SAVE LAHAUL SPITI MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MEETING DATE: 28.03.2017

[savelahulspiti]

SAVE LAHAUL SPITI

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MEETING

DATE:  28.03.2017

VENUE: NATURE PARK MOHAL

AGENDAS DISCUSSED

Future tourism potentials and deliberations on visions for sustainable tourism growth 

To achieve the goals of implementing a holistic sustainable tourism model on ground, SLS will work in  collaboration with Mahila Mandal/ Gram Sabhas and local youth organisations. The members agreed on this collaboration being the most effective channel to ensure efficiency of any tourism and sustainable development visions.

The need to distinguish between a traveler and a typical tourist was the opinion of young EC members. Need to rethink the idea of tourism in Lahaul by promoting tourism infrastructure that respects local ecology and natural resources. To promote and incentivize revival of local architecture over concrete buildings. To promote a tourism model that offers immersive local experience- of lifestyle, traditional food, and this is to be promoted under the broader concept of agri- tourism / village tourism, in which the guests should be made to experience local lifestyle, culture  and participate in the daily activities of the host families. For example incorporating helping host families with farm work, to know where the food they are eating comes from. This would also somehow directly or indirectly reduce solid waste generated as reliance on packaged food will reduce significantly.  It would be unwise and environmentally damaging to invest on building tourism infrastructures aimed at high end luxury in turn causing a lot of environmental stress, be in terms of energy consumption or transporting raw materials from far flung areas. Revive traditional mud houses and families that already have big houses can use the existing construction for tourism purposes.

To lobby from both ends- from panchayats, mahila mandals, youth organisations to Administration. SLS to take an urgent note on the Master Plan prepared by the administration which is pending as of now. To inquire the current status of it.  To ensure that local representatives part of the master plan committee at the local level share the same vision and understanding of tourism potentials in Lahaul . 

Young members raised the issue of bureaucratic  functioning of HP Tourism.  Red Tapism. The whole issue of linking home stays with Town and Country Planning Act was discussed.  A consensus that came out was to have TCP but keeping in mind the local geographical factors like seismicity, glaciers, avalanches etc. There is a need to work out on a separate gateway, through DC Keylong or Kullu with suggestion to adapt norms as per geographical specifities  of Lahaul as the DC is head of the TCP of each district. For this, we will have to give a draft to DC which he can recommend through the Directorate TCP and make changes in the rules. 

Put forward the demand with Deputy Commissioner for forming a District Tourism Development Council. Lahaul Hoteliers Association is already in place. A brief report of SLS tourism vision to be submitted to DC in this direction. 

A possible meeting with the DC in Kullu around mid may on Tourism related ideas. To involve different groups working on different issues in Lahaul. 

Organising Medical/ Health Awareness camps 

This would be the first on ground activity of SLS this year once the Rohtang opens. 

The main debate under this issue was if the medical officers at different levels from Lahaul are willing to unite in addressing  problems of health or contribute in any ways in creating awareness on different medical issues on ground. 

For organising medical camps, it was decided, the Health team formed during the meeting, will contact medical doctors who are or have worked in Lahaul to help identify the most common health problems/ diseases, and accordingly the specialists for those specific health issues will be contacted. Gynecological issues to be given preference. Health team has already spoken to three mahila mandals in Pattan valley and they are willing to collaborate.

The purpose of medical awareness camps is also to address important issues of why diseases are being detected in last stages, address issue of wrong diagnosis, and related questions of food habits and lifestyle.   

At ground level, mobilisations/awareness about the camps with help of Mahila Mandals/youth organisations. 

Forest Rights Act

Rigzin Hayrepa and Prem Katoch briefed the EC members about the issue.

Better to focus on FRC than nautod. That is a strong point. Rigzin Hayrepa filed an RTI demanding information on how many applications were received for nautod in tribal areas in HP under FRA between 17.07.14 to 17.07.16. There is a confusion if some older members of the family have filed applications or not and current generation is not aware about it. 

