That was a busy day

There was no post yesterday as it was one of those days when nothing went right, and nothing was achieved. No problem, this is India and things don’t always go according to plan. Lesson one of life in India is to accept this.

Today was spent at the Neyyar Dam again, seeing some of the people that your generosity has enabled us to help, as well as others that need our help. Mostly in the flesh, although we did managed a video conference with Mani who is in the Medical College Hospital! It was a long day: 19 visits, and not back until after 8pm, well after dark. But very rewarding, albeit with a few tear-jerking situations.

Shanti Bi came from Kattakkada with her husband to tell us about the treatment for mouth cancer, which we helped to pay for – repeated surgery to remove the cancer including removal of part of the tongue, eight teeth, part of her jaw bone and some of her throat, followed by 33 sessions of radiation therapy. She still has difficulty eating and remains on medication, but the treatment appears to have been successful – so far. Time will tell. Despite all this she remains strong.

Pritha went on our sewing course, and at the end of the course we gave her a grant towards the cost of a sewing machine; a loan from her credit union / self-help group provided the rest of the cost. Her husband is an alcoholic who does little to support the family. She is now able to earn between GBP 1.50 and GBP 2 a day – In India that is enough to raise her and her daughter out of destitution and put them on the first rung of the ladder. She now has enough money to feed herself and her daughter, pay for her daughter’s educational expenses, and repay the loan. The experience of other people is similar: the sewing machine pays for itself in a month or two, so it is a wonderful investment. And it is treadle powered, so it needs no electricity – always useful in a country where power cuts are a way of life.

Repeat after me. This is not a cow. It is not a bull. It is a buffalo.

Another success story is Sajid. We bought him a calf in 2019. When it was full grown he sold it and bought two young buffalo, then a third. Buffalo meat is a highly regarded alternative to beef, and after a year to 18 months he will sell the buffalos at a profit of about GBP 250 each. It is quite a lucrative business, making enough money to keep the family in reasonable comfort.

Priya’s daughter Lindsay and goats.

We gave Priya a goat two years ago. She now has three. Two others have also been born and, when they were fully grown, sold. The proceeds enabled Priya to pay off a very expensive loan from a loan shark (10% interest a month!) leaving the family substantially better off.

People are really grateful for the help that we are able to give them. Jobin’s mother was in tears when I gave GBP 50 to her to replace her son’s glasses lens which had been broken when he fell. Others show their gratitude by touching my feet and then wiping the resultant dirt on their foreheads – an Indian tradition. It is very touching. And it is only possible because of your support.

And there were still the new needs. Sivani is just 2 years old. She was born with four holes in her heart, which are getting bigger. An operation would cost GBP 500. Her aunt came to ask if we could help. Maybe – if we have the money. Watch this space.