Documentation

The legislation is modelled on the private members’ Transgender bill moved by Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva and passed by the Upper House on April 24, 2015. This was the first time in 45 years that a private members’ Bill had been passed by the House, forcing the government to assure the House that it would bring it’s own law in Lok Sabha after “correcting infirmities” in Siva’s Bill. The Social Justices Empowerment ministry had several rounds of consultations and has finally moved a Cabinet note. Many provisions of Transgender Bill have been accommodated in the government legislation except for provision for exclusive transgender rights courts, reservation in primary, secondary and higher educational institutions, incentives to employers in private sector, special employment exchanges and national and state commissions for transgender persons.We have made some comments and suggestions from the tourism perspective to the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015. We request to take these into consideration fill finalising the Bill.

This publication called the 'Working Paper Series 2012-15' is a compilation of our Papers and Campaigns for the year 2012-15

The close linkage of tourism and souvenir products creates great potential of the tourism sector in marketing and publicity of handicrafts. However, it also raises pertinent questions about nature of promotion of handicrafts in tourism and its implications on artisans and the art itself. The artisan needs to be seen and valued as an artist by giving the craft products their rightful place in its cultural context and ensuring real cultural exchange through tourism.

We believe that participation of local communities in tourism is a matter of right rather than an act of benevolence on the part of the industry. This paper offers the political framework within which we seek community involvement in tourism and propose different levels of community engagement along a progressive spectrum, which is inspired by the understanding of people's participation.

One of the major trends in tourism is the continuous reiteration of tourism as a vehicle for women empowerment, mainly through employment generation. However, there is ignorance about the gender-blind framework embedded in the employment opportunities offered by tourism. In this context, the paper highlights an overwhelming influence of patriarchy on tourism. Further, the paper raises questions on if tourism offers a space for women to choose the employment opportunities or force them to opt as a survival strategy? Core to the issues is not only ensuring better working condition in the sector but the need to examine the claim made by the tourism industry as one of the major employer of women within the right-based framework.

Ecotourism as a model of tourism in forest areas has been growing for the past 8-10 years. It is being seen as a driver for conservation and development of local communities. While the definition of ecotourism clarifies its role in conservation, conservation education and local area development, the experience of tourism tells a different story. This briefing sheet discusses 4 important myths surrounding ecotourism.

Ecotourism as a model of tourism in forest areas has been growing for the past 8-10 years. It is being seen as a driver for conservation and development of local communities. While the definition of ecotourism clarifies its role in conservation, conservation education and local area development, the experience of tourism tells a different story. The briefing sheet highlights the issues and concerns about ecotourism from the perspective of local communities in and around forest areas.

The briefing sheet focuses on the different dimensions of Corporate Accountability in Tourism with the aim to demonstrate the nuances involved in understanding the issue beyond the limited definitions of corporate social responsibility that corporations like to circumscribe themselves in. It also highlights the role of the different stakeholders in ensuring that corporations are held accountable for their actions.

This dossier is located within the context of increasing global discontent and community protest against interventions of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in the developing world. It specifically presents a questioning and critique of their operations in tourism. As the nature and impacts of tourism cross boundaries and affects entire regions, we present an analysis of the issue based on experiences from the Asian region and in specific areas of focus of IFI activities. The dossier has important contributions from activists who have been writing and campaigning on these issues, in addition to EQUATIONS’ own work on monitoring and researching IFI activities in tourism

This dossier is located within the context of increasing global discontent and community protest against interventions of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in the developing world. It specifically presents a questioning and critique of their operations in tourism. As the nature and impacts of tourism cross boundaries and affects entire regions, we present an analysis of the issue based on experiences from the Asian region and in specific areas of focus of IFI activities. The dossier has important contributions from activists who have been writing and campaigning on these issues, in addition to EQUATIONS’ own work on monitoring and researching IFI activities in tourism. It also includes the depositions on the tourism sector which was part of the Independent People’s Tribunal on the World Bank Group held from the 21st – 24th of September, 2007 in New Delhi. This dossier aims to reach out to movements, grass-roots groups, civil society organisations, researchers and policy makers drawing attention to the implications of increasing IFI activities in tourism in the region. We call for more research, campaign and advocacy on these critical issues.

On July 24th, 2012, the Supreme Court passed an interim order in the case of Ajay Dubey vs. National Tiger Conservation Authority & Ors. (SLA (Civil) No (s). 21339/2011 disallowing tourism in core areas of Tiger Reserves and a direction that all states notify the core and buffer areas of tiger reserves within 3 weeks. This interim order has generated a lot of debate in the country in which conservationists, tourism industry and forest rights activists have vociferously participated. EQUATIONS Commentary on the interim order seeks to debate these from the point of view of communities in and around protected areas.

