| 1) | UNDERSTAND PROBLEMS OF RURAL INDIA | |
| 2) | PROVIDE AWARENESS ON STDs, HIV/AIDS, HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C AND TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. | |
| 3) | PROVIDE AWARENESS ON ADDICTIONS -- ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUGS -- AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND SOCIETY. |
LECTURES TO STUDENTS; My experience with giving HIV/AIDS lectures to students/youth is that the message should reach, and be acceptable to, students, teachers and the principal. Otherwise the school will not sponsor follow ups. Format and outline of my talk
SUMMARY OF THE TALK ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH:
| 1) | The female reproductive system | |
| 2) | Maturity, Mensturation, conception, pregnancy and child birth | |
| 3) | How germs enter the reproductive system | |
| 4) | Sexual hygiene | |
| 5) | Sexually transmitted diseases. HIV/AIDS | |
| 6) | How to protect oneself from STDs |
The following is a brief description of the audience and an outline of the lectures that I gave. I have also briefly listed my perception of the response and the contact person. Hopefully, institutions that showed interest are approached by other activists for follow up.
| AUG. 26: | TIME: | 12:00 - 2:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Madri (Bad Leke Niche), Madri Jhadol Block, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | 80 women and girls aged 15-19 | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Swati, Mr. Manoj Paliwal, Dr. Sangeeta Bhatnagar, Shri Harish Ahari | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | The women in this area do not interact much with the outside world and outsiders. There is a growth in alcoholism and poor awareness on issues of health, especially of reproductive health. | |
| FUTURE: | The women listened very carefully and seemed willing to to push for better awareness of and response to health issues. | |
| AUG. 26: | TIME: | 2:00 - 4:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Office of Seva Mandir, Jhadol, Udaipur District | |
| AUDIENCE: | 20 office, health, education and outreach workers | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and development | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Swati, Mr. Manoj Paliwal, Dr. Sangeeta Bhatnagar, Shri Harish Ahari | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs as impediments to development. | |
| FUTURE: | Agreement by the staff to pay more attention to issues of reproductive health and addiction, and to spread awareness on health issues. | |
| AUG. 26: | TIME: | 4:00 - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Adol Talai, Udaipur District | |
| PURPOSE: | Visit Dholi Musli Cultivation | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| IMPACT: | An understanding of issues that arise when a novelty cash crop is introduced | |
| AUG. 26: | TIME: | 5:30 - 7:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Talai, Samudayik Bhavan, Udaipur District | |
| AUDIENCE: | 60 women and girls aged 15-19 | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Swati, Mr. Manoj Paliwal, Dr. Sangeeta Bhatnagar, Shri Harish Ahari | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | These women have little interaction with the outside world and outsiders. There is a steady growth in alcoholism in the community and poor awareness on issues of health, especially of reproductive health. | |
| FUTURE: | The women listened very carefully and seemed willing to to push for better awareness of and response to health issues. | |
| AUG. 27: | TIME: | 11:00 - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Khojwada Hospital, Udaipur District | |
| DISCUSSION: | Reproductive health, STDs, and HIV/AIDS | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Swati, Mr. Manoj Paliwal, Nand Ji of Seva Mandir | |
| HOST: | Dr. Sharma and Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| FUTURE: | To start providing HIV/AIDS testing in the clinic and provide Navirapine therapy to HIV positive women prepartum | |
| AUG. 27: | TIME: | 2:00 - 4:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Sagwara, Udaipur District | |
| AUDIENCE: | 200 people of the village | |
| PURPOSE: | Inauguration of of Sagwara community center | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Swati and Nand Ji of Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| HOST: | Village elders | |
| IMPACT: | Developing an appreciation for how community programs work and bring vilagers together. | |
