Thank you
In peace
Vimalbhai
(Delhi)
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Visit of Rural Development Institute, Dehradun, Uttranchal,India by Vimalbhai, Dated 8-9 March ,2001

Dehradun is a beautiful place in the terai region of the Himalayan mountains. It is a place of scenic splendour where environmental movements have always remained in the forefront. Supreme Court has ordered the closure of limestone mines here because of this. Famous environmentalist Vandana Shiva belongs to this place
Doon school is famous as former Prime Minister Shri Rajeev Gandhi and other great personalites have passed out of the school.

In this very Doon valley Swami Ram has found HIHT on a large portion of land. Swami Ram was a spiritual figure whose number of disciples have dedicated this whole life for their Guru?s dream.

Ms. Maithili , the Director, is one of them, she is from Chennai (Tamilnadu), simple and gentle. I reached there in the afternoon of 8th March. Main building of the hospital and RDI office, Swamiji's residence, guesthouse all this seemed to be of high class. I was on foot, then I saw Maithili is coming on the bicycle. After welcoming me she took me to the guest house and to the school where we sat chatting. There we met Ms. Malini who is in RDI since 94. These people knew little about ASHA They were very much disappointed by ASHA and after their repeated queries they drew a blank. I assured them and added that the field visit couldn't materialise for some reasons. Now there should be no despair for ASHA means hope and it is not like any other funding organisation.

ORGANISATION : During Tehri earthquake these people worked there, thereafter their need was felt in the village. Swamiji's dream of building an all facility hospital has been fulfilled. It is a trust which is run by Swamiji's disciples. HIHT is an important organisation popular in the area balancing both spiritualism and modernism as has been tried out. He loved quality in each and this is reflected in the organisation. In RDI's decision making HIHT's advice and consent is deemed necessary. But RDI is not bonded fully in this matter. RDI helps in farming, imparting new techniques in botany, conservation, water-works from source to home pipelines( is labour saving for women ) Small water-tanks etc. to be build is aided by World-Bank ,this is being finished now.

HEALTH RCH has approach upto the villages . Village level communities are being made 650 villages are covered under it most of the people are volunteers a few are paid workers. Health Melas spread the awareness. Literacy is not widespread but people here are quiet intelligent . They have done some income generation work also. But they didn?t last for long. Handicraft work brought to Delhi and sold, but it didnt click somehow. First day it took some time to understand the organisation . People are quiet honest here. I discussed the project with Malini.

The place where swamiji used to live evening prayers were being offered. In India there is tremedass respect shown to the Gurus and the atmosphere here is also very spritual and congenial . After engaging myself in Kirtans for sometime, evening I visited the hospital of 500 beds. It was clean and beautiful. Fees was Rs.10 and test charges were extra. Upon the hill there is no other sophisticated hospital as this one. But to bring the sick to the hill and remain with the patient is expensive. This is the only reason why the hospital beds are not fully utilized. Hospital has no govt. support and all this is run by Swamiji?s disciples.

First batch of medical students have passed out from the HIHT Medical Collage. The architecturedesign is based upon sun. Swamiji had disegned the whole structure. Compared to other Medical collage the work here was neat and clean also the approach was very different.

I slept in the guest house and became ready by morning 6 o'clock. We had to reach in a village of Podi Garwal district, 50-60 km. away from HIHT. Medical collage jeep took me, Malini and her colleague. The climate was cold, we crossed the Ganga and we travessed Rajaji National Park. I am associated with movement against Tehri Dam since last 12 years. I have travelled a lot in Tehri Garwal region. Situated among deep valley and huge mountains the kuchcha road is very uneven. The road leading to Tehri is smooth and wide because of the dam is being constructed, the route where there is no dam is neglected. The whole state development money spent on the dam(n) work.

As told to me by Malini because of RDI's RCH work the govt health workers here become responsible. RDI has been functioning in 400 villages for the past 10 years so that contact are old and firm.

In Uttarkasi district on 18th oct. 1991 there was a big earthquake in which more then 2000 people were killed thousands other were injured. Swamiji's disciples worked very hard in an organised manner on this basis, contact were made and all this is also the base of RDI.

