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How this holiday benefits local people and the environment:
Our company was set up to help raise funds for Nila Foundation to
revive and regenerate a dying river in Central Kerala. 20% of the
profit from our business is annually kept apart for the foundation.
Once practiced in several places in Kerala and especially on the banks
of River Nila, featured art forms and rituals are no longer
financially viable for people who practice it as there are less and
less people who are showing interest in these rituals (change in life
style and attitude). This has affected the way of life of these
ritualistic performers and they have been looking for other jobs based
on daily wages. The Responsible tourism initiative has helped some of
our community members to continue their lifestyle and earn from what
they know for many generations; instead of having to look for a
lifestyle they arent comfortable with.
Due to many social restrictions, they have no access to
perform in temples and courtyards which are otherwise restricted only
to musicians of upper caste Hindus. These members from the poor
families make a living out of traditional launderettes and daily-wage
jobs which are very seasonal. Now the program has shown them an
alternative source of income and more than everything, sense of pride
and social recognition.
The boats we travel were traditionally used for transporting
fine sand and coconut husks to different locations. (In River Nila,
most of the boats are used for illegal sand mining). A slump in the
local economy and falling market prices along with the ban in sand
mining has hit the boat owners and workers. We believe that by hiring
these boats from them instead of owning our own boats, for ferrying
tourists, we could give them an alternative source of income. This in
turn gives them a dignified job and decent income to live with.
Part of this holiday supports those people who live on the fringes
of the forest as trackers, guides and interpreters. Due to several
"social re-engineering" and political decisions, many of the tribal
people have been forced to leave the forest and are no longer
associated with its day to day activities. This particular trip
focuses on their role as care takers of forest, its resources and
wildlife and by doing so also assures them a decent livelihood with
dignity. Sustainable income through responsible tourism ensures
increasing interest amongst local community members, which in turn
supports conservation of wildlife and forest resources.
The Kodeeri Natural Camp is a pioneering partner of Nila
Foundation and The Blue Yonder that brought in our traditional life
style back into our communities. The centre provides jobs to local
women and is now setting up a Self Help Groups for women to engage in
organic farming and provide market assistance for the same.
Lullaby at
Varkala is a pioneering project that uses tourism as a tool for
greater social awareness amongst local people as well as travelers. By
facilitating interaction between tourists and locals and by
channelling the wealth of tourism for the uplifting of children, women
and economically weaker sections of society, Lullaby seeks to create a
symbiotic relationship between tourism and the populace.
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