10th Trip : Survey of Agricultural Initiative

Objective of Survey

Our 10th trip on 6th December, was a bit different. Nothing to distribute, not to train but to have a first hand assessment of what is the outcome of our agricultural rehabilitation initiative started on the 5th September,2009. So, on 6th December, a small PAKT team visited the Chargheri area.

It may be recalled that 14 training sessions, both theoretical and hands on, were arranged by PAKT for different groups of villagers. PAKT roped in agricultural trainers Mr Narayan Chandra Bachar and Mrs Anjana Mandal from the organisation SWANIRVAR, for imparting the training and planned, organised and financed the training sessions and related works. In mid October, 14 different types of seeds of vegetables, Spinach (Palong), Radish (Mulo), olkapi, Carrot(gajor), beat, dhone, lanka, kumro, barbati,Ladies finger (vendi), uchhe, Brinjal (begoon) lau, lalshak, were distributed among 560 families of the five villages covered by PAKT.

Seeds were distributed in mid October, 2009 and it was time to visit and review the results. We were eager to see the outcome of the application of different techniques (explained during the training) of growing vegetables in the lands affected by saline water intrusion during the Aila. After the Aila, many people predicted that these lands would be rendered fallow at least for two years. Our survey was critical for assessing the success of the agricultural rehabilitation initiative and deciding our future course of activities in these villages, specially in the agriculture sector.

The Survey

For covering the huge area in a single day, the PAKT team broke up in two groups. One group got down at the Lahiripur Boat Ghat RW and covered Lahiripur and part of Shantigachi. The other group disembarked at the Kakmari bajar ghat and covered Bidhan colony, Parasmani, part of Shantigachi and a few houses of Chargheri. In totality, we visited and interacted with 75 families during our five hour long walk through the villages and gathered substantial doceumentation in the form of videos and pictures (that link shows pictures taken at Lahiripur-Santigachhi; click here for pictures taken by the other team that surveyed at Porosmani-BidhanColony and part of Chargheri). Both teams were accompanied and supported by the representatives of the cooperatives (see later) from respective villages.

Observations

i) Almost all the villagers who took the agricultural training & vegetable seeds from PAKT, have attempted seriously to harvest the vegetables in their own lands. We hardly came across any family who has failed to grow anything from the seeds given by PAKT.

ii) We saw varying results. Not all could apply their trainings in a very effective manner. but those who has judiciously applied has generally got good results. However, we did not observe many cases where people has utlitsed the innovative techniques, like planting in the sack.

iii) Land condition and water availability has got a major impact on the outcome :

a) In certain area the land was flushed with saline water once, while some experienced long stagnation of saline water. The latter type, particularly the low lying field, has not observed a good yield in general (barring a few cases like Nirapada Sarkar) as the salt comes up during drying up process. Relatively higher lands which were not regularly flooded by the tidal cycle have better yield.

b) In general who used the fresh water from tubewells has got good results. But there are few tubewells in the village (particularly in Lahiripur/Santigachi area) and not many people could access them.

c) Interestingly, a number of people also got good yield by using the water from their own pond near the field. This water is likely to be saline (or nonta) to low-saline (or doodh-nonta), depending on two factors
• Duration of exposure to saline water, and
• If the pond was dewatered at least once after Aila.
A little investigation reveals that not surprisingly the ponds with favourable history of both the above events have successfully supported agriculture

d) Some villagers have used the pond water mixed with tubewell water or on alternate days with tubewell water. This should be the optimal solution , because the high iron content in tubewell water can cause impedance to the growth of the vegetables and the villagers are aware of this fact!!

iv) Several families have not utilized their total agricultural land due to the lack of availability of enough “good/fresh” water. A good option may be to take the risk of using the saline water from nearby pond and give it a try, as this has proved almost a sure option for the ponds dewaterd at least once after the Aila.

v) In a large number of cases palong shak is affected by some insects The training covered these issues. So we asked the cooperative members to convene a meeting in the village and again remind the vegetable farmers all the basics to get rid of it.

vi) We came across several families in Lahiripur who are living in temporary roadside shanties but have grown vegetables on the plot of land which was once the plinth of their house. Indomitable spirit !!!

vii) On an average, we have noticed excellent results for Palongshak, Mulo, Olkapi, uchhe, Lau & Kumro.

viii) Satisfactory results (with occasional cases of failures) have been noticed for Lalshak, Beet & Vendi.

ix) In most of the cases brinjal (begoon) seeds provided by PAKT was found to be a failure. Rather saplings procured from local markets have good results. Chilli (lanka) and barbati seeds also failed to produce good returns barring a few exceptions .

