Daily wage workers in the Aravana Plant in the Sabarimala Pilgrim tourist center in Kerala have struck work demanding wage increase as per the new wage levels fixed by Travancore Devasom Board, Kerala. The Kerala government has taken a confrontationist stand regarding the strike.

Kerala Tourism Watch declares its moral and political solidarity to the striking workers of the Houseboat Industry in Kerala. Workers have launched an indefinite strike demanding better wages. Kerala’s tourism industry which often talks about responsible tourism stands thoroughly exposed in the wake of the strike. The houseboat industry has grown disproportionate to the carrying capacity of Kerala backwaters and it provides direct employment to nearly 2000 workers staffed by over 600 houseboats

Staff Reporter, The Hindu

Monday, Sep 08, 2008
 

ALAPPUZHA: A continuing standoff between houseboat owners and employees over wages has literally paralysed the houseboat industry here for the last three days.

The issue began with the 1,800 odd employees, working on over 600 houseboats, demanding a hike in the wages after the two-year contract expired in August. From the current wages of Rs.2,500 a month and a daily allowance of Rs.100, the employees wanted a monthly wage Rs.4,000 and a daily allowance of Rs.200.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090855720600.htm

EQUATIONS raises concern on the way in which public consultations have been arranged by CEE. It is noted that in many places CEE failed to include complete participation from all stakeholders. The question arises whether CEE had sent letters to a wide range of the stakeholders in the state and had informed them about the dates of the meeting and the venue? While the schedule is available on the website of CEE, many communities and movements do not have ready access to internet or use it as the regular mode of communication. Informing them sufficiently in advance and ensuring that they participate, their voices are heard and their concerns are documented and responded to is most critical, as they represent the most vulnerable communities on the coast.

Letter to Tourism Authorities in India/Kerala from International Organizations supporting the demand for the Closure of Trivandrum Golf Club

From Tourism investigation & monitoring team (tim-team), On behalf of the Global Anti-Golf Course Movement's (GAG'M).

Coordinating groups: Third World Network (TWN); Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), Malaysia; Friends of the Earth (FoE), Malaysia; Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team (tim-team) Thailand; Global Network for Anti-Golf Course Action (GNAGA), Japan; Helping Our Peninsula's Environment (HOPE), USA; GAG'M liaison initiative UK (Desmond Fernandes)

Additional signatories: Forest Peoples Programme (FPP), United Kingdom; Tourism Action Group, Philippines 

Joint Statement from KERALA TOURISM WATCH, EQUATIONS & KABANI – the other direction

Statement urges Kerala Government to abandon the Trivandrum golf course. It should be converted as a public bio diversity park for conservation and education. Abusing the public resources for protecting the hobby of few vested elites in the city can no longer be permitted.

K C Santhoshkumar

The report prepared as part of a research study conducted by Delhi Forum on SEZ concludes that the Bekal Special Tourism Area, fifteen years after coming into being, is nowhere near achieving its announced objective of creating a planned, eco-friendly and sustainable "Beach Resort Tourism" destination. Ecologically sensitive areas have been acquired for construction activities violating the CRZ. The commons and lands where the lowest in the social strata eke out their livelihood have been handed over for resort development. The endemic bio-diversity is adversely affected by construction, eutrophication, pollution and introduction of exotic species

Claudia Romiti

Excerpted from Romiti, C (2005) “Kerala A Travelers’ Delight” [EQUATIONS;
Globalverkstan ]

The negative economic impacts that the project would have had on the local people can be understood in terms of the loss of livelihood opportunities through displacement. Development of the resorts and other facilities would involve displacing entire villages whose populations were involved either in cultivation (of paddy and tobacco) or fishing. This would lead to direct unemployment of 10,000 fishermen and farmers but would also severely impact the livelihoods of other who are dependent on these industries like fish merchants, ice planters and casual laborers, thus violating the fundamental right of the citizens conferred by,Constitution of India.