Well things have finally settled down to an every day rush. There are no sudden rushes just a single one.
Yesterday we dropped in at a school for 375 students from 8 villages. It was a warm day so there were 6 classes
outside under the trees. Inside, the noise level was high due to lack of partitions between classes.
Something like our open-concept schools. Students were distracted by the other classes. The principal asked
for Isaac’s help in building walls between the classes. The cost would be about $120 each to build.
The Government gives 15000 Rupees per year for “upkeep” only. Nothing is provided for books, uniforms, material,
transportation,
etc. DKSHA has been helping in whatever way it can.
Next we went
to a place that was set up by a lady from
an organization established for the "Empowerment of the downtrodden through Education and Economic Development".
This is much the same as Isaac's project DKSHA except that it is funded by Belgians.
We sat with the president Dr. N. Markandan for some time having refreshments and discussing the facility.
Dr. N. Markandan
It was established by Mother Lea Provo in 1968 in a newly created village called Sevapur. The land in the Kadavur Block
of Karur District of Tamil Nadu ( Link to Karur District) (I am not that knowledgeable, I am just quoting the brochure). The location is beautiful. It is situated in a
gorgeous fertile valley surrounded by hills.
The purpose is to invite the 20 Panchayats (counties) to get on board with the project. This is a Self Help operation
and the Psnchayat presidents and the Wards must buy in to the program. To date there are 16 self help groups for women.
Efforts are started to organize the groups for men.
Milk societies, mat weaving and towel weaving units are being run by a few groups to date. Other groups are running smaller
operations. Meetings are held once every 15 days to give Knowledge classes as well as social and political awareness classes.
All in all it is an ideal operation, one to which DKSHA is similar in scope and dedication. The day was getting on so we bade
fair well and took off to see a hanging bridge.
Every road seems to be rough. It appears to be a common problem for main roads as well as back roads. We wound
along the road until we came to the bridge. After crossing it we got out and looked down, way down. The bridge crosses
a main train line. The route was created by excavating the land to the bottom, about 20 metres down and piling the material on
top of the man made ravine.
This raises a problem, what to do with the rain water that comes off the hills. The answer – divert the rainwater across
the ravine in a tunnel inside the bridge. So, in effect we have a stream running through a bridge over a railway line. Rather ingenious.
Off we went
to the
Annasamuthiram
The people have much to same problems. Schools are available but the children have to walk for 3 km.
DKSHA has set up a school in the village for local needs. It also assists the village women self help group as
well as providing some essentials. I had John take a photo with those present (the whole village) and sat
back as the children swarmed to catch a glimpse of the image. They
were very friendly.
We left there and went on to Kesanur, another small Dalit village. The children in this and the previous village are
supported by
generous donations from a gentleman in
as lighting and water they are very needy. I sat there while Isaac talked with the people. I was the centre of attention
by all the children. What wonderful individuals they are. After the standard photo and expected scramble we bid adieu
and set out on the trip home. However, not all goes as planned.
The nature
of roads in
This is especially true of livestock. Now, normally the livestock must be monitored and controlled. As we were rolling
down a particularly narrow, bumpy, and winding road we encountered a group of black goats. John honked the horn and
all but one went to the side. John came to a halt and then proceeded very slowly. This should encourage the goat to get
up and move off. We felt a bump. We had run over it. It was dead. Now, there is a lot of thought that the goat was dead
before we got there but who is to say. I asked the value of the goat and John said about 500 rupees. Isaac said that the
people would get in touch so we continued on.
We got home and Isabella was waiting to go so I headed to bed for a nap. When I woke up Isaac informed me that a
group of 10 villagers including the goat owner had just left. They were demanding payment of 1500 rupees. Because they
were going to sell the remains they settled for 1100 rupees. Such is the economy.
Now wasn’t that a day. Bet you can’t top that one.