Conclusion

1. The villagers have regained quite a bit of their confidence and have started believing the possibilities of farming in the saline water affected land using the specialized techniques. The vegetable harvest this winter is a major step towards restoring their agriculture based livelihood. Even some of them are interested to try out paddy cultivation. When we asked a gathering of villagers whether they feel rice cultivation will be possible next year (precisely next monsoon), we were pleasantly surprised by a unanimous positive response. They also repeatedly requested PAKT to also consider distributing suitable seeds for repeat of vegetable cultivation before the rainy season.

2. Following our earlier suggestion and with guidance from the agricultural trainers, a 20 member agricultural community has been formed with representatives from five villages. Through this community they are trying to help each other and sharing their agricultural problems. The cooperative members are trying to take lead roles & ownerships in such cases.

Plan for Blanket Distribution

Both the PAKT teams, explained in detail to a good gathering of villagers regarding the modalities of the distribution of the blankets, specially the issue of bringing some identity proof.

To have a more detailed feedback from the villagers, we asked each of them (who took seeds from PAKT) to fill up a small questionnaire. The simple queries were about training, name of the vegetable seeds that got good and bad yields and what they want to cultivate in the coming monsoon. We explained respective representative of cooperatives to help the villagers in answering it.

Update of Agricultural Rehab - towards Success

Since our eighth visit, there had been no update, except a small note from Angshuman. You must be wondering that if we stopped our Help Sunderban Intiative in the five villages of Chargheri area (Chargheri, Parasmani, Lahiripur, parasmani and Bishan Colony) . The answer is NO – we are there – works were in progress but we were just waiting for some results before we inform you about the success of our initiative.

Last time we informed about our visit to Chargher on 10^th October for distribution of seed. Yes, we distribute seeds of vegetables (Begun, Lanka, lalshak, Palongshak, mulo. Gajor, beet, olkapi, uchhe,borboti, vebdi, lau, kumro) to 265 families. Next day the seeds were distributed to 150 families through our agricultural trainers. The remaining seeds were brought back by us and later again transported to Chargheri and distributed to a 145 families in the presence of our Agricultural trainers. This carrying back and forth was troublesome, but was necessary to prevent any misuse of seeds and to ensure proper preservation.

Last Saturday our Agricultural trainers were in Chargheri area for follow up training and reported that the results are encouraging. Begun and Lal shak is not so successful, some failures are also noted for barbate and seam but the overall results are encouraging They are expecting a good harvest. In all the situation is upbeat.

Another good thing is that following our suggestions and advise, the villagers have formed a cooperative (unregisted) with representatives form all five villages. They are supposed to communicate with the trainers about problems encountered during the post training farming and any related issues. We had regular contact over phone with some of these cooperative members and they seem to work well in coordination.

We suumarise our agricultural rehabilitation program:

• We arranged the agricultural trainings by the trainer from an organization SWANIRVAR,who has successfully carried out similar trainings in Aila affected areas of Hingalgunge. .
• Mr Naran Chandra Bachar and Mrs Anjana Mandal have imparted training for 14 days spread over their 5 trips to Chargheri. After distribution of seeds, another two days follow up review and problem solving session was held last weekend.
• Direct training was provided to around 260 villagers the five villages, trainings were arranged in different places of these five villages to facilitate uniform opportunity for participation.
• We encouraged the villagers to spread the training through “each one teach one” process and another 340 people get “indirect” trained by directly trained trainees. We allowed villagers who are not PAKT card holder (introduced during relief) to take part in the training program. Only requirement was the trainee should have his own land.
• The training not only taught techniques of vegetable faming in this type of saline water affected land but also generated asset maps of the villages, crop calendar etx. Trainees were enlightened on general cropping practices, problems of natural disasters and rising of sea water level.
• We only provided seed to the villagers who completed training. Around 600 villagers were eligible on this ground.
• We procured seeds from SWANIRVAR by paying them the necessary amount. Each set of seed packet (comprising seeds of 14 different vegetables) cost us 55 Rs (including packing). We asked the villagers to give 20 Rs for each set of seed packet. This was basically to get their commitment for pursuing the agriculture and to manage the three fold increase in the number than our initial estimate. It is worthy to mention that during distribution the villagers themselves admitted it would have cost them around 80 Rs, to get this quality and quantity of seeds from market. In total 550 seed packets were distributed.
• The training program so far cost us around 18,000 Rs. and the seeds around Rs. 34,000.

Update on distribution of seeds for backyard farming: Facebook style

We have not been giving you updates for long. We were actually waiting for the distribution of seeds to be completed. It is going to be completed by today. It may be recalled that PAKT had provided training to farmers of the five villages (Chargheri, Santigachhi, Lahiripur, Porosmoni & Bidhan Colony) for alternative vegetable farming in their backyards. Now we are backing it up by providing seeds to these farmers at heavily discounted prices.

