Field work is tiring

We spent several days this past week in the field in villages and slums outside of Jaipur. the work can be tiring with long trips and many visits with people. Everyone has offered us food and drink where ever we go. There is so much hospitality no matter the situation.

The Pink City

We are staying in the capital city, Jaipur. Many of the government agencies and NGO's we want to visit are located here. Between several appointments we had the chance to visit the old part of the city. It is called the pink city becuase the materials used to construct the city made the building pink.

Contacts in Jaipur

We had some unexpected luck Wednesday March 17. It seems that in India everyone is willing to help so spontaneous relationships are built and spread. We met with a group that we found from the Water Portal database online and saw them first thing (first thing in India is about 11am). They were a local NGO focused on data analysis mostly in the financial sector. They do not monitor private industry but other aspects affecting common people (health, water, development, govn't spending and the like). We received several names from them on who could be contacted on water topics. They shared their personal experiences in growing up in rural villages and now living in the city.

We then made contact with a local University Professor, Dr. Pandit in the geology department, who also met with us spontaneously. I should qualify; it was spontaneous for us Westerners but it is common to set up a meeting without an appointment by just a phone call. He has offered to call a colleague at a state agency for us and set up a meeting. Also it happens that a seminar will be held today, Thursday, on the college campus about dug wells and groundwater conservation which Dr. .Pandit will be taking us to.

By stroke of luck, while we were in his office another colleague of his came for a visit, Dr. Sarma. We started talking and she works in hygiene education. She then put us in contact with her father who is a guru of the water sector in Rajasthan, Dr. Nimawat, working in the government for years and consulting for NGO's which is what he currently does. We had a meeting set up immediately and met with him. Also Dr Sarma will be taking us out to a slum where she works on Friday. Finally, Dr. Nimawat gave us specific names of those to visit in a government agency and at UNICEF locally. He also offered to set up a trip to some rural areas if we are interested.

We started out the day with concern that we did not have a solid plan or very many contacts and ended up with contacts and potential trips to villages.

Around the block - Kelly

This morning I went out to purchase a prepaid cell phone. On the block behind the hotel I was told that I would find a shop selling phones. I walked around the block in the direction that several had directed me. Once I stepped out of the hotel lot onto the street I realized that there was not recognizable side walk for safety. I had to step out into the street and walk around anything in my way by stepping out even further. I did find sidewalk space every once in a while which ended in rubble and dirt. I walked several streets around the block and found that there were many shops tightly packed together with a second layer of vendors out on the street. I noticed a sign that I had recognized before as a cell service so I directed my way there. Soon it was apparent that the traffic was even more unpredictable in the direction that I wanted to go. There was a traffic circle around a building that seemed to have an unrecognizable shape and multiple entrance ways. I crossed the street between the motorbikes whizzing past where I found myself surrounded by beggars. An old woman with a baby on her him pulled at my arm. A child of about 7 years old followed me as I made my way to the cell phone shop motioning for food. She was so dirty, barely clothed and looked tired. She touched me to get my attention. I could not look her way but walk on. The cell phone shop was closed so I will have to make the journey again later.

Scoping Study

As a view into what our mission here in India is about I have taken an expert from an introduction letter that we are using to set up meetings with various organizations.

Water For People, a Denver, Colorado USA-based international non-governmental development organization that works to improve people’s lives through the sustainable development of safe water and sanitation, is considering expanding its program in India after focusing its efforts in West Bengal for the for over 10 years. As an initial step, Water For People will conduct a scoping study in seven states across the country, including Rajasthan state. Our goal is to identify the State where Water For People’s development model will be most readily accepted and effective. To ensure the objectivity of the scoping studies, Water For People is sending teams from its international volunteer program, the World Water Corps®, each of which will return an analysis of one of a particular State to guide Water For People’s decision-making process.

We are in the process now of identifying the appropriate organizations to meet with and initiate the communication. We are looking at contacting International NGO's, local NGO's, government officials, universities, and business people.

Arriving in Jaipur - Kelly

After long flights, layovers and communication challenges, I made it to the hotel in Jaipur. I received a pre-arranged ride to the hotel. We went through part of the city to get there. On the way passing office buildings, an ancient fort ruin, unfinished concrete structures and shanty homes in between it all. There was a mixture of people on the streets Sunday. My eyes went to those in the back ground sitting on the side of the roads, digging through trash and hiding in any shade available. At one point while at a stop light children came to the car window begging for food. They persisted to wrap on the window with their fists during the whole time we waited for the light to change. They had tattered clothes, dirty hair and hands, and seemed experienced in their begging. Today we went out with a driver to a store. Again at a stoplight a child came to the window. His eyes were just at the height to look into the car. It was hard for me not to look at him and each time he caught my eyes he motioned for food by touching his mouth. I could see the adults (women) he was with sitting on the median under a tree. They all looked disheveled.

Our work to this point has been searching for the appropriate initial contacts. We need to purchase a phone here to make local calls. I have begun to realize how large this project is and am now working to identify the most important milestones to meet. This two weeks is going to go quickly.

On the way - Kelly

My travels have begun. I am sitting in the Roanoke Regional Airport waiting for my flight. From my next stop in Detroit I will have a 21 hour flight to Mumbai, then on to Jaipur from where I will be working. I will meet my partners Shruti and Paula when I get there.

We will be calling and meeting with local NGO's, government officials and local businesses to identify the need for water and sanitation technology. At this point we do not have any contacts set up so this will be an adventure.