2 Working with communities and UNICEF in Latur: chapter 2

Chapter 2 : On the way to UdGeer Ms Zia kept us informed about different places from where the sumo was moving.After some time we discussed the condition of agriculture , rain , business and education in Latur and near by villages . She told us how the NGO Sath was founded when 7 of her friends come together after earth quake in Latur . The major work of this NGO was to coordinate between other NGOs and hence it was named as SATH network , gradually some of the members left and now only 5 of the founder members are their. Zia got introduced to UNICEF in an event in Mumbai slum rehabilitation and since then there has not been any looking back , sath has proved itself a worthy partner of UNICEF. Zia and her colleagues have been across the nation for different projects.While going passing through a village we noticed a rally of girls school for sensitizing people about importance of iodinated salt. Zia looked out from the window and cheered to a group of girls and reply did come .. a thank you in unison. I was amazed to see that the literacy level in girls was good. We reached to UdayGeer where a convention of talluka level was arranged by local volunteers. It was a very arrangement in a big open hall , food was prepared at one side . There were already some volunteers and villagers from near by places , SATH and UNICEF team started interacting and introducing us to volunteers. Mr Nakeeran mentioned that this convention is about informing people about 5 key concepts Sanitation , Education , Child care . Human trafficking and Child marriage. One Keynote speaker Mr. Kulkarni who is also an economics professior and associated with this work from last 23 years would be addressing the gathering. People have gathered from many near by villages , they come in groups by arranging truck or tractors , this is the most common mode of mass transport for villages. The preparation and communication for this convention has started one month back . The main challenge in attracting people to such convention is no tangible take away , from this convention the take away will be only intangible information which will be provided with the help of various musical presentation and keynote speeches.
Mr Nakeeran briefed us about different kind of logistics and challenges involved . By the time convention started the place was full to its capacity , There were senior government officers like district health officer , block development officer , college principal and local politicians like MLAs and sarpanchs were present on the stage with senior NGO committee members and UNICEF representative .amazingly majority was women audience. It started by some native folk song singers performing musical which was made of information songs and discussion in the music troupit touched upon many sensitive issues like child marriage , sanitation and health of pregnant women . As it was put forward to the audience as a form of entertainment , the message was received well with full attention.The convention ended with a meaningful commitment where all villagers stood up and took oath together that no child in the village will be undernourished , Village will not be polluted by bad sanitary arrangements , All children will be educated , there will not be any child marriage .
After collective oath taking it was time for lunch together , we did not have time to attend the community lunch but we did take some time to see the art gallery arranged by local volunteers , I liked one portrait where a pen was shown against weapons , requested the painter to make a copy of that and left the place as we need to attend a training for adolescent girls in Jalcoat.

We had our lunch in a near by hotel , it was decent maharstrian food , as it is my first day on the field so I worried a bit about water and food but I had a clear idea , soon it is going to be daily routine . What is worth appreciating about these NGO workers and volunteers is they care least about their physical need. Nakeeran told us that usually he would have lunch at around 5 PM in the evening , that is the first thing he would get to eat after morning breakfast at home and he does not seem to care about it. I recall when I was in my ol organization I never missed even a tea , even if I missed it that is to for very critical issues and after lots of cribbing about it.