was presented by the students of SDM law college
Mangalore and School of Social Work Mangalore.
Mr.Anthony (ll MSW) of School of Social Work who is
actively involved with the Thanneru Bhavi community
presented the background of the problem with special
emphasls to the pllght of the Thanneeru Bhavi
Publi"tludbyEguit4b}e!'ouI9!!-9r!i!!tt^@!w^noNg)'Pol!Bu'847,BangaloreNDIAPInn.e:080-5282313,Fax:080-5282627(Attn.020),Tehr:0845-8600
Coble: EQUATIONS,Ilpeet byVerbaNetuorh &ruicr;s, fungalore 560 U)3 Phone:3346692 and.printedby SupriyaPrilxers,fungolnre
community right from the day of acquisition notification
23rd May 1968 to the present day. (see page 7 for
details)
National Conference on Development.
-
Displacemeqt and R-ehalilitalion : Policy ind
Strategies, Bombay
EQUATIONS participated in the above Nationat
Gonference organised by the National Alliance of
Peoples Movements and Tata Institute of Social
Sciences, K T Suresh chaired the Working group on
Tourism. Various issues of displacement due to tourism
were discussed and broad statement of concern and
strategies for the future were presented for the plenary
session.
Training
i) EQUATIONS conducted day-long training sessions
for the participants of the Workshop on Research
Methodology (August) and the Sociat Analysis &
Social Movements programmes of the lndian
Social Institute. Each oithese training sessions
were tailored to the specific context of the
programmes.
ii) EQUATIONS also took a session for the final year
students of the Masters in Tourism Studies,
Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad, Uttar
Pradesh.
iii) Environmental Studtes
Shirley Susan, Programme Associate EQUATIONS was
in the United States at the Au Sable lnstitute of
Environmental Studies, Michigan for a course in
Environmental Studies between July 21 and September
9, 1995. The courses she undertook were a) Natural
Resources Practicum; Global Development and
Ecological Sustainability b) Restoration Ecology.
The focus of the first course was ecological
sustainability and sustainable society in the context of
various factors that are bringing environmental
degradation and impoverishnrent of people and
cullures. The second course which is Restoration
Ecology applies ecological principles and environmental
ethics to
redeeming and restoring damaged
ecosystems and endangered species.
Documentation
The Documentation Cell of EQUATIONS has been
through a few changes. The classification code has
been reworked upon. Each clipping in the Cell will
henceforth be itemised on the computer with the help
of the CED package. Ms. Sarita N. Deshmukh has
been assisting us in the changes with documentation
as well as itemising all the clippings in our Cell from
1985 onwards.
l