This is what I wrote in a friend's facebook page, and I hope pasting it in a blog for your updation does the job for the time being.

"We have distributed seeds to 600 farmer families in Sunderbans for backyard farming to help them get over the mental block that their salinated lands are no good for farming and those are (reportedly) yielding good results. This proves to them that at least their backyards are back to fertility.
Next step: we plan to help a sample of 20 farmers to grow rice in salinated water logged paddy fields. Aim is to see that all farmers in these villages see the results and get over the same block for their paddy fields. If these bear crop in a couple of months, these can help prove to us - and more importantly to them - that they have hope for next rice season."

The number of families supported is actually 575 as per counting during today's final phase of seed distribution; we found that the number of seed packets were a little lesser than estimated.
Sandeepan will soon come up with a more detailed update on the seed distribution for backyard farming.

Still a Lot is Needed

Many times we repeated in our blogs that certain constructive initiatives by the administration could have made things lot easier. The basic two initatives we urged several times are:
i) Pumping out saline water from the low lying agricultural lands
ii) Disbursement of the government approved amount for the reconstruction of the destroyed houses.
The same view is echoed by a newspaper report, Aila survivors stare at winter without relief in The Telegraph.
The report is based on an area other than Chargheri, in the Sunderbans, but this is a general picture. This is exactly why we had to take up the agricultural training program in Chargheri in a more elaborate way than initially planned. Only aim is to show the villagers a ray of hope that some agriculture is possible here – they can find some livelihood.
But a lot more is to be done to bring them back to their normal agriculture based life.
Any advise, assitance and direct participation will be a big help for us.

8th trip: pics and videos

Chargheri 8th Trip dated 19th-Sep-09:
[Pictures and videos in chronological order - links to videos / pics are given in red & grey]

You can find some quite interesting videos of conversations and narrations related to agriculture in the links below. It was quite enlightening for me to be part of these communications as a videographer and I hope it will be the same for people interested in agricultural methods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKS8g0wv13k
[Video: Breakfast at Malancha, where "parathas" are torn and sold by weight. We have taken our breakfast at this shop on the way to Sonakhali for 7 of the last 8 trips.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf2DPKYIbDo
[Video: As soon as we get on the boat we see a sudden weather change. There is a heavy downpour. Fortunately it did not continue for long. The weather held up for the rest of the day and it helped us walk on the earthen paths inside Chargheri in much easier fashion than we would have done if the earth would have become slippery from rains. ]


http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291640834629090 [Stillpic: Some of the PAKT team members who made the 8th trip - Sudipto, Kaustuv, Angshuman and Saptarshi (L to R). Debajyoti da took the pic, while Sandeepan is missing from the scene]


http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291631790948386
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291615197655650
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291620322757554
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385288255170330882
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385288275125587282
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385288300346880450
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385288325038137010
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291606837661026
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385288379373015362 [Stillpix: The stills in above links were taken on the boat. They show the various charts that the villagers have prepared under guidance of Trainers Narayan Bachar and Anjana Mandal from Swanirvar. The next training will have more such charts, especially the "Sampad" or land resource map, being produced for the other villages. Some charts will be common.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvbAgFuT2lw
[Video: This video shows how the locals use the slippery mud to drag their boats from the dyke walls to the river which moves far away during low tide. This is how we are often loaded on a boat and hauled near our main boat by these villagers at departure time when it gets dark.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBYfMZkaXYE
[Video: People are queuing up near the distribution spot for the final phase of food distribution by PAKT to identified families of Chargheri, Santigachhi, Bidhan Colony, Lahiripur & Poroshmoni.]


http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385288437409263602
http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291602272016818 [Stillpic: Snaps of the same distribution point]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngFClG5MAUI
[Video: A few of the villagers, such as the family in this video, have been smart and already started using traditional knowledge of alternative backyard farming methods to maximise vegetable yields. We can see both cultivation on elevated ridges as well as trellis (machan) farming being practised by this family.

However the percentage of people trying out the trellis method / sack method / ridge & trough method cultivation to grow vegetables is still woefully less. We hope the alternative agricultural training will help drive more people towards having backyards like this and thereby capitalise on what they have got.]


http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291559845733186 [Stillpic: Trellis farming at the entrance gate of that family's home]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTaxruOdv6U
[Video: This backyard was used as a practical demonstration of the various alternative farming methods that the trainers advised local farmers to take up in order to maximise the vegetable yields in coming winter season to satisfy food requirements of their own families. Mr Bachar explains the various methods to PAKT.

Most of these techniques may not be as effective in the main farmlands which too low to use draining methods and hence are still covered with salinity. Rice yield may not be possible in the main farmlands with many of these techniques. But these can be highly effective in the backyards of their homes which are naturally at more elevated lands. Most of the people have a significant plot of land attached to their now damaged homes where these techniques can produce enough yields for self-sufficency of vegetables.

Sack method is useful to people who have less backyard land. It maximises production of suitable vegetables while minimising land space on ground. The vegetable shoots growing from all faces of the sacks - top as well as sides - can be guided on to a trellis (machan) to allow the vegetables to grow on the trellis.

A set of beds was also prepared to create a nursery for growing seedlings 'offline' and then transfer to people's backyards.]


http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291583741902162 [Stillpic: Close up snap of a typical sack, showing growth of seedlings in it]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX2ZjukZVAg
[Video: Narayan Bachar, one of our trainers, explains the details of the sack method and 'philosophy' of selection of seeds for that method. The villagers are also being taught to prepare compost on their own from natural wastes, as also preparation of base material for vermicompost (compost with earthworms) which will be complete when they add necessary breed of earthworm to the base material.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmo18YjYfsE
[Video: This video shows that the trainers had planted 5 strands of 7 different varieties of rice in the salt affected farmlands. This has been done 2 weeks back at 2 separate villages - one at Chargheri (seen here) and the other at Poroshmoni. If some of the strands can grow even in that salty-water-salty-soil situation, then these varieties can be tried out in coming days with the hope that at least some fields can get a crop (They have a rice crop sowing season coming up in January 2010).

We can also see how some of the seeds of various vegetables, sown / scattered around the backyard a few weeks back, are all growing up with or without care being taken. The hay spread at the base of the seedlings not only helps loss of moisture so important to the tender plants, but also prevents salt from coming to the surface and affecting the plant (this generally is abetted by drying of moisture).]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMrgf-U4v7s
[Video: Trainers show us examples how the soil in the backyards of local farmers is extremely supportive of vegetation even at this stage.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv7b3btZAXI
[Video: PAKT & the trainers visit a few households that have developed their backyard vegetable farming as per advice provided by the trainers]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p7iR64PfWI
[Video: Sandeepan of PAKT, supported by the trainers, communicates to the trainees that each of them need to teach at least 3 other farmers in the coming weeks. They need to transmit the advanced knowledge gained on alternative methods to other farmers so that all can adopt these techniques to the fullest in their backyards over the coming winter season for self-sufficiency on vegetables.]


http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385291648465382386 [Stillpic: Agricultural trainers explaining the purpose of training program to the attendees of the introductory session to 3rd agricultural training program]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aylNungbdts
[Video: Sandeepan and the trainers explain PAKT's long term objective of providing the training on alternative vegetable growth techniques to as many villagers as possible.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9HjP6dFQPY
[Video: Trainers utilise the introductory session to brief farmer families on what they stand to learn (or re-learn) from the training in next 2 days.

They touch upon the topics like how to choose suitable vegetables to be grown in saline conditions, how to beat the prevailing saline conditions, how to apply natural fertilisers like cowdung & compost in backyards, how to protect saplings from drying up of soil & salt effect by covering beds with hay, how seeds can be implanted on land unsuitable for tilling by simple scattering method (instead of sowing) and supported / protected by cowdung water. These topics will be covered in more detail in the next 2 days of training.

Mr. Bachar also briefs people how it is beneficial for everyone to use natural fertilisers like cowdung. Cowdung, when used as fertiliser, causes no harm to humans consuming the vegetables (unlike chemical fertilisers) but also doubles up as a natural pest repellant as well as anti-saline agent.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AGiqlph6BM
[Video: Trainers explain how pest repulsion can be done at no extra cost by sprinkling cowdung water and also spice grinding water ("moshla bata jol") on the seedlings.

Mr. Bachar explains using common sense and traditional methods to beat the present saline conditions. He also cites others to follow the example of those farmers who had already explored such techniques (with or without advice from trainers). These people already have vegetables growing in their backyards, and others can also see the same in their backyards if they start putting in the effort employing the right methods.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaIBkAHJowE
[Video: The statements made by the trainers are spontaneously supported by a local trainee, Alok Mondal. Alok is a farmer from Posroshmoni who received training in earlier programs by the trainers (he can be seen taking down notes in videos of 1st program).

Alok reiterates that the training helps fine tune the agricultural knowledge that the locals already have. Alok opines that after knowing the specific methods, people will be able to adapt with the present saline conditions better and use these new techniques (including producing natural fertilisers and pesticides on their own) to their own benefit. He states the essential aim of this training by PAKT - they know what to do with various crops / vegetables, and the training aims to help the locals adopt the best way to do it.

Mr. Dhiren Mandal, father of Dipankar, also reiterates that the the locals stand to cut down on expenses substantially if they can at least grow their own vegetables instead of having to buy it at extremely high prices from the market.]



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjSnGprHFZ8
[Video: PAKT has an informal chat with local farmers. They explain some techniques that are proving successful at their backyards. PAKT highlights the need to spread knowledge of ALL newly learnt methods (whether by self-experimentation or by training arranged by PAKT) to others in their neighbourhood.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYWpXOk1MhY
[Video: Mrs Anjana Mandal re-explains the invaluable potential of cowdung as a natural and freely available material with three-in-one utility for farmers in farm as well as in household work: fertiliser, pest / micro-organism repellant as well as protection from salinity.]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvBhhkeHQa4
[Video: As the trainers explain how this particular backyard could be (and can still be) made lush with agricutural products INCLUDING rice. Here we can see that stray rice seeds that were washed out by Aila waters from the homes into these open backyards have taken root without any effort from the land owner. With some effort, this significantly large backyard could have yielded an assortment of agricultural products by now.

However the land owner was so far sceptic in taking up any agriculture work after Aila - a mental block that many other farmers have fallen victim to. They also narrate how the rich growth in each strand also prove the need to adopt some optimum scientific spacing for crops (varying from conventional techniques) have proven to give much higher crop yields per unit area.

As far as I learnt from Narayan-da, conventionally the farmers place a few rice strands every 6 inches while SRT (expands to Superior Rice Technique or something like that) advises placing a single strand and also increasing the spacing by almost 3 times. It is apparently proven by results all around that each strand produces many times more than the conventionally placed strands and overall yield per area is increased. However farmers need to be urged to adopt it for the first time. Some of them find it hard to get over the fear of getting low yield.]


http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip8PixCellcam#5385288452184719490 [Stillpic: A traditional lantern dimly lights up the top deck of boat during our return journey]

8th Visit report

After our second trip, we promised people of Chargheri that we will continue our relief with rice distribution till Biswakarma Puja. We could complete that commitment yesterday on our 8th trip. It was possible only because people came forward to be part of PAKT’s initiative. With support from our friends, colleagues &well wishers it we could complete distribution of around 15,500 kg of rice in last three months over 12 weeks in our 8 trips. During this trip also we carried with us 2700 kg of rice and 15 kg soyabean. This time we could not get Kachu (Arum) in the local market.

The distribution was very smooth and distribution of all rice sacks was completed by six in the evening.

We also took with us considerable amount of old clothes (in considerably good conditions) for those who will not be able to buy anything for their pujas. Many of the villagers will not like to have the old clothes for the pujas even in the distressed condition – but it was meant for those who just cannot make it.

Rehabilitation - going back to growing crop

On our way towards Charheri, we had extensive discussion with our agricultural trainers Mr Narayan Bachhar and Mrs Anjana Mandal from Swanirvar. They accompanied us for the third phase of training from 19th to 21st. The outcomes of last two trainings were discussed. In total 61 people have been trained on alternative crop production. A lot of interest has been noted among the trainees indicating they are trying hard to come back to their normal life.

With the advise of the trainers and guidance from them, the trainees have prepared a land asset map (indicating the low lying land, watrerlogged areas, flooded lands, different soil categories) of Chargheri. Also a calendar map of crops and kitchen vegetables has been prepared. This gives a nice calendar about which crop or vegetable is most appropriate for cultivation at a particular time of the year.

From the attendee list of 1st 2 trainings, we felt that villages far away from training location were less represented in 1st two trainings. We hoped that change in venue for this phase could help bring in more people from other villages. We also decided to ask attendees of other villages in introductory session and at food distribution queue to bring in more people for this training, which is really a refresher course with an emphasis on saline conditions. [From reports of our trainers on 20th September, this seems to have proved true. This time the training has been shifted to Santigachhi high school and other villages were well represented this time]

After reaching Chargheri, we visited the nursery prepared by the local people during the last two phases of training under the supervision of the trainers. Extensive use of compost manure, straw, cowdung water, raising the level of the soil in low lying areas with drainage facility, seeding in the sackful of earth – all saw the same result in the backyard gardens. Green sprouts confirmed the fact that it is possible to cultivate in the backyard plots of people. This was the one of the objectives of our rehabilitation initiative: to bring back the belief among the mass in these villages that cultivation is possible in their backyards. Just the application of the right technique and making some new additions to the existing techniques they know is all that is required to master the existing conditions in their backyards.

