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.
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