RTI response- 17.7.14- 17-7.2016,  only 608 applications received. This is data only of Keylong upmandal.

Kept hanging us for two years citing income criteria as 2000 which in actuality is exempted for ST areas. Mainly done as a strategy by the administration to confuse people. 

Prem Katoch: Nautod and FRA being mingled strategically. These are two separate issues. Need to focus our energies more on FRA.

 Nautod notification was never called off in tribal areas. We were not eligible for it only as part of FCA.  As per, FCA 1980,  all forest land, HP government has no right on that land, it belongs to GOI. It cannot be transferred for non forestation purposes. This is the reason why we never got nautod. Under article 244, Governor is the custodian of Schedule V areas, he/she has right to decide which enforced laws can be lifted. Taking that power, that provision was lifted for two years given that government was encountering hurdles for development works in India.

We never paid heed to what the criterias were, who was eligible etc, we would have got to know it is not for us but now it is clear there is no criteria for SC, ST, nor income criteria or 10bighas provision. Now that it has been lifted, we should apply for nautod, but of course those above 20 bighas not eligible. Those with  less than 20 bighas are poor people. Govt issued another notification to the DC on why are they are not taking fresh applications. why are they not taking? Law says it, that people upto 4 hectares is a constitutional right and no cannot be evicted till due procedures are over. 

People should apply for nautod. Need to meet the CM urgently given Dhumal's response to FRA in the past. We might even have to go to supreme court, cannot expect much relief from high court. 

Rigzin Hayrepa briefed about the 6th march meeting of DLCC. Two applications  were received.. We were hopeful if they get passed, a good base will be established.  DC rejected the application on the basis of 2002 regularisation as the individual applicants name were listed as encroachers of government land. There is confusion on understanding what encroachment is as any kabza before 13 december 2005 cannot be considered encroachment but as in occupation. 

PLAN OF ACTION AHEAD:

April 1st week: SLS will be meeting the Governor along with Him Lok Jagriti Manch, a group actively working on Forest Rights in Kinnaur on FRA/FRC/Nautod/ Public Settlement. 

Mid May: A meeting with the DC in Kullu. SLS members will submit a resolution to the DC on sustainable tourism visions of SLS  and lobby again on FRA.

Medical camps and Career counseling: To be organised at different locations once the Rohtang opens.  Ground coordination to be done by the Health team.

EC decided to focus only on the above specific issues at this point. However, different teams of volunteers was formed under different issues. It was decided those from the FFGP group interested in volunteering for specific issues of interest to them should place a request to be added in those specific groups, as now separate whatsapp group for specific issues under the different categories mentioned below will be created to ensure effective brainstorming and real progress on ground. 

Membership fee per annum: Rs 600

The following volunteer teams were formed:

HEALTH TEAM:

Sonam 

Sunita Katoch

Tsering Barchipa

Kunga 

FRA/FRC/PESA/NAUTOD

Rigzin Hayrepa

Prem Katoch

Padma Thinley

Kesang

TOURISM/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Vikram Katoch

Sonam Chhering

Sunita Katoch

Rigzin Hayrepa

Prem Thakur

Padma Thinley

Kunga Bodh Anuji

Kesang

CAREER COUNSELING/EDUCATION

Dekied Palmo

Kunga Bodh Anuji

Sunita Katoch

Ursem Lata 

SOLID WASTE/CLEANILNESS

Sonam Chhering

Kesang 

TRIBAL RIGHTS

Rigzin Hayrepa

Kesang

Victor Dissa

Sudershan Thakur

WOMEN RIGHTS

Sunita Katoch

Dekied Palmo

Ursem Lata

Kesang 

MEMBERS PRESENT FOR THE MEETING

Prem Thakur

Prem Katoch

Padma Thinley

Tsering Barchipa

Tashi Chharing

Vikram Katoch

Sonam Chhering

Rigzin Hayrepa

Sunita Katoch

Kesang