Around 10am we reached the village. In this area RDI planned to take up the project with ASHA. It was a bright and sunny morning. Here we have to meet Ms. Poonam Bhatt -A senior health worker- we wait for her, then we enter the village. Mrs. Vimla, women head of the village tell us there was a plan for a primary school but land was not available then I donated the land. In my period of head of the village, atleast I have to do something. Were ever women head are there, in every plan it is very much transparent and money has been spent fully. No curroption. Yesterday we hold public meeting on the occasion of 8th March Women Day.
There is a school here but there is no teacher since the only one is on maternity leave. Earlier she lived here and most of the school time she used to care of her own kids. Now that she is on leave, there is no question of conducting class. We complain to the authorities but nothing changed. Malini asked if there was a need for a teacher apart from her, the answer was YES. Govt. machinery is huge but inefficient, can be made competent but it is steeped in corruption from top to botam. Willingness to work is not there and due to this reason the whole machinery is hollow. Otherwise there had been no need for NGO?s. RDI people are competent and willing to work as I saw them in the field.

We reached here a day before Holi in the village, children were playing with colour water. The area was full of fruit trees. RDI has distributed many trees sapling. Unemployment in the village is very high. Even after constition of new state that is Uttaranchal, there is no change. Except that govt. servent have no salary and no ration in the shops.

RDI did one program for Peer Leadership in adolscent. To build there persona, make aware of current waves. In which they emphasized language, psyche and there school study as well. This is under Malini's vision.

Ms. Poonam Bhatt , incharge of satellite hospital, holder of master?s degree reached the hospital even on Holi holiday. One room centre has graphic display regarding child care and family planning in details. There charts show -how many of them sterilized, how many women are expecting- Poonam is ready to support them in all the ways. Here every thing is well established and ordered, data was on the charts, medicines in the almirah and workers in the villages. In the month of March they are going to organise a health mela. Activist are very much enthusiastic about this.

The structure of Reproductive and Child Health work is-one coordinator, on every 25 villages one superviser and each village a health committee. At every 50 to 60 Km. RDI has this type of satellite hospitals. It covers 8 to 9 villages. Weekly once there is visit of a pharmacist. Now onward intern of HIHT will live here. This is how HIHT and RDI cooperate with each other.

RDI has planned to set one village as a model in every block. Regarding this Poonam suggested one village nearby. We visit there. After seeing that, they discussed and found that village is not fit for the work of model village because it has already developed. There are other backward village to be considered.

We had lunch in the afternoon from the village shop and returned back to HIHT. Middle of the way to HIHT I had a quick bath in Ganga river which is going to be DAMN. The roads in the mountains are difficult and conveyance is necessary as well otherwise to reach from one place to the other takes up a whole day.

In the evening of 9th March we planned meeting with the teachers and visit to the two schools. So returning to HIHT I wish to visit the school in Snake-Charmer?s settelment was refuse to me by them. Malini give clarification because these people did not allow the outsiders to enter their settlement. Upon insisting the jeep circuited thru the outskirts of the village.

Snake-Charmer's settlement: Before this community was nomadic. During the reign of late Indira Gandhi these people had been settled, the govt providing the land settlement was marked by small huts in quite an open area. Their a small lane from within the jeep we could see their activities. Wearing attractive cloths, neat and clean huts. I was told earlier that they don't allow outsiders to enter their areas. They have made good relationship with us . For RDI NFE school Mr.Digvijay teaches here and now also girls come to learn. He teaches different subjects. Earlier these people were not interested in studies. Now change has occurred and the elders in the settlement are cooperating.

Their very occupation is to catch snakes and to hold shows on the streets and anywhere in the locality. This is how they earn money. This is not begging as is written in RDI project. In the mordern society artists sell their art and earn a big amount. This is also an old way. Snake charmers, monkey players, acrobats etc. do the work of entertainment in North Indian society. By denying them their occupation, do we want to encourage TV and Videogames?.

City based way of thinking discards all that is old, want to remain formal and
pro-establisment. These days all the project files regarding education is that we will give these children a better occupation than rag-picking . By saying this people forget about the diginity of labour, anyway someone in the society has to do this job.