| AUG. 27: | TIME: | 5:00 - 6:30 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Khojawada, Udaipur District | |
| AUDIENCE: | 30 men and 15 women | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | These women, till a couple of years ago, were not able to to even gather together and discuss their issues. Today, due to the work of Seva Mandir, they are able to come and listen to an outsider talk on issues of reproductive health. They sat separate from the men and had their faces covered throughout, but did voice their frustration with the risky sexual practices of the men folk. | |
| AUG. 28: | TIME: | 9:00 - 11:00 am |
| PLACE: | Kaya; Training center run by Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | 60 girls aged 18-22 and 10 older women | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Swati, | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. | |
| IMPACT: | These girls from the Girwa block of Udaipur district were being trained as outreach workers. | |
| FUTURE: | The girls and women listened very carefully and committed to discussing these issues in their work. | |
| AUG. 28: | TIME: | 11:00 - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kaya; Training center run by Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | 50 women | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Swati, | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. | |
| IMPACT: | These women from the Badgaon block of Udaipur district were being trained as outreach workers. | |
| FUTURE: | The women listened very carefully and committed to discussing these issues in their work. | |
| AUG. 28: | TIME: | 3:00 - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Home of Dr. R. K. Agarwal, Udaipur | |
| DISCUSSANTS: | Ms Swati, Dr. R. K. Agarwal | |
| TOPIC: | The growing problem of oral cancers due to chewing tobacco and guthka | |
| FUTURE: | Seva Mandir to spread awareness on guthka. | |
| AUG. 28: | TIME: | 7:00 - 8:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Home of Dr. Pendry, Udaipur | |
| DISCUSSANTS: | Dr. Pendry | |
| TOPIC: | Problem of reproducive systems, STDs, and abortions as seen by a leading OBGyn of the city | |
| FUTURE: | To jointly develop awareness programs on reproductive health. | |
| AUG. 29: | TIME: | 11:00 - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Office of Joint Director, Medical and Health, Udaipur | |
| DISCUSSANTS: | Drs. M. L. Jain, Dr. Madhu Bhatnagar, Dr. S. Bhatnagar | |
| TOPIC: | Enhancing Seva Mandir's rural health program on STDs | |
| FUTURE: | Training of Seva mandir workers on issues of reproductive health STDs and of lab technicians in diagnostics. | |
| AUG. 29: | TIME: | 1:00 - 2:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Office of Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, Udaipur | |
| DISCUSSANTS: | Dr. Yadav, deputy CMHO, Dr. S. Bhatnagar | |
| TOPIC: | Enhancing Seva Mandir's rural health program on immunizations | |
| FUTURE: | Carrying out immunization camps for polio, measles, DPT and BCG in villages served by Seva mandir as a joint project. | |
| AUG. 29: | TIME: | 3:00 - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| DISCUSSANTS: | Ms. Swati, Dr. S. Bhatnagar | |
| TOPIC: | Developing white paper on future projects on health based on my visit and preparation of summary statement. | |
| FUTURE: | Continue working with Seva Mandir on health and education issues. | |
| Aug. 30: | TIME: | MORNING 8:30 - 10:30 |
| PLACE: | Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Senior Secondary School, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | 250 boys and girls of 9 and 11 class, teachers | |
| TALK TITLE: | HIV CRISIS IN INDIA | |
| HOST: | Mr. Rakesh Sexana, Principal | |
| GOAL: | Awareness on HIV/AIDS, modes of transmission and Societal risk factors in the spread of HIV. Outline of my talk | |
| IMPACT: | Very strong endorsement from students, teachers, staff and principal. | |
| FUTURE: | Follow up during next visit. | |
| SEPT. 1: | TIME: | 8.00 am - 5.00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Ludhiana | |
| AGENDA: | Multimedia Project | |
| HOST: | Mrs Neena Khanna, Principal, Ms Sonia Shroff, Computer teacher | |
| GOAL: | Worked with students developing multimedia projects | |
| SEPT. 2: | TIME: | 9.00 am - 3.00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Ludhiana | |
| HOST: | Mrs Neena Khanna, Principal | |
| GOAL: | Discussions on how to improve education in KVM | |
