Had got up at 6, hearing Aniyan's alarm and went about the chores. After he'd got ready, we'd gone looking for the canteen nearby which had ultimately opened at a quarter past 7! The tea that he'd given me was a stiff one that I detest but on such occasions, one has to lump it and that's exactly what I did. I was a bit late in getting ready but we were able to kick off from the Rest house at 9.
Our first point of reception was at Kumbala panchayat which provided us with breakfast at its Kudumbasree canteen. They'd run out of breakfast because someone had given them a wrong strength of our team and hence, we'd to wait a while for breakfast. We're, finally, served with piping hot 'upma' and after a long time I'd it along with sugar which is a combination that I'm fond of!
The panchayats with which we'd our trysts today, were:-
(a) Kumbla.
(b) Mogral Puthur.
(c) Chengala.
(d) Pullurperiya and
(e) Kallar.
At the Kumbla panchayat, firstly, there was a long wait for the function to begin. Incidentally, a large percent of the population spoke a variant of Kannada because parts of this district was carved out of Karnataka. The usual crib about not having got the orders had to be countered with the fact that the mail regarding the yatra was sent by five sources from 15 - 25 Jan. The secretary was quiet after the retort but what has to be summed up are the following:-
(a) The government's claim of effective e-governance and paperless offices in panchayats is yet
to become a reality.
(b) The staff needs more awareness about the use of computers and e-governance.
The interaction with the audience was lively and interesting. We also honoured Santhamma, a casual labourer, all of 77 years of age. The crowd at Mogral Puthur was okay but the venue was beside the highway and it was hot and dusty all the way. We honoured 81 year old Rajeevi Shetty for her sagacity and keen interest in her work as a casual labourer. Lunch at their Kudumbasree canteen was nice.
I really felt bad for the performing policemen when much of the audience walked away before the street play ended, perhaps they were hungry!
By about a half past 2, we'd gone across to Chengala. I'd stayed back to oversee filling of fuel and paying the bills on the Foundation's credit card. By the time I'd reached there, we're in time for the visit by the ladies and school children into the buses. They're given a brief account of the scientific articles and the courses on order at the Kudumbasree, along with the books for purchase in the Book Mark bus.
And by 4, we're at the penultimate panchayat of Pullurperiya. There was a fairly large audience which was inquisitive, interested in what was put across and interactive. Lalitha, a smart casual labourer in her 30s was honoured. Mr. Balakrishnan Nair, who'd been a young worker with Muthachhan, during the literacy movement had also come by and was felicitated by the panchayat for his contribution.
The last panchayat in our itinerary was Kallar, which was an eastern outpost. Here, Christians were predominant among the population while the earlier four had a Muslim prominence. By the time we'd traversed the 30 kms towards the place, it was about a half past 6 but the crowd was patiently waiting for us. Cutting across the frills, the interaction was kept short and by a quarter to 8, everything was over.
The 14th Eco-Digital Jan Vigyan Vikas Yatra had completed the task that it had aimed for. It gave us a tremendous sense of satisfaction. We'd traversed about 3,026 kms over 33 days!
We, finally, settled down in the PWD Rest House at Kanhangad for the night halt. The break up of our team had begun, consequent to dinner. The Book Mark team, along with four policemen, were the first to take off and the others are poised for an early morning take off! Told them that I'd miss each one of them as we'd meshed into a fine team over these 33 days!
Tailpiece.
1. On a personal note I was pretty glad that I could overcome my cough and ill health over the first fortnight, that I'd contracted towards the final sojourn of our Sri Lankan trip with my course mates.
2. Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Vijay and me with ladies visited Mohan at Vellore. In the month that he spent at the CMC, he was
improving. condition was steadily improving....he started using his left hand a little and could
sit upright and stand with support.....however, last week he developed some infection and is on
antibiotics.....he has become weak again and finds it difficult to stay awake....in fact, he has gone
back 4 weeks of physiotherapy. Expenses ere increasing and they've dipped into reserves". From
Suresh Laxman.
Our first point of reception was at Kumbala panchayat which provided us with breakfast at its Kudumbasree canteen. They'd run out of breakfast because someone had given them a wrong strength of our team and hence, we'd to wait a while for breakfast. We're, finally, served with piping hot 'upma' and after a long time I'd it along with sugar which is a combination that I'm fond of!
The panchayats with which we'd our trysts today, were:-
(a) Kumbla.
(b) Mogral Puthur.
(c) Chengala.
(d) Pullurperiya and
(e) Kallar.
At the Kumbla panchayat, firstly, there was a long wait for the function to begin. Incidentally, a large percent of the population spoke a variant of Kannada because parts of this district was carved out of Karnataka. The usual crib about not having got the orders had to be countered with the fact that the mail regarding the yatra was sent by five sources from 15 - 25 Jan. The secretary was quiet after the retort but what has to be summed up are the following:-
(a) The government's claim of effective e-governance and paperless offices in panchayats is yet
to become a reality.
(b) The staff needs more awareness about the use of computers and e-governance.
The interaction with the audience was lively and interesting. We also honoured Santhamma, a casual labourer, all of 77 years of age. The crowd at Mogral Puthur was okay but the venue was beside the highway and it was hot and dusty all the way. We honoured 81 year old Rajeevi Shetty for her sagacity and keen interest in her work as a casual labourer. Lunch at their Kudumbasree canteen was nice.
I really felt bad for the performing policemen when much of the audience walked away before the street play ended, perhaps they were hungry!
By about a half past 2, we'd gone across to Chengala. I'd stayed back to oversee filling of fuel and paying the bills on the Foundation's credit card. By the time I'd reached there, we're in time for the visit by the ladies and school children into the buses. They're given a brief account of the scientific articles and the courses on order at the Kudumbasree, along with the books for purchase in the Book Mark bus.
And by 4, we're at the penultimate panchayat of Pullurperiya. There was a fairly large audience which was inquisitive, interested in what was put across and interactive. Lalitha, a smart casual labourer in her 30s was honoured. Mr. Balakrishnan Nair, who'd been a young worker with Muthachhan, during the literacy movement had also come by and was felicitated by the panchayat for his contribution.
The last panchayat in our itinerary was Kallar, which was an eastern outpost. Here, Christians were predominant among the population while the earlier four had a Muslim prominence. By the time we'd traversed the 30 kms towards the place, it was about a half past 6 but the crowd was patiently waiting for us. Cutting across the frills, the interaction was kept short and by a quarter to 8, everything was over.
The 14th Eco-Digital Jan Vigyan Vikas Yatra had completed the task that it had aimed for. It gave us a tremendous sense of satisfaction. We'd traversed about 3,026 kms over 33 days!
We, finally, settled down in the PWD Rest House at Kanhangad for the night halt. The break up of our team had begun, consequent to dinner. The Book Mark team, along with four policemen, were the first to take off and the others are poised for an early morning take off! Told them that I'd miss each one of them as we'd meshed into a fine team over these 33 days!
Tailpiece.
1. On a personal note I was pretty glad that I could overcome my cough and ill health over the first fortnight, that I'd contracted towards the final sojourn of our Sri Lankan trip with my course mates.
2. Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Vijay and me with ladies visited Mohan at Vellore. In the month that he spent at the CMC, he was
improving. condition was steadily improving....he started using his left hand a little and could
sit upright and stand with support.....however, last week he developed some infection and is on
antibiotics.....he has become weak again and finds it difficult to stay awake....in fact, he has gone
back 4 weeks of physiotherapy. Expenses ere increasing and they've dipped into reserves". From
Suresh Laxman.
No comments:
Post a Comment