Hi everyone,
I know everyone is eager to hear about my “village” experience. While I returned back home quite some time ago, I did not put pen to paper, or fingers to key pad and mouse (that is much more true).
Let me just say, I have such mixed feelings about the entire experience (trying to keep it light, even the “bad” parts.
The bad:
Wife beatings are ingrained in the society. You work in the field, you come back in the afternoon, you eat a meal, you snore and then you beat your wife. You do so on your return at sunset as well. In fact, if you don’t your wife feels neglected.
There is just one well, with potable water. The bore-wells for some strange reason, spout saline water. What do you do? Have different timings for the upper caste and the lower caste. Muslims also have a caste system, not prescribed by their religion, but based on occupation. Fortunately, the caste system has still not spilled over to schools or perhaps is curbed, more of that later.
Borrow money, splurge it. My daughters’ wedding has to be more lavish (if it is my son’s wedding, I will ensure that it is the most lavish. So what if the father in law has to be a slave the rest of his life to the money lender).
Lend money, make arithmetical errors, get back much much more (motto of the local money lender)
It is getting better:
Girls are being educated. Why not. They get Rs. 10 per day for attending school (fortunately this is credited to the girl’s bank account and can be withdrawn only on her attaining maturity – the latter part is still confusing, people gave varying answers).
Mid day meals have worked wonders. Children did not really suffer from malnutrition
Anti polio shots were readily given to children. Proper time tables were followed. Medical camps were attended (yes, they had to keep to different timings for different castes)
All I can say is do team up with your local NGO. Begin by doing work in your immediate surrounding. Later, much later, you could be ready for village work. All it takes is a willing group, which is willing to donate time and money (the team should comprise of a couple of doctors, that is the best mix).
This project is now at an end. Hence, I will not be going back here. Mine was a private project.
Oh, the highlight of my trip was dung beetles. Sorry folks, no photographs, did not take my camera along.
Some urls to get you started:
