Visiting the Slums of Dhaula Koan- New Delhi.

Nigaar and me in the slum. As you can clearly see, I am (freezing) and feel bad :(

Visiting the Slums of Dhaula Koan was a rather interesting experience. Seeing a slum with people in miserable conditions is something I had expected to see in India. With movies such as Slumdog Millionaire, everyone is aware about so called “breeding grounds” of crime, illness and misery. I was curious to go and explore the Slum at Dhaula Koan.  Sanjay , Nigaar from Sulabh and I went to the site at about 11 am. The slum there was about 25 years old and was situated right behind the Singaporian and UK embassies in Delhi (ah ha!). People were just waking up and having breakfast, washing clothes or just sitting outside in the sun.  The slum, was definitely another world by itself. The tiny rooms into which I had to literally kneel to get in, shared by 4-5 members of the family, is pretty sad. During the rainy season or flash flooding.They all use public restrooms and live crammed up! I went to the slum thinking that I would find people crying, begging and whining.  But I was surprised to find that  even though the living conditions were much below poverty line, everyone seemed content. The males of the family went to work, the mothers cleaned, washed and cooked and the elderly just sat outside the unstable shelter which they call home. I was allowed to enter couple of the houses and interview the residents. They all said their life, since it was winter, was definitely much better than the summer or rainy season when diseases, discomfort and potable water scarcity is at its peak. Most people looked like as if they haven't had food since weeks, and the kids were playing around as if they had everything in the world to satisfy them right there. But very surprisingly they were content, and smiled and welcomed to their little homes which I barely could stretch in (yes...i feel like a giant!). It is sad to find that people still perform open defection even though portable toilets and latrine facilities have been provided to the people. I feel there is a attitude change and increase of awareness necessary among the people about sanitation, hygiene so that they at least if not totally eliminate, eradicate the causes of illnesses.

2. That poor soul has a tube in his nose to get in medications which was placed months ago and he doesn't have the money to visit the doctor to get further consultation. His daughter in law sits beside him, trying to clean the wounds on his feet.

                   3. Slums- two men kind of posing???

4. Kid plays cricket with his friends but takes time out to look and smile at me! :) Note the falling roof of his home. :(

 5. 15 year old girl gets some cleaning done at home while her mother- in -law is gone to dry clothes outside. She has never been to school and was married 2 months back.

6. Cute baby!!!!!!

7. Look behind the man?? Indian slum hoarding or whatttt???

8. Kids looking out of their homes. The elder sister was looking through some rag she picked up  during early morning.

I found this interesting article too....check it out!!! --http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/12/community-doctors/rosenberg-text/1 

Sulabh International, an introduction to Sanitation- Dwarka- Delhi

First day of internship! Wow…mixed feelings. It’s been 2 days since I landed and am feeling a little better. My roomies are pretty chill people and supportive. Even though its freezing here, the sun outside during the day was definitely reassuring (Hhaha….didnt  expect to be missing the sun this much!)  The internship was at Sulabh International – an amazing self sustaining non-profit organization. The word “Sulabh” in itself means easy in Hindi. Before I scribble down my experiences, let me tell a little about the organization. Scavenging is manual removal of excreta from "dry toilets", i.e., toilet without the modern flush system, which very much exists in the Indian subcontinent ( rural areas). Even though the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines Act, 1993 punishes the employment of scavengers or the construction of dry (non-flush) latrines with imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of Rs 2,000, it sadly still  does prevail. Manual scavenging involves removing human and animal excreta using brooms, small tin plates, and baskets that are carried on the head. Refusal to perform such tasks leads to physical abuse and social boycott. Manual scavenging involves removing human and animal excreta using brooms, small tin plates, and baskets that are carried on the head. Refusal to perform such tasks leads to physical abuse and social boycott. In the absence of an adequate economic alternative, it is often seen that manual scavengers are not able to quit their degrading work. In many cases, each family of about 3-4 members only makes about Rs 500 ( around US $11 ONLY) per month by manual scavenging. anual scavengers are exposed to the most virulent forms of viral and bacterial infections that affect their skin, eyes, limbs, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Tuberculosis is rife among the community, according to the report. Most importantly,  surveys have revealed that 95 per cent of the manual scavengers are women and girls. Traditionally, women have been forced to follow this undignified occupation. The Sulabh Movement started with the objective to liberate and elevate the status of scavengers. Towards this, it adopted a two-pronged strategy; a state-of-the-art technology to reach sanitation facilities even to the poorest, and to bring scavengers in the mainstream of Indian society. The Sulabh International, under the inspiring leadership of its Founder, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, branched into several inter-related activities meant not only to rehabilitate, socially and economically, those weaned away from scavenging, but also to restore their self-esteem and self-respect. Towards this, the Sulabh International Centre for Action Sociology (SICAS) was established in 1993. The main objectives were to develop a systematic understanding of the social, economic and psychological problems of scavengers. I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Patak, a very pleasant, down to earth yet very charismatic individual who very willingly answered all my questions in detail. With over 30 highly recognized awards and recognitions  including the prestigious Padma Bhushan and place in the Limca Book of world records, he feels that the well wishes of the scavengers who he has help liberate is what really means to him.

