Nytt från Bhikhu.
En fortsättning på Bhikhus stora redogörelse.MARCHING AHEAD

Nyhetsbrev 1 - oktober 2000

Översättning i sammandrag. (BC) Originaltext längre ner.

1. Nytt program - byskolor
Två representanter för en nationell organisation CRY [Child Relief and You] kommer på besök till Dharampur slutet av oktober.
Vi startar 20 förskoleklasser i byskolor (Hamlet Schools) på avlägsna platser med stöd av CRY. Ett kommunalt möte kommer då att hållas i en av de berörda byarna för att kräva utbildning för deras barn och välkomna nya skolor

2. Markutveckling.
 Vid samma tidpunkt startas också säsongens jordräddningspogram. (Soil Bunding - metoder att binda jorden mot erosion, främst med stenvallar.) Det har tidigare utarbetats av arbetare och lärare efter omfattande fältstudier.
Omfattning:

Ca 18 byar med ca 993 familjer
"Bunding"-arbete: ca 2 millioner kubikfot = ca 57 000 kubikmeter
 Vete: ca 199 ton, kostnad ca 1.8 millioner rupies
Areal: ca 800 hektar

När detta har klarats, vilket vi har gott hopp om, kommer resultatet att bli samma som för de senaste sex åren.
Allt genomförs som tidigare enligt modellen "Mat för arbete". 70% av lönen i vete, resten i kontanter.
Vid monsunperioden kommer de också att få träd att planteras som förstärkning av vallarna.

Förutom att minska arbetslöshet kommer detta på lång sikt att ge fördelar som jordförbättring, bättre skördar och minskade skador genom torka. I år har monsunregnet gett endast 1250 mm mot normalt det dubbla.

3. För bevattning har 25 st dieselmotorer levererats senaste veckan. 50% av kostnaderna står TUFF och andra givare för. De senaste 7 åren har det blivit 160 motorer.

För första gången har Kolchas (en mycket fattig primitiv stam) fått en maskin för att rädda sin aktuella skörd. Eftersom de inte hade medel för sina 50% trädde "the Bombay friends", som vid tillfället besökte platsen, emellan. För att inte ge fel signaler skall maskinen återlämnas efter skörden. Vid behov kan de låna den igen. Vi kallar det Utvecklingshjälp - inte "välgörenhet".

4. En delegation från Bombay besökte förra veckan, med stöd av 24 donatorer, tre skolor med tre klassrum under byggnad. Ännu ett klassrum skall byggas med stöd av V.I.A.S.
Vi har begärdt medel för totalt 7 nya klassrum, eftersom vi varje år lägger till en "grade" i alla våra skolor. Från början hade vi bara första och andra klass, men räknar med att få primärskolor med upptill 7 väl fungerande klasser de närmsta tre kommande åren.

För fortsatt utbildning sänds elever nu till Ashram-skolor i Vyara County [Taluka], 100 km bort. Antalet bortskickade elever minskar genom att vi får allt flera klasser i våra egna skolor. Förra veckan fick de åka med allmänna transportmedel till Dharampur stad för"Diwali holidays". Det görs fyra gånger varje år.

5. "The Bombay group" har donerat 100.000 rupies för speciell mat, frukt, sport, resor etc. för elever i miniskolor. De har lovat att stödja alla våra program för skolor, jordbinding och vattenförsörjning.

6. "Spinnhjulsprogrammet" som vi på försök startat i fyra skolor går bra. Det ger utlopp för både skapande och produktivitet, och eleverna i tredje och fjärde klass tycker det är roligt.

7. "Barfotadoktorer" skall inom kort få utbildning under ledning av en erfaren läkare som nu tillbringar mera tid i Dharampur.

DHARAMPUR VIKAS SAMITEE
TUFF Friendship House: Near Gandhi Vidyapith: VEDCHHI:Ta.Valod:Dist: Surat: Pin.394 641
Phone No. [02625] 20154E-Mail: bhikhu@satyam.net.in

Report oct.2000
To be read in continuation of 'MARCHING AHEAD'

New Program ~ Hamlet Schools
1.Two officials from one national organization named CRY [Child Relief and You] are visiting Dharampur on 30\31 of this month. We are launching 20 Hamlet School classes for preprimary kids in remote places, with the support of CRY. A community meeting will be held at that time in one of the Project villages, to demand education for their children and also to welcome the new schools.