| SEPT. 3: | TIME: | MORNING 11.00 am - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Hero DMC Heart Institute | |
| HOST: | Dr. Gurpreet Wander (Head, Cardiology) and Dr. Bisam | |
| AGENDA: | Follow up on developing health education programs | |
| SEPT. 3: | TIME: | 3.00 pm - 6.00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Ludhiana | |
| AGENDA: | Multimedia Project | |
| HOST: | Mrs Neena Khanna, Principal, Ms Sonia Shroff, Computer teacher | |
| GOAL: | Worked with students developing multimedia projects | |
| SEPT. 4: | TIME: | Afternoon 12.00 - 2:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil lines, Ludhiana | |
| HOST: | Principal Mrs Neena Khanna | |
| TALK: | "What are broken homes and how do they get created" | |
| AUDIENCE: | 500 9-11 class students and 100 teachers | |
| SEPT. 4: | TIME: | 3.00 pm - 6.00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Ludhiana | |
| AGENDA: | Multimedia Project | |
| HOST: | Mrs Neena Khanna, Principal, Ms Sonia Shroff, Computer teacher | |
| GOAL: | Worked with students developing multimedia projects | |
| SEPT. 5: | TIME: | 12.00 - 2:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Vasant Valley School, New Delhi | |
| HOSTS: | Mr. Arun Kapur, Director and Mrs Sonya Bahri, Computer Teacher | |
| GOAL: | Helping the Kundan Vidya Mandir team get ready for the the competition. | |
| SEPT. 6: | TIME: | MORNING 8.00 am - 3:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Vasant valley High School, New Delhi | |
| AUDIENCE: | Students and teachers of VVS. Teams from 15 schools | |
| HOSTS: | Mr. Arun Kapur, Director and Mrs Sonya Bahri, Computer Teacher | |
| GOAL: | Second North India (Vasant Valley) Multimedia Presentation Contest. Creating Students as Agents of Change through project based learning about, and spreading awareness on, societal issues. | |
| Teams: | Fifteen teams took part in the competition. They were from Kundan Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana; The Doon School, Dehra Dun; Welham Girl's School, Dehra Dun; Vasant Valley School, New Delhi; Delhi Public School, R.K. Purum, New Delhi; Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi; Modern School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi; New Era Public School, New Delhi; Blue Bells School, New Delhi; Springdales, Pusa Road, New Delhi; Maharaja Sawai man Singh School, Jaipur; Sri Ram School, Gurgaon; Mayo College Boys, Ajmer; Mayo College Girls, Ajmer; Scindia School, Gwalior; | |
| Result: | First Place: The Doon School: anti-smoking. Second Place: Sri Ram School: Third Place: Welham Girls' School: | |
| FUTURE: | Third North India competition to take place on Sept 9, 2003. | |
| Sept. 7: | TIME: | Morning 8.00 - 11.00 am |
| HOST: | Lavleen Singal, Director, Syndew Infosys, New Delhi | |
| CONTACT: | Autumn Design Enterprises, New Delhi | |
| GOAL: | To develop visual education tools on common-sense issues like hygiene and health to spread awareness amongst the poor and the illiterate. | |
| SEPT. 7: | TIME: | Noon 11.00 - 1:00 |
| HOSTS: | Prof. Pradeep Seth and Dr. Naveet Wig of AIIMS | |
| GOAL: | Discussed strategies for preventing spread of HIV/AIDS. | |
| Sept. 7: | TIME: | Afternoon 2.00 - 5.00 pm |
| DISCUSSANTS: | Lavleen Singal, N. Ramakrishnan and Venu Arora, New Delhi | |
| CONTACT: | IDEOSync Media Combine, New Delhi | |
| GOAL: | To develop visual education tools on common sense issues like hygiene and health to spread awareness amongst the poor and the illiterate. | |
| Sept. 8: | TIME: | MORNING 9.00 - 1.00 |
| HOST: | Dr. Shekhar Agarwal and Dr. Neelima Agarwal | |
| GOAL: | Discussed how Sant Parmanand Hospital can help spread awareness on issues of health and hygiene to the general public. | |
| Sept. 8: | TIME: | Afternoon 3.00 - 5.00 pm |
| HOST: | Lavleen Singal, Director, Syndew Infosys, New Delhi | |
| DISCUSSANTS: | Mr. Deepak of Autumn Design Enterprises, New Delhi | |
| GOAL: | Follow up on the project to develop visual education tools on common sense issues like hygiene and health to spread awareness amongst the poor and the illiterate. | |
| Sept. 9: | TIME: | MORNING 9.00 - 12.00 |
| HOSTs: | Profs. S. R. Chaudhury, Prof. Vijay Varma and Dr. Pratibha Jolly | |
| GOAL: | Discuss India's education system and how to accelerate spreading awareness and quality education to rural India and the illiterate. | |
| Sept. 9: | TIME: | Afternoon 1.00 - 2.00 pm |
| HOSTS: | Prof. Pradeep Seth and Dr.S. K. Kapoor of AIIMS | |
