When returning from the place, we had a discussion about our experiences and opinion.
*Opinion:* 1. Most of them (except Giri Kolanupaka) thought that there would only be 250 families (but the reality was Kattela Veedhi itself has 250 families). 2. People are not interested enough to clean their surroundings and their homes as well so as to gain sympathy and get more provisions and items from donors. 3. They have no clue on how they can stand on their own feet and get on in life. *Ideas/Suggestions:* 1. The top most priority should be given to cleaning the place as early as possible. Already two chicken gunya cases were noticed. 2. To motivate and make the people work, it is better to give them money to clean their surroundings and houses. This way it would be like providing them work and also cleaning the premises. Also to find out if govt. can provide them work under NREGS. 3. Vaccinate pigs or anything of that sort so that there would not be any health hazards either to pigs or to humans. Bluecross to be consulted. 4. People are not doing any work or concentrating on cleaning because they are not sure who will come when and distribute items. It is better to request govt./local authorities to clearly fix certain timings for distribution so that people can concentrate on their work. 5. Offer help to all the families that are identified as modest enough and not greedy. a. Specially one physically challenged girl used to stitch clothes and feed her family which is entirely dependant on her. She lost the machine and the material. Everyone in that street requested us to help her. One sewing machine, stitching material and a tricycle would be of great help to her. b. A person works on contract in govt. office to do computer work. He requested for a computer so that he can set up his own shop and do the job work so that he can easily earn Rs. 3000 to Rs. 3500 a month. He knows DTP and MS-Office. c. A tailor family (elder and younger brother both are tailors) needs two stitching machines and one overlap machine. d. A person who requested us to provide initial investment of Rs. 6000 to buy spices so that he can start his business and earn for his family e. A cart and initial investment for snacks vendor would help his family. f. There is a family where mother and father does not do anything and three girls are there. All of them work as agriculture labourers. The youngest is very interested to study. Her eyes literally glowed and there was a hope in her face when we asked her if she is interested to pursue her studies if we help. But all the neighbours came and mentioned that their parents are useless and these girls need not require any studies but they are to be married off and any help in that regard would be of great support and relief. Literally the helplessness and unexpressed anger on the face of the youngest and the younger one is so heartrending. I asked the youngest girl if she is interested to stay in a hostel and pursue studies but she insisted on staying with parents. We need to help her at any cost. g. Most of the children who are studying there want to become Urdu teachers. h. One woman who is preparing for DSC lost all her books and guides. i. Three to four families did not get Rs. 8000 relief amount from the govt. as they couldn't show their ration cards. What an irony. They are the real losers because they couldn't even retrieve their cards. They literally lost everything. But still they didn't receive money from the govt. Again everyone in the street confessed that those families didn't receive any help from the govt. I spoke with Sri Anjaneya Sarma (Social Welfare officer and Relief Incharge for Mehboob Nagar Dt.) on Monday itself. This time he sounded different though he says that he will help. Bottomline of his conversation is that: - No need to dwell deep into administrative aspects of the problems. - Govt. and the respective departments will do their work. - People are too greedy and they never acknowledge the help they receive and they always crave for more and more help. - As a social welfare officer, he assured the Chakali folks (washerman) an amount of 10,000 rs. for each family but they are demanding donkeys also. He exclaims that from where can he bring the donkeys!! - If we are so keen to help decide on one or two items that they requested say stoves or clothes or mats etc., and distribute to the identified families based on our budget. Whatever help he can do from his end he is ready to do and if possible, he will also accompany us. - Even for stoves he wondered from where can they get kerosene. - About sewing machines he denied saying that how can they manage their business if all of them are tailors!! It is only to stitch and repair their clothes they are asking us sewing machines and not all of them are tailors by profession. - Even for school he didn't accept that there is the requirement of benches though I mentioned that we have seen that the benches are not in good condition. - He suggested that if we are so serious to work for the village or for the people we should stay for few days and sort things out. When I mentioned that we did have that thought also in mind and are considering staying in Montessory school, he said that there is a govt. guest house (not sure if it is social welfare department's or collectorate related) and he can give that for two to three days. - Coming to NREGS scheme, he said that there are stipulated guidelines and it is very difficult to measure the work (cleaning the slush and all) and give money. Cleaning the streets and repairing the homes do not satisfy the rules and guidelines of the scheme. Regarding water filter, Collector didn't show any interest it seems and he placed that in the social welfare office and asked the employees to start using it and give their feedback. He is saying that the size is too small to consider giving an order for all the residential hostels under his control. This is all from my end. I feel that we can distribute family kits to all those families (stove, mat, clothes, mosquito net) and provide material support to the selected families. Coming to taking leave and spending time in villages, there is no chance for me now. I cannot think of leave till this year end as I got some important work with a strict deadline at office. I am open to visiting villages during alternate weekends. (Though the universe conspires in fulfilling our wishes, god is above and beyond anything. Somehow HE always disposes our proposals :( We cannot question HIM for HE doesn't do anything without a reason. Only thing is we can never understand that reason for our life time!!)