Massive Land ~ Development Program
2. The Soil Bunding program for the season also will be initiated at that time, in one of the villages to be covered under the plan. The same was earlier worked out by workers and teachers after extensive survey of the fields. The following is the plan:

Villages : 18 ~ Families ~ 993 : Bunding work ~1957943 C. F : Wheat ~ 199576 K.G.
Cost of Wheat ~ S. 1798184 : Land to be covered 800 Hectares [ 2017 Acres ] This is achieved and we have every hope that it will be achieved, the outcome will be equal to the performance of the last six years on this front. The break up of the cost-estimate of Bunding Program as worked out by us is as follows:

RS .: 200000   ~ Saving of the last year from TUFF budget
RS .: 360000 Provision made in TUFF budget for 2001
RS.:  1000000 Donations likely from Bombay supporters
RS.:   700000  ~Labor contribution from the beneficiaries
RS .240000 Support from the reserve fundofV.I.A.S.
RS.:2500000G R A N DT O T A LC O S T

The program will be executed on ‘ Food For Work ’ lines as before. The people will put up BUNDS on their fields to stop top thin layer of soil from being washed away during heavy rains. The beneficiaries will be paid 70 % of the normal labor charges in kind [wheat], close to their hamlets. The formula was worked out earlier with the community elders. Accordingly, the rest 30 % is their labor contribution, which will come to RS. 700000 approximately. They will also be given trees in monsoon to be planted on the border of the bunds [soil-stone embankments] to strengthen them and for protection. Over and above short-term benefits of generating employment [Where people hardly get any wage employment] at the foot - steps of the settlements and long-term benefits of improvement of land, better crops and more production; it will also be a drought relief measure. The monsoon has almost failed this year all over Gujarat, including Dharampur. This area normally gets the highest rainfall in the state of Gujarat. [1250 mm. instead of over 2500 mm ~ which is an average.]

  1. 25 oil engines have been delivered last week for irrigation, with 50% contribution from the beneficiaries.[ 50 % from TUFF and other funds] This leads to the total of 160 engines in last 7 years. For the first time a Kolcha group [very poor primitive tribe] was given an engine rather urgently, to save their standing crops. As they were not in a position to provide 50 & share [according to Project norms], the Bombay friends [visiting Dh. at that time] provided that amount. As we did not want to give wrong signals to the community, the Kolchas will hand over the engine after the crops are taken over. They will be entitled to use it again, if needed. This is what we call as Developmental approach ~ not Charity.
  1. Last week a delegation from Bombay visited three schools, where three classrooms are being constructed, with the contribution from 24 well - wishers of Bombay. One more class - room is to be added from other funds, to be provided by V.I.A.S. We required funds for 7 additional classrooms in all, as we are adding 1 grade every year in all our schools. In the beginning we were running1 and 2 grades only. Once the schools were well set, we started expansion. We hope to reach to 7 grades full - fledged primary schools within the next three years. The present practice is to send the pupils for further education to Ashram schools in Vyara County [Taluka], at a distance of 100 km. The number reached to 500 students, two years back. Now it is 400, after we started two more grades. Last week they were taken to Dharampur town by public vehicles, for their Diwali holidays. [We have to manage like this, four times a year.] The guardians are informed in advance. So they remain present in Dharampur, to receive their kids.
  1. The Bombay group has donated RS.100000 for special food, fruits, sports, trips etc. for the students of mini schools. They have promised to support all the programs including class - rooms, Soil - Bunding and that of water- conservation.

6. We found the spinning wheel program going on very well in four schools, where we have introduced it on trial basis. This is proving a nice creative and productive activity. Again, it seems like a fun to the pupils of 3rd and 4th grades

7.A training program for Village Health Workers will be launched shortly, under the guidance of an experienced doctor who now devotes more time in Dharampur.

Andra
rapporter		 HEM