| GOAL: | Discussed how to accelerate the development of infrastructure for providing health care to rural India and to the poor. | |
| SEPT. 10: | TIME: | MORNING 8:00 - 10:00 |
| PLACE: | Village Taprana, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 40 males of which 30 left during the talk | |
| TALK TITLE: | Overcoming Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Awareness on Alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on addictions | |
| IMPACT: | Poor response from the men. They wanted a pill to fix their alcoholism. | |
| FUTURE: | To follow up during next visit. | |
| SEPT. 10: | TIME: | MORNING 11:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Nagla Farm, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 25 women | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | The women listened very attentively. They agreed to practice genital hygiene to reduce Bacterial Vaginosis. Also, to start a community program to prevent children from hanging around alcohol shops and gambling areas. | |
| FUTURE: | Arpana Trust will work with the women to develop unity. | |
| SEPT. 10: | TIME: | AFTERNOON 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Taprana, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 40 women | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | The women told their story of how they tried to stop liquor sales or at least restrict sales from 9 am to 7 pm. The women had recently agitated against liquor vendors and taken action against one. The village council has asked for 6 months to implement this restriction. They also agreed to practice genital hygiene to reduce Bacterial Vaginosis. | |
| FUTURE: | The women will continue to push for putting a stop to illegal distribution of alcohol. Also, will start a community program to prevent children from hanging around alcohol shops and gambling areas. | |
| SEPT. 10: | TIME: | Evening 5:00 - 7:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Taprana, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 50 young adults and men. Grew to about 80 people at the end | |
| TALK TITLE: | Achieving ones dreams: How to break out of poverty | |
| FACILITATOR: | Om Prakash | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| GOAL: | Collected the group by showing them how a digital camera works. Discussed how to achieve one's dreams by taking one small constructive step after another. How alcoholism and drug addiction destroy dreams. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Showed a video fim on the horrors of addiction to Guthka | |
| IMPACT: | The youth want to improve their lives, and wanted education and jobs. The local school is not working well.Alcoholism is eating into all village development schemes. They are not sure about what to do as most men are involved, either as consumers or profit from the sales. | |
| FUTURE: | To follow up during my next visit. | |
| SEPT. 11: | TIME: | Morning 8:00 - 10:30 |
| PLACE: | Village Sadarpur, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 35 males | |
| TALK TITLE: | Overcoming Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| GOAL: | Awareness on Alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on addictions | |
| IMPACT: | Poor response from the men. They wanted a pill to fix their alcoholism. | |
| FUTURE: | To follow up during next visit. | |
| SEPT. 11: | TIME: | NOON 11:00 - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Taprana, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 70 women and girls aged 15-19 | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | The women are very upset and depressed by the growth in alcoholism. Alcoholism is their foremost concern. Even young boys have started to drink. On the reproductive health issues they agreed to practice genital hygiene to reduce Bacterial Vaginosis and pay attention to their children. | |
| FUTURE: | The women will continue to push for putting a stop to illegal distribution of alcohol. Also, they will start a community program for children and to stop children from hanging around alcohol shops and gambling areas. | |
| SEPT. 11: | TIME: | AFTERNOON 3:00 - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Kautail Gamri, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 40 women | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | These women were perhaps from the poorest class. They were very depressed by the growth in alcoholism among the men and the fact that their husbands were getting work on very few days -- 7-10 days a month. While they seemed to understand what I was telling them, they could not see any way of improving their lives without more income. They did not see how working co-operatively would help as they were very suspicious of each other. | |
