Western Ghats Calling: Whose playground is Western Ghats?

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Whose playground is Western Ghats?

Democracy is a numbers game connecting people with legislators and parliamentarians. While people play this game once in every five years, for the intervening period the dice remains loaded in favor of the elected representatives. In peoples' faith they hold the dice but quite often end-up playing to serve vested interests. Else, legislators in Karnataka and Kerala assembly would not have been up in arms that 'development projects' will be halted in the Western Ghats by UNESCO heritage tag and the controversial WGEEP report respectively. Branding anything 'anti-development' is the dominant political discourse of our times.

Could legislators have taken a different stance had peoples' voices been echoing in their ears? It is anybody's guess but it would surely have made a difference because at the end of the day it is the 'constituency' that matters for the legislators. With this in mind, the idea of a Member of Parliament Forum on Western Ghats was mooted by SWGM in 2009 and first attempts to set up such Forum were also made. However, it was in 2010 that then Environment Minister had announced the setting up such Forum under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Ever since the WGEEP had a session with the Forum nothing much has been heard.

The reason for elected representatives to be short-sighted and small-minded has much to do with a lack of accountability towards the people they represent. It is more by design than default that peoples' real concerns rarely echo in the corridors of power. Given the way our society thinks and works, the task of sustained connection with legislators has often to be through petitions, protests and panels. Since much of this has limited impact, civic campaigns and peoples' movements remain the next best option. But literature is replete with evidences that campaigns/movements neither make legislators see 'logic' in (orchestrated) public voice and nor do governments capture 'reason' emanating from science (WGEEP) being presented to them.

Without doubt, judicial activism does provide temporary reprieve in such situations. However, in an era marked with 'consistency deficit', 'governance deficit' and 'compliance deficit, court orders and judgements run the risk of poor compliance. In a democratic set-up, undermining peoples' power could indeed be suicidal. Couple of us who worked with an MP to get the National Green Tribunal bill passed in the Parliament with desired amendments can indeed vouch for the change that can be brought by engaging with the elected representatives. It is high time MP Forum on Western Ghats and/or State Legislators Fora on Western Ghats are revived to get some sense into the politics that is obsessed with 'economic assessment' of Western Ghats. After all, Western Ghats could not be allowed to be the playground for the politicians alone!

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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.