It is much more difficult in the farmlands inundated in brackish water. However, trial plantation of 7 varieties of paddy have been made in salty waterlogged lands of 2 different areas. This was done to find out the most suitable variety of rice that may be tried out for next year's crop during Jan'10, if that is possible in some areas.

We find that the people know of most of the techniques suggested by trainers for the backyard. Yet we could clearly see that barring few exceptions they were not adopting it across the villages. The training can help push them do what they need to do, and start doing it NOW. They can grow their own vegetables in the winter if they can succeed making their backyards lush with greenery even as the farmlands still await redressal.

The introductory training session was started in our presence. We explained to the trainees that each trainee should teach another three persons what he learns. This is the easiest way for dissipation of knowledge. To facilitate the people from the four villages other than Chargheri, it was decided that the training will be held in the Santigachhi primary school from next day. The method of training is participative. Keeping the kind of response from farmers in mind, some further training in early October will help get more people into farming mode before the middle of October when some of the seeds need to get sown.

At the end of relief phase we need to mention one point – Kaustuv from Pather Katha , our one of the main pivots of PAKT, was the only person to be in Chargheri in all the eight trips. Kudos Kaustuv. It is by no means an easy job.

It is all happening because of you

We joined a group of relief providers and set off for an unknown destination deep within the Sunderbans in end June, over a month after Aila struck the area and paralysed life for numerous villages and communities in the Sunderbans. We contributed some money towards the cause, and wanted to be caring enough to ensure that the foodstuff reaches the people that need it. But we were then thinking of a one-time support.

It all changed when we reached the destination where these villagers lived. We saw the condition of Chargheri & other southern villages of Satjelia. Each of the then-unformed PAKT group showed vocal / silent support to continuing the effort to supply basic food assistance to these severely affected people. To give them something to fill their bellies after their livelihood was put on hold for 2 years, and ALSO to show them a ray of hope, "to reassure them that not everyone beyond that floating horizon of the tidal waters has forgotten about them" (as we put it in our first blogpost).

We went to you with an extended plan to support these people for next few months with food relief. The basic plan was to pick up a social unit of people and supply them with bare minimal nutrition for the next months, at least till Sep'09. All of us subsequently speculated on the specific locations to lend our services to, and agreed that the devastated families of Chargheri & other four villlages (Santigachhi, Bidhan Colony, Lahiripur, Porosmoni) were as much deserving of assistance as people of other Aila-devastated areas in the Sunderbans. Then we discussed the number of people we had to support as a social unit and the quantity of rice per head that we could supply on an extended basis (was it too less to have any meaning?). We formed PAKT and re-visited the original speculative head count and rice quantity against the funds that we practically expected from within the group (PAKT) and their well-wishers - all of you - based on personal commitments and responses.

When we found that the funds were falling short of the target, we re-appealed to all of you and you responded by further replenishing PAKT funds so that commitment to supply food till Sep '09 could be met. We also asked you to join us and help us serve these people, and again got positive responses from you.

We needed to make our distribution system robust and organised, eliminating chances of deserving candidates losing out to strongmen who nudge the weaker folk out of the queue to grab more relief. Purbasha, a local eco-tourism group, offered some manpower assitance during our visits and also helped us collect local information. Thanks to Kaustuv's planning (and insistence) we implemented an extremely successful, uniquely numbered card based system for the families we identified as being 'covered' by PAKT.

Subsequently when we found that these people were going to have to fend for themselves after September, we went to them and asked them what they felt is the way forward. We did not think continuing with relief or extending it beyond September '09 as the right way forward. Fortunately, that was also the feedback we got from a lot of the locals. They wanted to start doing something for themselves.

We tried to build on that good spirit and willingness shown by the local people towards rehabilitating themselves. We found support from two NGO's, PRISM and Swanirvar, in arranging for the most effective self-rehabilitation that we think is possible for a multitude of farmers struggling with salined lands. After some preliminary background work, PAKT have arranged to train the local farmers in a manner so that they can grow their own vegetables come this winter. That will help these farming families to sustain themselves as well as to certainly reduce their expenses on expensive vegetables bought from market. The farmers will also have to take additional responsibilities and share their newly gained alternative crop related knowledge with other farmers in their villages who could not be accomodated in the external training.

We have also placed 4 needy local people at some hotels around West Bengal for jobs. More jobs are possible if more locals show their willlingness to move out.

The people of Chargheri and the other 4 villages still need to be supported before we can stand back and say that "they are rehabilitating themselves". The crop training (3rd phase) for another 25 odd farmers begins tomorrow. We then plan to distribute relevant seeds to ALL farmers (farmers with formal training as also farmers getting "second hand" training from formally trained farmers) before mid October so that the vegetable crop can be sown at the right time.