Labour Settlement School : HIHT is a big organization in which extension work goes on continuously in more then 50h. area. Contracter brings labour from Bihar, U.P., M.P. They are living in bricks and tin shed homes. School building consist of two halls and a small room, where Ms. Jyoti gives her full time to the children. Children age group between 4 to 14 years old. Education was satisfactory. It is an ordinary slum school like any other. Only the difference was RDI have bigger space. Some volunteers use to give their services from time to time. They have two Photo of annual function shown by theme

Vidya School : They are also running one formal school named Vidha school for HIHT staff. It is well furnised , toys, mini desk-cheirs, chart etc. Everything is in good condition. Maximum no. of students never increased more then 15-20. Malini spend 2 hour every day here. Clear class division between Labour basti school and Vidya school .

We set for a meeting with the teacher's team after visiting schools, in the building of water shed program. RDI also running water shed program funded by World Bank. They are providing tap water facility to the villagers. It is helpful to the villagers espacialy to the hill women who spend 60% of there life for collecting fodder and water This programm is usefull to villagers , that is also point that taking fund from World Bank is harmfull for the country.

Team of five young teachers-Mr. Digvijay, Mr. Rakesh, Ms. Neelam, Ms. Pawandeep and Ms. Jyoti-is good enough, every one is well educated holding bachler and master degrees. They are from same region except Ms. Jyoti. This team worked under the guidance of Malini. They prepared kit for the Project Base Education. With the help of and after a deep study of different books they prepared one guidebook on the water issue. They have plan to make this type of guidebook on other issues also. Digvijay showed me the kit also, which is prepared according to guidebook. In which they try to keep water related equipments, for demonstration to the students. It is very new kind of idea. Digvijay has done this work in some school already under RDI.
They showed me books which they plan to buy for libreary. Books were O.K. I suggested them to buy NBT books.
--Because of multidimensional project they are able to save some effort and person.
--No expense for taking books to the village.
--villagers will look after the library.

--There budget was very much incorrect because of data input in computer so I had to spent time with Malini on the budget. That was the cause that ASHA people were not able to understand and that is why many of questions asked. I asked them to write another budget and and describe the co-relation among the different projects. Which they sent in time and I have already forwarded to you. Again I am sending you every thing related to this project and my visit.
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Question which you ask

High-Level Detailed Questions
Q) How do the current activities of RDI reflect upon the strong infrastructure required for the
future?

Ans: Current activities of RDI are comprehensive and overall as work is going on in the field of health, education, water & sanitation, agriculture and income generation activities. Impacts of development and health issues are seen over a period of time. The current activities of education component pave their way for long term development. As such infrastructure is needed to keep the base for the ongoing activities.

Q) Is the focus of RDI going to be on this 3-dimensonal approach of health, education and
income generation in the near future or do you see changes?
Ans. Little change about income generation. No program for that.

Q) What steps have been taken so far in making this project as self-reliant as possible? Any
hindrances?

Ans. Nothing. The self-reliant is not possible, except individual donation. Because project fram.

Q) Where is the funding coming in for the RDI activities at the moment and where has it been
coming from, in the past? How much of an assurance do you have about future funding from those
sources?

Ans: The RDI education component funding us coming from personal donation and has been that
way in the past also. The future funding from the current sources might continue for sometime.

Q) Are there any high-level organizations that could possibly take up financing the RDI project
permanently, if RDI shows promise?

Ans. They concider as mother NGO for mother and child helth program run by central govt. They were try to get fund from govt. but failed beause of curroption in ministry the only permanently will be the students of swamiji as they told to me.

Q) Has there been any recognition of RDI by the local/central/state government? Can that front
be explored in the future as a source of funding?

Ans. Before ,in 96 to 98 some help from central govt. also get some one time support in handicraft work. Now they don?t want because they are not willing to give bribe.

Q) Can we get any details of RDI's last three completed projects that were funded by other
sources?

Ans: RDI completed
1) A Maternal & Child Health program
2) A school health program and
3) Swasthyamelas with funding from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

Q )What are the typical problems you face in implementing the RDI activities (due to various
reasons -geographic, political, governmental, monetary, etc.)?

Ans: Consistency of funding for certain programs which in turn doesn?t enable to keep good staff
coupled with the problems of remoteness and difficulty of Mountain terrain.