As soon as Sanjay and I reached Sulabh organization office in Dwarka,they heartily welcomed us and offered us tea and yummy sandwiches! At about 10.30 am, I was lead into the assembly room where the liberated scavengers, trainers and counselors waiting. They made me stand on the podium (embarrassing!!!) and called out my name aloud, and welcomed personally by Dr. Patak, and given a lovely shawl made of Khadi material and sandalwood flower garland! After a very soothing prayer and poems recited by the women working there,Nigaar, who was my tour guide showed me around and I shall brief some highlights of Sulabh, which personally I felt were simply-Awesome =)

 First day of internship! Wow…mixed feelings. It’s been 2 days since I landed and am feeling a little better. My roomies are pretty chill people and supportive. Even though its freezing here, the sun outside during the day was definitely reassuring (Hhaha….didnt  expect to be missing the sun this much!)  The internship was at Sulabh International – an amazing self sustaining non-profit organization. The word “Sulabh” in itself means easy in Hindi. Before I scribble down my experiences, let me tell a little about the organization. Scavenging is manual removal of excreta from "dry toilets", i.e., toilet without the modern flush system, which very much exists in the Indian subcontinent ( rural areas). Even though the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines Act, 1993 punishes the employment of scavengers or the construction of dry (non-flush) latrines with imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of Rs 2,000, it sadly still  does prevail. Manual scavenging involves removing human and animal excreta using brooms, small tin plates, and baskets that are carried on the head. Refusal to perform such tasks leads to physical abuse and social boycott. Manual scavenging involves removing human and animal excreta using brooms, small tin plates, and baskets that are carried on the head. Refusal to perform such tasks leads to physical abuse and social boycott. In the absence of an adequate economic alternative, it is often seen that manual scavengers are not able to quit their degrading work. In many cases, each family of about 3-4 members only makes about Rs 500 ( around US $11 ONLY) per month by manual scavenging. anual scavengers are exposed to the most virulent forms of viral and bacterial infections that affect their skin, eyes, limbs, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Tuberculosis is rife among the community, according to the report. Most importantly,  surveys have revealed that 95 per cent of the manual scavengers are women and girls. Traditionally, women have been forced to follow this undignified occupation. The Sulabh Movement started with the objective to liberate and elevate the status of scavengers. Towards this, it adopted a two-pronged strategy; a state-of-the-art technology to reach sanitation facilities even to the poorest, and to bring scavengers in the mainstream of Indian society. The Sulabh International, under the inspiring leadership of its Founder, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, branched into several inter-related activities meant not only to rehabilitate, socially and economically, those weaned away from scavenging, but also to restore their self-esteem and self-respect. Towards this, the Sulabh International Centre for Action Sociology (SICAS) was established in 1993. The main objectives were to develop a systematic understanding of the social, economic and psychological problems of scavengers. I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Patak, a very pleasant, down to earth yet very charismatic individual who very willingly answered all my questions in detail. With over 30 highly recognized awards and recognitions  including the prestigious Padma Bhushan and place in the Limca Book of world records, he feels that the well wishes of the scavengers who he has help liberate is what really means to him.

As soon as Sanjay and I reached Sulabh organization office in Dwarka,they heartily welcomed us and offered us tea and yummy sandwiches! At about 10.30 am, I was lead into the assembly room where the liberated scavengers, trainers and counselors waiting. They made me stand on the podium (embarrassing!!!) and called out my name aloud, was welcomed personally by Dr. Patak, and given a lovely shawl made of Khadi material and sandalwood flower garland! After a very soothing prayer and poems recited by the women working there,Nigaar, who was my tour guide showed me around and I shall brief some highlights of Sulabh, which personally I felt were simply-Awesome =). The pics in my blogs are just a few I have selected  in the interest of time (internet in India is not one of the fastest and it took my hours only to put these pics up, miss my broadband Comcast tooooo much!!!)

1. The Sulabh Mission- upliftment and support of people involved in manual scavenging. The picture, which is also the logo of Sulabh, shows a woman carrying human waste her head, and the red cross shows the prohibition of scavenging.