We are trying to look for more self employment options for these people in the field of cottage industry products. Exploring training of locals (especialy women) in those directions is certainly not far from our minds but choosing the right local skill is of paramount importance for making the products saleable in the market.

We plan to distribute blankets for these families ahead of the winter.

Tomorrow (19th Sep '09) is going to be our 8th trip to the location where PAKT have been distributing rice at Sunderbans since end of June '09. This is planned to be the last visit where PAKT provide food materials to the local people. We have been declaring this intended closure of relief on 19-Sep-09 over the past 3 visits to the recipients so that it does not come as a shock to them. We have also seen enough enthusiasm amongst locals with the alternative crop training program to believe that they (the local farmer community) see a lifeline in it, that they are willing to cultivate their new techniques on whatever land they can find untouched by stagnated brackish water. The relief had to come to an end, and they are accepting it as a reality at the right time.

While PAKT will continue visiting the area for other rehabilitation efforts mentioned above, the food relief part of Help Suderbans Initiative ends tomorrow. When we distribute rice for the last time at Chargheri in about 13-14 hours from now, we hope to get a further confirmation that the people in general are taking this closure without bitterness, and that they are already looking beyond waiting at queues with cards in hand to witness sacks of rice being stacked under a PAKT banner every fortnight. This sustenance of hope at the end of relief phase is what these people will desperately need to keep themselves afloat in their coming 12-15 months of struggle. Relief will now have to be replaced by self-belief, for which PAKT has been trying to arm them with knowledge to tackle their present state.

We needed a lot of funds to pull off the food relief phase. All of this has happened because of YOU. No words are apt enough to express our gratitude...or its magnitude, nor do we feel any pressing need of that being qualified or quantified. It is festival season here in West Bengal, and may your support / blessings / assistance / prayers / words of encouragement / love be as much with us as with the people we are all committed to continue supporting on their path to rehabilitating themselves.

PS: We may still come back to you for some more help for support of the rehabilitation process. We expect to have proved worthy of your trust so far, and hence we will not hesitate to ask for your (further) help if and when it is needed.

Some videos of introductory session of 1st crop training program

We had a brief discussion with the trainers in the car on our way to Sonakhali:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-n9xsnVAmE

The following videos were shot during the interaction between trainers and the local farmers in the introductory session of the 1st 3-day crop training program. The program was held in Chargheri Abaitanik PRathomik Bidyalaya, a local primary school.

Inside the Primary school :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE8sTofjC50

The trainers say a few lines about themselves, and the purpose of their visit. They flag off the session in traditional fashion by singing a few lines from a local song glorifying the Sundari tree, one of the specialities of the Sunderbans [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evU00sURlKM

The trainers are made aware that farmers from 5 villages will be participating in the program [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PjH3JSHVe4

Farmers of each of the 5 villages can possibly have independent problems. Trainers propose that it may be worthwhile if they (trainers) concentrate on one vilage on each day of training. (This was not required, as all farmers later confirmed that the problems were similar across all villages.) The attentive farmers are told about shifting focus from rice (their principal produce from these fields) to other vegetables for the coming winter [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npPSs9D1PRU

Trainers touch upon the important part about farmers beginning alternative crop production at backyards and plinths of their damaged houses. Even salinity resistant crops can grow only after land is freed from saline water. This is a key factor in this area, as the salined farmlands cannot be drained (our survey reports support that). The plinths are higher, and hence present more chance to produce these vegetables.
The trainers bounce off some ideas as to which varieties of vegetables can be taken up in these conditions. The farmers are told about some techniques to free the salined fertiliser stocks from salinity.

Some trainees were thinking aloud that some options will require resources beyond their present affordability. PAKT requested them to leave that worry aside for time being and pick up all feasible options from the ongoing program. Subsequently these will be assessed and resource requirements will be discussed and supported by PAKT to the best of their ability. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq8pSXivEh0

Trainers suggest pumping out water from ponds to 'harvest' rain water for the alternative crop. In further discussions though the farmers say this would be useless. The drainage system in this island is abysmal. Drained out water refuses to go anywhere and overflow from salined canals would flow back into the ponds and farmlands. In other words, elevated reservoirs would be needed for rain water harvesting. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D9ok15O0_E

Trainers look to instill confidence in farmers that the options that they will explore with the farmers are not experimental ones. All of those have already been tried and found to be productive at areas similar to theirs. When they hear the names of areas where these techniques have been implemented, all farmer express agreement that the nature of their farmlands and soil is also similar to those. One senior farmer adds that amidst post-Aila despair they are seeing hope that some people are at least trying to support them in whatever way possible. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LaVNMk0Pu8

