2 in 1: The Great Divide

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"All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that." - Swami Vivekananda



Primary Health Care: July 14-19, 2014

On our first day at CHAI headquarters, we were told that India is like 2 countries in 1. One country that houses the wealthy and prosperous while the other that shelters the poor and needy. It is a curious thing to be driving down the street and see a beautiful glass building that allows you to see the expensive cars for sale in it's interior right beside a row of shelters half caved in and homes made from tarps. Poverty is real. Taking the form of beggars knocking on your car window, children prancing around in costumes asking for money if you take a photo and cripples curled up on the side of the road, the urban slums are a constant reminder of the development that is still needed in India. The divide is even more apparent when you go to a movie theatre and see wealth represented through large cinematic screens, specialty foods, rock-climbing facilities and game rooms. It's hard to remember that there is poverty right outside the doors of such a luxurious establishment that feels more like home that anything we have experienced so far. Although advanced in knowledge and education, it is obvious that India has much to do in order to achieve millennium goals that we westerners (the minority world) often take for granted.

This week we actually left the city and spent some time at a convent in the rural villages of Manoharabad and Ravelly Village. We learned first hand about government incentives in schools to help children stay in school, such as the midday meal programs which provides school children with lunch free of charge. This program seeks to attract children to school, control absenteeism and improve the overall education status of Indian children. There is also a law that requires girls to attend school (for free if they attend public government schools) until the age of 14. However, it is hard to miss the little girls running around, playing outside in their bare feet and doing chores during school hours. These girls are obviously missing out on the education that has been offered to them. In such ways as this, we saw how these programs are not always implemented as they are promised or are unable to be properly controlled. We saw corruption, propaganda and the realism of how government money does not always reach those in need. For instance, although employment insurance acts are in place, they are largely based on your income, social status and class and seem difficult to obtain.

Despite these realizations, we had a very lovely week meeting people from the village, visiting the JMJ Medium School (a private institution), participating in a "clean green" program by helping plant trees, and getting our feet dirty in the rice fields. It was clear through observing their interactions with the villagers that the public health nurses had built very strong relationships with the community. It was refreshing to see that despite certain obstacles, the nurses were very concerned with the health of the people and worked very hard to help wherever they could. Sandhaya and Pratima, masters students specializing in community nursing, were even quick to pick up the shovel and spike in order to dig holes for tree planting. You definitely cannot deny that these women are hardworking.

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