We set off early on the morning heading back to the Tsunami area.
This time we were heading for Cuddalore, north of where we were before. Isaac has a number
of villages in which DKSHA is helping. It was a “working man’s tour” of the area.
The last time I was on a similarly named tour, we descended 200 feet via ladders in a 2 foot diameter
blacked out hole in a mine. I couldn’t walk for a week.
It is a long way to Cuddalore (could be a song’s name). We travelled, you guessed it,
over rather rough roads. What with pedestrians, goats, pot holes and incessant traffic the going is slow.
It was a tedious run. We stopped briefly for lunch and headed onward.
We first stopped at a gypsy village named Venkatakuppam. It has about 100 families with a
population of about 1000. The main occupation is begging. When the number of students dropped to 30
the government threatened to close down the school a teacher arrived and turned the school around.
It now has over 75 students. The government pays the teacher a small wage. Because of the number of students
is high, the teacher uses some of his wages to pay for a second teacher.
The teacher said that much is needed to help these children. He often has to go to the homes to get the
children to come to school. The local Rotary supplies some of their needs.
We toured the village. Few people welcomed us. They looked on us as intruders.
The homes need a lot of work. They are often run down in appearance.
The people I met in this village were wonderful. They all came out to greet us and make us welcome.
They seated us in the street where all could come and stand around and look. They were poor but they seemed happy.
There are 300 residents in all made up of 43 families including 40 children. The children must walk 4km
to school. They require local education facilities. There is no bus service. Most men and women are field workers.
Isaac’s organization supports 4 orphans.
They gathered around us and presented scarves to each. It was a very touching gesture.
They have so little and yet are thinking about others. I was very grateful. I wanted to say something
but felt certain I would not be able to finish it.
The rather annoying thing is that they are Christians. They share the village with non-Christians.
The government has built houses only for the non-Christians. On the other hand they had to build their
own mud huts. The government is violating their own Scheduled Caste rules.
Off to, hold onto your tongues, Pethanayakkankuppam. I warned you.
This village of 100 people is fairly stable. Some houses have been built with loans from the
local church. The remaining mud ones are built by the residents themselves. There is a youth centre with
60 members from 9 different villages. They use the centre as a children education area and for study as well.
Tutorial classes are provided at 10 Rupees (30 cents) per month but some can’t afford it so can’t go.
There is no high school in the village but there is a primary school. Only 4 teachers teach the 250 primary students.
How does one remember all of the student’s names? The high school students use the bus or bike to school.
We stopped briefly at a 7th Day Adventist school where 2 tsunami orphaned boys are supported.
There are actually 5 orphans there, the remaining 3 are not supported. It costs 400 Rupees ($13) per
month per boy for support.
The school facilities are nice but there is little outside support because it is Christian. A local charity group
was approached but refused to assist. They are all Hindus.
Checked into our hotel. The elevators were not working because there were none. Our rooms were on the 4th floor.
John carried my luggage up to the room for me. We got settled. I thought that I was sharing the room with
John but Isaac informed me that they had a large room and so John would stay with them. He wouldn’t be dissuaded.
We met later in the lobby and waited for another person. Then we headed out to dinner. The meal was
held at a home where we met Brother Abel Daniel. We had a lovely supper. Isaac and I were presented
with a scarf, and pictures were taken. We were cautioned earlier that this was a Dalit family and that we should
not take part in the meal. It goes on, doesn’t it!
Back to the hotel and a little rest.
.