Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust came to Theliyana Bajardiha just two weeks ago. However, today on February 22nd we are at a different community. This group of slum dwellers are called 'ragpickers'. Basically, they go through the trash that people throw out on the streets and pick out all the recyclables. They collect the paper, plastic, rag/cloth, glass, and a myriad of other items in huge nylon bags and store them next to their homes. These are later sold in bulk at a better price. India has a population of 1.2 billion people, so the government has to consider the benefits of modernizing the country without destroying industries that supply jobs for the uneducated masses, such as the ragpickers.
Today is Sunday, which is considered as the only rest day of the week in India. Last Friday, there was a huge fire here that destroyed 9 dwellings and hospitalized one man. The tents were made of bamboo poles with discarded sacking, and saris or any other suitable materials acting as tarpaulins over the bamboo frames. The repercussions of this fire for the village are harsh. They have been ordered to leave the land within 15 days. And, even as we cook the food, we see one of the locals packing up a bicycle trolley and moving out of his house.
Today is Sunday, which is considered as the only rest day of the week in India. Last Friday, there was a huge fire here that destroyed 9 dwellings and hospitalized one man. The tents were made of bamboo poles with discarded sacking, and saris or any other suitable materials acting as tarpaulins over the bamboo frames. The repercussions of this fire for the village are harsh. They have been ordered to leave the land within 15 days. And, even as we cook the food, we see one of the locals packing up a bicycle trolley and moving out of his house.
Before the children run to greet us, we see them walking around the compound area cleaning up all the blowing plastic bags and collecting them to be put in storage. We have several of Sai Maa's students assisting in this Just One feeding today. As they shake hands and play with the boys and girls, the children take them to their homes and show them their lives.
More than 200 children and adults that attended the feeding today, consisting of the traditional Indian food of puris, vegetable curry, and a banana for dessert. Because the fire destroyed everything that 9 of these very poor families owned and has affected the whole community, this feeding was not just for the children – it was for all members of the community and was warmly welcomed by children and adults alike.
This feeding was a great success and one of my most enjoyable feedings. It felt great to bring this village together at such a chaotic time. It felt joyous to play with the children and let them know that people care about them. It felt intimate to be brought into and accepted into this community in way I had not experienced before. The love and caring offered by the students of Sai Maa and the ASMITA staff, and the reciprocated gratitude from the villagers seemed to create a magnetic exchange and was an intensely rewarding experience.
More than 200 children and adults that attended the feeding today, consisting of the traditional Indian food of puris, vegetable curry, and a banana for dessert. Because the fire destroyed everything that 9 of these very poor families owned and has affected the whole community, this feeding was not just for the children – it was for all members of the community and was warmly welcomed by children and adults alike.
This feeding was a great success and one of my most enjoyable feedings. It felt great to bring this village together at such a chaotic time. It felt joyous to play with the children and let them know that people care about them. It felt intimate to be brought into and accepted into this community in way I had not experienced before. The love and caring offered by the students of Sai Maa and the ASMITA staff, and the reciprocated gratitude from the villagers seemed to create a magnetic exchange and was an intensely rewarding experience.
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