With reference to the case study on Chilika the paper is about studying the trends in tourism development in Odisha – what was it earlier – what have been the shifts since declaration of it as an ‘industry’. Understanding tourism policy / any legislation that maybe in place brought in to boost expansion of tourism in the state. Has the state come up with any Ecotourism Policy? Has there been push towards opening up of more and more ecosystems for ecotourism. Change in any other laws that may favour tourism – for e.g. land. Study the impacts of tourism project in Chilika - ecotourism development in an eco-fragile area, impact on environment, on the life of the communities, their rights, establishment of tourism mechanism such as Chilika Development uthority (CDA) to boost ecotourism.

This paper highlights issues with promoting ecotourism as a market based conservation tool. It is based on 2 earlier papers that EQUATIONS has been involved in: Forests, Communities and Tourism (EQUATIONS, October 2011) and Green India Mission: India’s REDD+ Action Plan to disempower and evict forest communities from their own homelands (AIFFM and EQUATIONS, October 2011)).
This paper was published in the publication: 'Beyond Greening: Reflections on Tourism in the Rio-Processby EED in June 2012.

This paper is an abridged version of EQUATIONS' paper titled 'IFIs, Tourism and Accountability: Emerging Trends'. It highlights the current trends on IFI investment in the development of tourism infrastructure.
This paper was published in the publication: 'Beyond Greening: Reflections on Tourism in the Rio-Process by EED in June 2012.

This study explores the issues of women street vendors at 4 tourism sites - Bodhgaya (Bihar), Bhubaneswar, Puri (Odisha) and Goa in context of tourism. It documents the issues of street vending like realities and challenges faced by women street vendors, perspectives of stakeholders and the policy and regulations. It highlights the gaps in National Urban Street Vendor Policy 2004 & 2009 and the Model Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill 2009. A consultation on Street Vendors & Tourism: Right to Livelihood and Space was organised to share experiences from the field and bring tourism into ongoing debates. The report of the consultation is also included in this publication.

This publication called the 'Working Paper Series 2011-12' is a compilation of our Papers and Campaigns for the year 2011-12

The paper is about the linkages between the Tourism and Water Rights, Today water is one of the most central resource consumed by the tourism industry. Consumption of water will be predominantly felt by those communities who are dependant on natural resources for their livelihoods. These communities, over the years have evolved efficient natural resource management mechanisms. However, the needs and the access of these communities to the natural resources are being sidelined when developmental projects come up which most often undermine the sustainable management practises.The ideal “holiday experience” with its luxury services places a high demand for water.

Tourism is a highly resource centric and resource heavy industry that banks on the availability of land, water and natural resources for providing the tourist experience. Unregulated tourism and diversion of natural resources for meeting tourism demands has caused negative impacts on the environment. Inevitably, local communities that are dependent for their livelihoods on commonly shared natural resources also experience hardships from depletion of the commons.

In July 2011, the district administration authorities of Hampi, one of the most important tourist destinations in India, demolished more than 200 shops located in the historic Hampi Bazaar, and justified the act by claiming the shops were illegal encroachments. Some of the shops had homes attached to them, and this inhuman demolition forced hundreds of people on to the streets, with no access to basic facilities such as housing, sanitation, medical facilities and clean water. EQUATIONS conducted a fact-finding on the demolition and subsequent eviction.

The case study ‘ People versus Corporations’ by the organisations Him Niti Abhiyan, Jan Jagran Evam Vikas Samiti (JJVM) and EQUATIONS is on a peoples campaign against a tourism project. ABF International came to India in 2005 to invest $300 million in a Ski Village to be built in Himachal Pradesh. The proposed project would have granted irrevocable rights to use water, power and land by the company and had been approved without due public consultation. Several local NGOs along with EQUATIONS conducted a fact finding mission in 2008 which documented serious flaws and risks of the project. Due to this report that revealed the discontent of local communities towards the project and the lack of an environmental impact assessment the Government of Himachal Pradesh decided to cancel the project.
The case study has been published in 'A Manual on Corporate Accountability in India' by Cividep, India

This paper gives a broad overview of the laws and policies of land acquisition in India, concentrating on the practices of 5 states of India (Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka), and looking more particularly at the practices of land banking, and land acquisitions for tourism related projects.

This is a background note, which outlines the broad issues and challenges in the Culture and Tourism. The note also indicates at possible strategies to address these issues and challenges.

This is a background note, which outlines the broad issues and challenges in Ecotourism. The impacts of ecotourism on communities and conservation is highlighted. The note also indicates at possible strategies to address these issues and challenges.