Q What is RDI's backup plan for survival in case it does not receive funding from external
sources?

Ans: Focus on certain core areas with funding within HIHT.

Q ) Does RDI plan any expansion beyond the 650 villages or 3 lakh people it has currently? If yes,
how soon?
Ans: Not right now.

Q ). Does RDI target all 650 villages or does HIHT target these villages?
Ans: RDI targets all these 650 villages

Q) How satisfactory have been the results that you have been getting out of the RDI program so
far (e.g. student drop outs, progress etc.)?
Ans. It is just satisfactory.

Q) Given that (maybe I am assuming) economic background of most students is poor is there any
food program in effect? Are there plans for one?

Ans. You mean where they will empliment this project? As I understud they do not have any plan for this.

Q) How responsive have the villagers been to the activities of RDI so far?

Ans. People have been benifited by RDI.

Q) Has there been any articles written in local/state-level newspapers or any advertising done of
the noble efforts of RDI for the villages in Uttaranchal?

Ans: No, they have not had the flair for projecting ourselves or the work. The first time they have
brought out a write-up has been a month back in the latest issue of our newsletter (copy enclosed).

Q) Since most of these schools are temporary (6 weeks, etc.), how does RDI plan to juggle its
resources and teachers? How many schools will go on simultaneously?

Ans. Now in new project proposal you will find the ans.

Q) If you were to break down the population of the villages by profession, what would be the
various proportions of the groups that they would fall under (e.g. 30% construction workers, 20% nursing
homes, 20% teachers, etc.)?

Ans: This is a hill population. Most of the people are out with service/ Army being 50% and Migrant
workers 30%. Farm activities are carried out by women.

Q) What is the staff break down (as of now, not what is planned) - how many are paid, unpaid,
full-time, part-time? How many teachers are based in the villages and how many in Doiwalla?

Ans: In the education wing there are 2 volunteers and 5 full time paid people. Currently all are based
here at the Institute (Which is at Jolly Grant, Doiwala).

Q) How/where will RDI recruit new teachers for the proposed schools?

Ans: From within the existing area.

Q) What is the girl to boy ratio?

Ans. 1:1

Q) Is there a lot of travel involved for the project personnel to reach the students since
transportation costs are somewhat high in general. Do the personnel live far away from the schools for example?

Q) How does the dimension of 'Water Management & Sanitation' fit in to the RDI approach?

Ans. Because RDI belives in overall development of village.

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Low-Level Detailed Questions

Q) Do any of these programs/activities (NFE, PBE etc) overlap or are they strictly mutually exclusive?

Ans. Ther is no overlap, infact these all are inter-relative.

Q) The social side of education i.e. Functional Literacy & Program for adolescents, has been a
relatively new idea. What motivated this and do you see any other similar programs in the future (near or
far)?
Ans. Project coordinator Ms. Malini has a vision of working on this.

Q) Is the formal school run by RDI in need of funds?

Ans: Yes, but right now HIHT is comfortable bearing it.

Q) According to the proposal, there is only one formal school (classes from KG to Std.II). And then
there are the non-formal schools that shoot for education from Std.VI and above. Does this mean that
there is no education of any kind from Std.III to Std.V?

Ans. Yes, this school is for staff member only.

Q) Mobile libraries timeline required. This seems to be the one with a lot of travel issues. However there
is no breakdown of the travel costs.

Ans: Because its linked with other program, like when doctor will visit they can take books to the villages.

Q) In the program, transportation cost is Rs. 500/visit. Why so high?

Ans. Because ther are of work are hills and it is very difficult to reach there by public transport. In Some
Area it is impossible.

Q . In Project Based Education, the budget figures talk about fees for consultants and rentals?
Can you explain those?

Ans: In PBE consultants will be brought in to develop specific modules on specific topics of science,
english etc. The rentals are for costs, which will be incurred for setup to carry these on.

Q ). Student scholarships: Planned to be 50 students at Rs.1100/month (= Rs.55000/year). This
breaks down to less than Rs30 per student/month. Is this correct?

Ans: Sorry, this is a typo error. The amount was put in only for a month. We will cut down the
number of students to 5 @ Rs. 1000 p.m. The total amount against this head comes to Rs.
1,20,000/-