http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=27900 Dear friends : While visiting Coorg and residing in a holiday chain which promised fun and green environment, I realized that holidays of people like me from upper middle class and above me (the upper class) was cutting into holiday of the poorer. For the pie is limited, and not ever expandable. Pinto a driver found the rentals had gone up because of unfettered tourism of not only holiday chains, but home stays as well. Prices of honey, vegetables and fruits had gone up because of tourism. While 10 years back he and his family could afford a holiday to Shimoga with a family income of Rs 5000 now they couldnot with an income ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 (depending on the season). The holiday travel, food and rentals to Shimoga were too steep. Nieghbouring coffee and agriculture growers- small and big- complained that water table had gone down with tourism, their culture destroyed, plastic was strewn around and there was shortage of laborers due to which coffee and agriculture productivity was declining. Laborers were working in resorts. Prices of coffee fluctuated with global prices. At the same time in the resort I stayed in I found only 'fair and lovely' women (and men of all colors) employed. The dark girls, Pinto told me, were lured into garment factories in Bangalore, as they did not think agriculture was good enough work having seen the change in the 'fair and lovely' girls in tourist resort Yes, some landless labourers may be happy but the government could have given them land- on women's name. Loud pop music (evening), bar open from morning, monoculture of western dresses and swimming pool was the norm in the place I stayed, with the elderly looking at a loss, and only one woman wearing a burqa seen. While I did not have a fun holiday, I did have few hours of solitude with my spouse and the birds and trees in the morning and late afternoon, and I wondered whether people like me and eco-tourism was part of the problem or solution? Perhaps the tribals of Talavadi Block, Periyar district, Tamil Nadu who led a laid back life (and I thought lazy at that young arrogant age of 24) were wise. For them everyday was a mixture of work, enjoyment and being one with nature. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
