Paalaguttapalle (Dalitwada)
Two friends together gave 35,000/-. I asked the village women for an account, and they discussed and gave one of theirs. The money was moved their directly.
They collectively withdrew the money. That was delayed as the bank in Kothapeta made them make multiple trips as it 'did not have cash'.
Yesterday Amarnath called up from the neighnouring town of Kallur. He wanted to ask if they could just get rice as that was the most basic need, an skip the dal, which they have anyway got used to doing without. I asked them to get dal also.
Five from the village including three women and two men had gone to get the sacks of rice, dal and oil. The provisions were purchased.
54 families distributed the provisions together at the village temple, and got
- a sack of rice of 25kg - (Rs. 380/-)
- oil (palmolien costing 50/- a litre, the cheapest oil) 2.5 l (Rs.125/-)
- arhar dal - 1.75 kg (Rs. 150/-)
- a sack of rice of 25kg - (Rs. 380/-)
- oil (palmolien costing 50/- a litre, the cheapest oil) 2.5 l (Rs.125/-)
- arhar dal - 1.75 kg (Rs. 150/-)
Per family this cost 650/-.
The ration rice at 1/- kg is given as 5 kg per person which sustains them for 15 days. These rations of yesterday will sustain them for another 15 days.
In times of drought and erosion of work, civil society can start reaching out to all villages. Even while we demand that a deaf and dumb government restructures its priorities.
I am not in the village now. I do not need to be. The village people are clear headed, fair and sensible is their choices.
Amarnath called up from Kallur where they have gone to get the provisions of rice and dal to share around tomorrow. With contributions two friends sent. The ration rice suffices for 2 weeks, and in the situation of 'no work' in drought the next two weeks is an underfed state. Everywhere this is the situation.
Amarnath, "Madam, do we have to buy rice and dal ?"
They want to buy just rice, as one that is most essential, and dal can be skipped. For that reason I had insisted on dal, as otherwise they never afford that ! When i said, "Yes, Amarnath", he gave the phone to Eashwaramma to use her 'influence' on me.
Eashwaramma, "We will buy some oil, some dal and mainly rice. We need rice first of all.".
What could I say to them ? My meals are assured, and always will be. Their situation they know best. I told her to use her understanding. Five of the, three men and two women have gone to the nearby town of Kallur to buy the provisions. And will decide wisely.
Paalaguttapalle (Dalitwada)
My friend had moved 25,000/- to the village twice. He moved it directly to the account of one of the village women. They collectively drew the money, went to the nearby town and purchased dal and oil and rice the last time and shared it as annadaanam at the temple.
In such collective processes the money is used most effectively and sensibly.
Today Annapurna had called me up. After talking of the different things, including the unbearable heat, she spoke of the friend who donated the provisions.
"It has been such a saviour. If there is some dal and oil and rice, we need nothing more. There is no work these days, and the ration rice gets over in 10 days.Such good people who think of giving thus."
For 25,000/-, 54 families got 4kg of dal (250/-) and 3l of sulflower oil (210/-) . They will stretch that out as far as they can.
This can and should go on in every village through the drought.
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