2. Dr. Patak.

3.  With the objective of imparting quality education, Sulabh Public School was set up in Delhi in 1992. The school aims to prepare children from the scavenger and weaker sections of society for a better life.

4. Talking with the principal  of Sulabh public school, who was explaining the open door policy and meals provided to children of the scavengers and people below poverty line.

5. Inside the computer class where children are taught how to use the internet, Microsoft word, Powerpoint etc. The kids were showing these cool presentations they had made for their class projects and I was totally impressed!  ( Not sure why the photographer was taking pictures of me like as I were some star...LOL )

5. The liberated women who were given  vocational training show their henna tattoo making skills! They are simply experts!

6. The human excreta which comes out from the toilets is now used to produce biogas which helps to generate electricity for 8 continuous hours in about 20 homes in Delhi.

7. Me at the first (probably only) Museum of Toilets looking at the toilet used by aristocratic English men shaped as a chair to remove the taboo associated with using the restroom!!! It was awesome to learn about how toilets were used even during the Indus valley civilization thousands of years ago which used very advanced technology and clear methods of disposal of wastes. The host Varun is a super energetic guy who was very willing to answer a lot of the silly questions I kept asking! The museum displayed the most primitive toilets to the most modern toilets which cost up to $5000 !!!!

8. Visitors looking at the "jute" toilet which is very inexpensive( something like $10)  to install and help discourage open defecation is rural parts of India

9. Sulabh has implemented over 1.2 million two-pit toilet, where per flush only 2 litres of water is required. Suppose a 7 person family, per toilet saves about 56 litres of water per flush in comparison to septic tank system. Assuming two times flush per day, a unit saves about 112 litres of water per day i.e. (1.2 X 112 ) million litres = 134.4 million litres per day i.e. 49,056 million litres per annum !!!! WOW.

Salaam India !

YAY !!!! I reached Delhi on the 8^th of January 2011, after over 23 hours of flying across the globe and loss of baggage- frustration galore! Tired, jetlagged , anxious I submitted my missing baggage complaint to the airport folks and stepped outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport , New Delhi. Aaah… there were hundreds of people waiting outside all covered up in multiple layers and that’s when I realized…it was freeezzzzing in Delhi! The smoky odor of the air, continuous honking and people talking(and yelling) nonstop all hit me at once! I walked further out of the airport with whatever baggage I had with me , searching for someone holding my name. A young man came walking towards me with a pluck card saying “ Mr. Aparna , USA”.  I laughed out loud and in my head said “Aparna, welcome to India”.  The man introduced himself as Deepak and was struggling hard to talk to me, as he thought I would speak only English. As soon as I said, I could speak Hindi, it was almost as if he sighed in relief and we boarded my stuff in the car,and headed towards my stay area. On my way, people ( and cows and dogs and cycles and bikes) criss-crossed each other  on highway like none other. Everyone was in a hurry and the honking of cars, buses, rickshaws and motorcycles made me really dizzy! Finally I reached to my apartment. The room was even chillier than the outside, thanks to the marble flooring and lack of heating. Shivering, I entered my room to learn that I would be sharing the space with 2 other girls who would were affiliated with some other non-profit organization, who at that time had gone out to venture Delhi. My local co-coordinator Hema, and her husband Sudarshan welcomed me and talked about nuances to be taken care of. I was also introduced to Ache LaL, who is the cook and helper of our apartment and Sanjay, who is another local co-ordinator of the internship who would be accompanying me to all my visits. Feeling homesick, totally missing mom’s food, and above all my first love- Seattle! But totally excited to see what I would learn in the following weeks. Jai Hind.

          1. Local coordinator Hema Pandey and her family. 

   2. Local cordinator Sanjay Chakraborthy and Me at Alwar, Rajasthan

                 3.  Roomies and Ache Lal.

                                                        4. Roomies and Me (sleepy?? )

Adios Seattle, Namaste India -Less than a week!!!

Hello all!

Exactly one week from today, I will be on my way to India. I'll try to post my experiences during my stay there and depending on the internet connection/speed, I will try uploading pics too. I want to learn a lot, gain professional hands-on experience, make long life friendships and do LOADS of shopping! Yippieee !!!

Hope to catch up with buddies and relatives there too! I will miss mom, dad, sis, friends and Seattle very much!

Wow...I am excited, nervous, anxious but confident as I start to watch my travel bags fill up and wonder what they would be packed with while I come back !!!

So, folks

* Leaving on 6th Jan, 2011-- From Seattle, WA 

* Arriving on 8th Jan 2011 New Delhi, India ( via Los Angeles--Dubai) 

Can't wait to see what the future has in store for me!

Cheers!