| FUTURE: | Not clear. Many follow ups with this village may be necessary. | |
| SEPT. 11: | TIME: | EVENING 5:30 - 7:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Kautail Gamni, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 25 men of age 20-40 | |
| TALK TITLE: | Overcoming Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Awareness on Alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on addictions | |
| IMPACT: | Poor response from the men. They wanted a pill to fix alcoholism of those who are addicted. They do not have experience with building support groups. | |
| FUTURE: | To follow up during next visit. | |
| SEPT. 12: | TIME: | Morning 8:00 - 10:00 |
| PLACE: | Village Amritpur Dera, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 30 men and 10 youth 18-25 | |
| TALK TITLE: | Overcoming Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| GOAL: | Awareness on Alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on addictions | |
| IMPACT: | Understood the effects of alcoholism and the need to work hard. Frustration, economic hardships and lack of jobs they would like to have are their main concerns. | |
| FUTURE: | To follow up during next visit. | |
| SEPT. 12: | TIME: | Morning 10:00 - 12:00 noon |
| PLACE: | Village Amritpur Dera, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 30 women | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | Alcoholism and lack of jobs are their foremost concerns. They talked about how women fight each other and are not keen on others welfare. How the lack of money forced them to seek favors and beg from landlords, shopkeepers and others with money. They were upset with the schools, how they were constantly being asked for money by the school and teachers under one pretext or another but the teaching remained poor. | |
| FUTURE: | Agreed to petition the Sarpanch and school management to ask for better schools and teaching and to stop the sale of alcohol. | |
| SEPT. 12: | TIME: | AFTERNOON 12:00 - 2:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Kairwali, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 50 women of ages 20-60 | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | These women became very silent when I described STDs, common risky behaviors like offering sex in exchange for food and work, excess of youth. The feeling I got was that they saw the prevalence of these risk behaviors in theirlives, family and community but did not know how to talk about them or change. | |
| FUTURE: | Not clear. Many follow ups with this village may be necessary. | |
| SEPT. 12: | TIME: | Afternoon 3:00 - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Kairwali Dera, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 40 women and about 10 unmarried girls | |
| TALK TITLE: | Overcoming Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | Alcohol was their major concern. A number of women had alcoholic husbands. 3-4 women were concerned about husbands who drank about 200ml everyday. While they were not violent, their regular drinking was destroying the household. In response to STDs, the women had a small discussion on the issue of sex in exchange for favors and how to educate their children. | |
| FUTURE: | These women could easily be helped and would respond very fast if we could establish income generation schemes and address the issue of alcoholism. | |
| SEPT. 12: | TIME: | Evening 5:30 - 7:00 |
| PLACE: | Village Kairwali, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 20 men led by the Sarpanch of Kairwali and Kairwali Dera | |
| TALK TITLE: | Overcoming Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| GOAL: | Awareness on Alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on addictions | |
| IMPACT: | The Sarpanch kept interrupting the discussion to say how alcoholism was not a big problem in these two villages and how he had spent so much time fixing many of the problems. Yes there were 2-3 alcoholics but they were being worked on. This was not what the others told me in private. According to them, alcohol abuse was a problem for 40% of the adult males. After all the denials, the Sarpanch asked for help with his nephew who had become a drug addict at age 17 and had been married at 18 by the family to "fix" the problem. I could no longer discuss the issue with the Sarpanch When he told me that the situation was so bad that the young bride and their 16 months old child had returned to her parents house and his complete lack of concern for her. The meeting ended on this unpleasant note. | |
