8-8-8 from 8

Just wanted celebrate this date. I some times like numbers just like today. Its just about a 10 days i realised that we are closing to such an historical event. Guys! this date or a similar will only repeat now after 72 years.

I am a person born on 8th and therefore i kind of feeling a little special, unfortunately though not in the best of moods, but just though blogging something talking to no one like looking at the white noise on the TV screen. I am not a loner of sorts but to do something like this but now a days i find spaces very interesting and have always found them very interesting to think about.

Don't clearly remember the verses but Jagit in one of his gazals says keep a place for this and that kind of most things, right now i am kind of quite in sink in that thought.

So today is the opening of Beijing Olympics opening and may sound sadistic but i like Nadal and what him to win that is one medal i am following.

So all of you and specially people of 8 have a great time

Cheers!.....

The Verses and inclusion…

Life is coming at a full circle to me a person born and brought up with both parents associated with corporate environment, have also worked with them in their assignment so the exposure was beyond just having parents with corporate background.

Then I chose to explore development sector right after my masters. The passion and the harsh realities of the life struck me so hard in the face that if I can say at an ‘impressionable’ age, even some days compromising of food was not too big a thing. As I grew in this field, I took up a lot of work with some of the most mariginalised communities of our country. Like most around me I learn to talk a language of blame game initially and found that working, once you put things outside your system its others who are to deal with, which looked comfortable option to an extent that also started looking at what this comfort was all about.

Till one day I got exposed to Paulo Freire and opened my eyes to inclusive and exclusive approaches, processes. Started looking at things more objectively and with an approach of staying with it and working way through rather then getting over it. Analysing things and learning form communities and people I work with is now a way of life. This helped me initiate exploring alternatives in the immediate context and to look at the expressed verses as the situations beyond the fence. As Person working with Tribal communities for me co-existence is a big thing especially in today’s times and the ways to go about it is some thing I still am exploring with people I work and associate.

Its easy to give away what you have, but in last 10 years I have seen and more importantly experienced what is it to be deprived of the little groves one is holding on to being knocked of. The TWO digit growth is paining all of us in terms of our housing loan or rising oil prices but what can it be to those whom dream of educating one person from the family gets shattered. To me even as I write this I feel like pushed to the wall with my stomach touching my back. And I would still say that this is just a second hand experience.

Thus when people ask me why ‘you people’ have to be against things I would ask is it some thing you are trying to project on me, is it your discomfort with the ugly realities. But I would like to believe that I am a believer, a believer of who thinks that there is a future of co –existence, inclusion, equity, dignity and self respect for all I often find it amusing when people ask those who are aware to these realities not to be against, its well said but I just want to say its not easy. But it can become a reasonable alternative if those who have, decide not to take more those who have shut their eyes on these realities start looking at things.

Yes together I know it’s a beautiful world out there…

Tents for shelter, tents for Fun ...

Tents for shelter , Tents for Fun… being treated second class in your own country

this is so amazing for me to see that Indian government is so concerned about hosting Guest and looking at putting new community into tourism industry point 'G' in a way a person associated with nomads this might be an emotional response but the government has not taken any efforts in recognising these communities, nor do they respect their traditional Nomadic livelihoods and thus creating similar infrastructure for them.

in fall this effort is for the revenue i guess all of us involved in any profession also skilled and unskilled workers contribute in various forms of tax, even the Nomadic communities for their livelihood could have been negotiated with and a consensus on the quantum of revenue could have been mate with it that was the main consideration.

thus at a economic policy level it look strange to me that we are not prepared to provide infrastructure for the skills and professions that exists but we are wanting to introduce infrastructure and build community skills around it again reference point G.

And at the end of the day even after knowing the capacity of the western lifestyle to generate garbage there is all provision on hygiene standards due to revenue consideration, but what about environmental consideration. Not a single point talks about it except saying we sill accept the garbage but mange in environmentally conscious manner.

Well come to the worlds largest democracy.

In reference to the following approval :

INDIA APPROVES GUIDELINES FOR CAMP SITES & TENTED ACCOMMODATION

TRAVEL IMPACT NEWSWIRE -- Edition 56 (2008) - Friday, 18 July 2008

NEW DELHI , July 14, 2008 (Ministry of Tourism and Culture) -- The
country is facing acute shortage of hotel accommodation all over the
country. The mismatch in demand & supply is pushing the hotel tariff
higher. This has led to India out-pricing itself in the fiercely
competitive International Market.

