Manali (Himachal Heli-Ski), India

tsering from GERMANY writes:

I am a native of Manali and lived there all my life. I love my place and I'm very touchy about the environmental issue, but I'm also practical man. Although in principal I don't like this heli-skiing business for various reasons, but when it comes to it helping the economy of the local people I have don't mind it. But the problem with this is that, the place belongs to us local people and but all the benefits are taken by the outsiders, e.g the business run by an Australian, the hotel they hire is owned by some one from Delhi, the pilots are European and the customers are all Europeans. So how does it help the local people, may be doing some mean job like driving, helping as porters, all of which is very poorly paid, maybe Euro 50 per month to keep it on higher side. I forgot another thing, the owner of the agency to keep his selfish interest going has been making false promise to so many young skiers from the valley, that he would employ them. Yes! he has employed couple of them and one of the guys happens to be very good friend of mine. But the truth of the matter is that what the owner does is uses these guys, he hires them at 5 Euros a day, and gets them to do the most dangerous job of leading the pack while skiing down the dangerous terrain. Worst thing is that he does not even insure them, and these guys are not hired full whole year but part time. Imagine if the owner has to hire some one from Europe he would have to shell may be thousand of times more only for his insurance leave the service. I think its disgusting, I suggest all you heli- skiing lovers please come to my place and enjoy but at least give what is due to these guys who put their life for your entertainment. I would also like to mention that couple of years back the owner of the firm promised these guides that he would sponsor their learning of higher skills in Europe but it has never happened. Rest I leave all for your judgment.

Tsering

2008-08-08