| FUTURE: | Not clear. | |
| SEPT. 13: | TIME: | Morning 8:30 - 10:30 |
| PLACE: | Village Nagla Farm, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 35 adult men and 10youth | |
| TALK TITLE: | Overcoming Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| GOAL: | Awareness on Alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on addictions | |
| IMPACT: | We discussed how, even as untrained workers, they could slowly learn a trade or if they worked in a factory, could slowly learn more technical skills. They were very unhappy with the changes in technology because of which they had lost their livelihood and frustrated with the government for providing no income generation schemes. | |
| FUTURE: | To follow up during next visit. | |
| SEPT. 13: | TIME: | NOON 11:00 - 12:45 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Gadikhajoor, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 80 women including about 15 unmarried girls | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | This was my second visit to this village. The women are very upset with the growth of alcoholism. They had, a few months ago, confronted some of the illegal vendors of alcohol and tried to close them down. Unfortunately, the coalition did not last due to infighting and vested interests. | |
| FUTURE: | The women will continue to push for putting a stop to illegal distribution of alcohol. Also, they will start a community program for children and to stop children from hanging around alcohol shops and gambling areas. | |
| SEPT. 13: | TIME: | AFTERNOON 3:00 - 5:15 pm |
| PLACE: | Village Dibarki Kula, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 30 women and 15 men | |
| TALK TITLE: | Reproductive health, STDs, and Addictions | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Mamta | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | Due to the mixed audience, this meeting touched on many issues. Children today and the impact of TV on them. Why children go astray and how to work with them. STDs and HIV/AIDS. How to deal with alcoholism and its consequences. Confronting alcoholism, domestic violence and STDs. Preventing children from starting alcohol use and gambling. Outline of talk on reproductive health | |
| IMPACT: | There was a prevasive sense of depression and lack of hope. Some of the younger male adults did accept the need for cooperations and slowly developing community programs. | |
| FUTURE: | Will get better idea next visit. | |
| SEPT. 14: | TIME: | 9:00 - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Arpana Trust and Hospital , Madhuban, on GT Road near Karnal | |
| AGENDA: | Review and analysis of Arpana's Rural Programs | |
| PARTICIPENTS: | Mr. Ratti Sabharwal, Dr. Ela Anand, Ms. Aruna Dayal, Ms Mamta, Mark, Anne | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust | |
| OUTLINE: | How to accelerate rural development. How to deal with the menace of alcoholism? How to develop income generation schemes for men. How to improve schools and opportunities for children? | |
| IMPACT: | A number of issues were analyzed and key needs were identified. | |
| FUTURE: | Arpana board members to reassess programs and priorities |
Ms Neelima Khetan of Seva Samaj for organizing the Udaipur program. Dr. H. K. Dewan Director, and Mr. Rakesh Sexena, Principal, of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir for hosting me.
Mrs. Ms. Neena Khanna, Principal Kundan Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana. Sonia Shroff and her staff for developing the student team for multimedia talent competition.
Mr Arun Kapur, Director Vasant Valley School, Mrs Narang Principal, Ms. Dimple Sharma, Ms. Sonya Bahri for hosting the second North India multimedia contest.
Lavleen Singal for hosting me in Delhi and for arranging discussions with media companies. Drs. Shekhar and Nirmala Agarwal for their hospitality and willingness to involve Sant Parmanand Hospital.
Dr. Pradeep Seth for facilitating meetings with doctors at AIIMS.
Mr. Ratti Sabharwal, Aruna Dayal, Mark, Anne, Ela Anand, Anjan and the rest of the Arpana members for spending time with me to explain the various programs of the Arpana trust and for their hospitality.
Alice Chapman, Neel and Nevin for their constant support
Rajan Gupta