The issue of creating additional and new category accommodation units
has been under the consideration of the Ministry of Tourism. It has been
the endeavour of the Ministry of Tourism to take all steps to augment
the room availability in the country. Setting up of camp sites and
tented accommodation would enhance availability of rooms for the
tourists. Moreover setting up of Camp Sites can be instrumental in
promoting and facilitating Eco, Adventure and Pilgrimage tourism.

The Ministry has approved two sets of Guidelines for Development of Camp
Sites and Guidelines for Approval and Classification of Tented
Accommodation. The Guidelines for Development of Camp Sites are advisory
in nature and designed to encourage the State Governments and Union
Territory Administrations to promote and facilitate the setting up of
camp sites. The classification will ensure quality and standards being
observed by these establishments.

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE GUIDELINES FOR SETTING UP OF CAMP SITES :

A. Categories & Class of Camp Sites : Camp sites can be classified to
following five categories according to their geographical features-
Wildlife, Adventure (Land, Water & Air). Pilgrimage, New Destinations
and Destinations Linked to International Events. The camp sites can be
further classified under 2 categories according to the facilities
available - Deluxe and Standard.

B. Specifications: The camp site would have following specifications:

I. Minimum and maximum no. of units will be 6 and 50 respectively
depending on the location and type of camps.

II. The camps would have semi build structures and rooms, Ecosan
toilets, kitchen and storage.

III. A Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) may be constructed in a manner
which blends with nature and surroundings of the location and region.
The TRC should have appropriate facilities and infrastructure for the
tourists.

C. Safety, Hygiene, Responsible Standards, and Environmentally Friendly:
For camps to be models of eco-excellence, the aspect of hygiene, garbage
disposal, responsible use of plastic, promotion of eco friendly stuff,
use of alternate energy resources, installation of fire fighting
equipments and camp security should be taken care.

D. Support from the Local Administration: Support from the local
administration in respect of water supply, electricity and subsidies on
buying state of the art alternate energy resources such as solar & wind
based equipment could be provided E. Role Of The State Governments:

a) To identify land banks for the above mentioned campsites as per the
categories proposed.

b) To arrange single window clearance for all approvals

c) To facilitate/execute lease of land to private partners/entrepreneurs.

F. Land Requirement For Different Categories For Camps: Land requirement
for the camp site would be in the range of 1200 to 2000 square meters
depending on location and type of camp.

G. Participation of Local Community: All efforts should be made to
encourage participation of the local community in the tourism related
activities of the camp sites. Training and sensitization of the members
of the local communities should be undertaken for capacity building and
for creating awareness about economic benefits of tourism to the local
communities.

H. Carrying Capacity: Carrying capacity must be kept in mind for wild
life/adventure/ new destinations campsites. There should be a minimum
separation of 500 meters between camp sites and no more than two
campsites in an area of one square kilometer.

I. Promotion and Marketing: The State Government would undertake
initiatives and campaigns to promote the camping facilities located in
their states.

SILENT FEATURES OF THE DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR APPROVAL AND CLASSIFICATION
OF TENTED ACCOMMODATION

A) The Category: The classification of Tented Accommodation (Camping
sites) is proposed to be done based on the minimum of 6 tents and the
minimum size of 10x 10ft. with a height of 7 ft. in two categories as under:

(i) Deluxe

(ii) Standard.

B) Standards of facilities & services: On the suggestion of the
stakeholders the service and facilities to be provided in the tented
accommodation have been scaled down as compared to the hotels in view of
its location in far flung and difficult areas. However, basic
requirements like toilet, water, bed-sheets have been retained.

C) Permission/Document s required: Since land is a critical component of
the Camps, the ownership/lease etc. is to be established. The permission
of the District Magistrate/Collector of the District for tented
accommodation would be taken.

D) Safety & Security: The arrangements for the safety & security of the
tourists would be a critical factor in criteria for classification and
approval of the tented accommodation.

E) Participation of local community: Appropriate weight age in the
Guidelines has been provided for promotion of local resources such as
local folk dance and music, local arts and handicrafts and employment of
local youth.