Western Ghats Calling: June 2012

Monday, June 18, 2012

Gadgil's Dilemma

One can only sympathize with Madhav Gadgil who, after leading the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) constituted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests for little over a year, has to lobby to see the panel's report accepted, not only by the ministry which chose to appoint him to lead the panel in the first place but by the respective state governments who are supposed to implement the recommendations in their respective states in the region. The situation could not have been worse given the fact Gadgil is a member of the National Advisory Council as well.

One can only sympathize with Madhav Gadgil who, after leading the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) constituted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests for little over a year, has to lobby to see the panel's report accepted, not only by the ministry which chose to appoint him to lead the panel in the first place but by the respective state governments who are supposed to implement the recommendations in their respective states in the region. The situation could not have been worse given the fact Gadgil is a member of the National Advisory Council as well.

Gadgil's response to Kerala government's decision to appoint a committee to propose alternatives to the recommendations of the WGEEP clearly reflects his predicament. Said he: “Let the people of the State and not a government-appointed panel decide on the fate of the report. Any decision on the report shall be taken through a democratic process and not by the expert panel." Gadgil seems to have contradicted himself in his outburst, missing on the crucial fact the WGEEP has been a government appointed panel only. Can one government appointed panel hold itself sacrosanct over the other?

Despite the fact that the ministry is now seeking public opinion on the panel's report before accepting it, the writing on the wall makes it clear that like numerous other reports this too will find a convenient place on the dust-laden shelves. Without doubt the Save Western Ghats Movement would not like this report to languish because it has been the outcome of one of its major demands that the then environment minister Jairam Ramesh had accepted at Kotagiri in 2010. Gadgil can draw comfort from the fact that his panel, though appointed by the government, was fulfilling a democratic obligation.

Jairam Ramesh had conceived WGEEP as a precursor to Western Ghats Ecological Authority, which was put forth as a demand in the Citizen's Manifesto on Western Ghats, released by SWGM before Lok Sabha elections in 2009. The irony is that neither the self-appointed custodians of SWGM (the core team/group) are taking the panel report to the people nor does it dawn on Gadgil that it is finally peoples' power that will exert desired pressure on the elected governments. In a compliance deficit state, decisions by information commission and green tribunal can only go half the distance!

It is both a challenge and an opportunity for Gadgil to first acknowledge the role of SWGM in what he and his panel has been able to accomplish, and then join hands with the movement to get WGEEP report accepted as a Citizen's Report to Save Western Ghats!

Save Western Ghats Movement (SWGM)

SWGM has an unpleasant history. Hailed by India Today as one of the finest post-independence environmental movement, the mid-1980s march along the pristine 'ghats' had to wither away on account of internal squabbling between the organizers. Between 2006 till 2008, Sudhirendar Sharma got an opportunity to travel across the region to capture the latent energy among diverse actors to reignite the past. Together with Pandurang Hegde, who carried the painful memories of the past, the Save Western Ghats Movement of the 80's was revived at Peaceful Society in Goa in 2009. Peaceful Society (led by Kalanand Mani) had played stellar role in anchoring the SWGM in 1988.

SWGM Conferences

Three important congregations of activists, researchers, scientists, artists, politicians and thinkers have been organised since 2009 under the aegis of Save Western Ghats Movement - an informal platform of civil society actors. While the first, in 2009 in Ponda (Goa) revived the erstwhile movement of the mid-80's, the second in Kotagiri (Tamilnadu) in 2010 was major milestone as it led to the setting-up of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. The third congregation at Moodbidri (Karnataka) in 2011 reiterated civil society commitment to conserve the ghats whatever be the outcome of the panel.

Sussegad

Sussegad, meaning `easygoing’, is often associated with the Goans but it does extend to other areas along the Western Ghats, notably hilly parts of Karnataka. Mellowed down by the warmth of the Sun, the coolness of the rains and the wisdom of the green hills, people in these parts of the Western Ghats are known for their simplicity and hospitality. Accommodating as they are, sussegad lends a distinct cultural identity to these people.

When the world elsewhere is racing against materialistic greed, sussegad provides the much desired calming effect. Gandhi used to say: `there is more to life than speed.’ People in the ghats seem to have imbibed that spirit from time immemorial. Being laid back and stealing siesta time during each afternoon may seem out of place for an average outsider but for people here it is an accepted practice that renders them inherent strength – of being in harmony with self, society and nature. It seems sussegad could be for the good of the entire society. Any takers!

Open House

By definition, activists are an interesting bunch of people with high octane levels. At the heart of activism lies the unflinching desire to bring the world on its feet. Unilaterally focussed, immensely committed and socially driven, activists have struggled to carve out a niche for themselves in the shrinking social space. Yet, they enjoy the patronage of the state and its cronies. Had there not been the state with its dubious designs, the breed called activists would not have existed? Wonder, who then is the real activist?

Do you agree with this notion?

All About Frogs

Pictorial Guide to Frogs and Toads of the Western Ghats has been published to help students, researchers, forest managers, photographers and general public in identifying a species in the field along with its status, ecology and distribution. Simultaneously it also aims at bringing awareness about amphibians among general public. This book covers 73 species of 156 frogs and toads recorded from the Western Ghats as of date. Written by Dr. KV Gururaja, the book is available through: http://shop.gubbilabs.in.