The trainers explain to the farmers that over the next one year, the thrust will be on surviving through to the next agricultural season. Hence they need to grow specific vegetables which can provide their family a diet and thus cut back on expenses towards buying food from market. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygAS1zXzIC4

Trainers briefly touch upon some techniques to grow alternative crop. In this video they explain how rain water harvesting can be done right at thelocation where the seeds of alternative will be sowed, so that the crop gets rain water during growth. Local mounding at crop location also helps non-accumulation of salinity at the elevated point where crop is sown. Expectedly these will be discussed interactively during the next 2 days [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvYh9gDc7Wk

The canals for rain water harvesting serve as 'reservoirs' in other seasons. Now they are filled with saline water, and these are flowing into the fields to spoil the fresh water from rains. [i.e. unless saline water from these canals are emptied they will keep despatching saline water into the fields]. However it appears that these canals have no sluices into the river, hence emptying them may not be possible....can we isolate these canals at least, so that they do not 'send' saline water into fields? Also, the non-utility of the canal water will lead to the farmers not being able to get a harvest after the rains. People need to look at alternatives, even "personal" rain water harvesting if possible. Conventionally the ponds are part of personal rain water harvesting, but those face the same problems as the fields (i.e. backflow from salined canals), since the ponds are at same level as cultivable land. I almost went down into a pond beside the primary school while crossing the fields. Essentially, this feedback from farmers seemed to highlight that the cultivable lands and the ponds may well be the lowest points in the system with no drainouts available. If that is the case, isolation of rain water harvest canal is the temporary measure, and complete dewatering of that canal as well as of the fields is the long term measure required for next year's crop to be possible. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU6tprbJl8g

One of the farmers, Mr. Sarkar (I forget his first name), asked if they will get a certificate from the training. Surprisingly, he was trying to explore his career options as a full-fledged trainer who imparts training (similar to the role of the trainers in the current program)! He was requested to first concentrate on implementing the training into practice. He was also assured that if he is good at his work and is capable of communicating with people, there will be ample opportunities for him. If required, PAKT can then find a way to support him with the recognition that he is good at his job. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL-GucaRGG8

Mr. Sarkar was further explained by the trainers that there is an ongoing effort to make a 'knowledge core group' of sorts comprising of 4000 such farmers across the state who can train others. They will all be selected based on their work and their willingness to train others, rather than certificates. It has started with a meagre 35 farmers, and the group will take a long time to get fully populated with names. Hence Mr. Sarkar can always turn to that option at a later date when the immediate aim, that of implementing the solutions identified in current training, is achieved. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF05l6H3xi8

Farmers make a request. They bring to our notice that Chargheri Abaitanik Prathomik Bidyalaya (Chargheri Primary school) is at one extreme of the area we are supporting, and it would be preferable for other villages if either Kakmari Primary school or the High school at Santigachhi is chosen as the venue for next training programs. We are not sure of the modalities to make this change work, and will need to have further discussions to agree to this change. However, the very bad shape of the mud 'roads' (if you can call them so) at all places in the rainy season means some have to travel close to 1½ hours on treacherous path to attend program at this 'remote' location. Apparently the 2 alternative locations suggested above are relatively more central to the area than Chargheri Abaitanik Prathomik Bidyalaya (current venue). However we make it clear that the current training venue cannot be changed for this edition of training. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJOm5ETgCsg

Trainers egg the farmers of the 4 villages to be "Paagol" (Mad) i.e. single-minded about the purpose they now have at hand - of making some kind of produce this winter from the pieces of land they have. They need to forget the odds against them and get down to the work itself. Our trainers try to inspire them with the fact that people from far-away Kolkata like us are making this tough trip repeatedly to support them. Although we all know that there can be no comparison of our fortnightly ordeal with their life-changing nightmare, it was the need to be single-minded that our trainers were trying to demonstrate. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN_aURqkmyM

The trainers ask the farmers to go ahead and do something for us (PAKT & their trainers). They are told that they can make us feel satisfied about this work and believe that all our efforts were worth it. We will be almost as happy as they will be if 3-4 months down the line a few of them can stand up and say that they have been able to bring about a postive change in their post-Aila condition by sticking to the guns and putting in the hard yards to produce some alternative crops. [Please amplify your volumes if sound is inaudible]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaYfdoEj2lE

An outside view of the front side of Chargheri Abaitanik Prathomik Bidyalaya, where the inaugural crop training program is held. We are told that the dilapidated building on left side of the main block is a result of Aila fury. Also, we are assured that the continuation of training till Monday should not interfere with the classes (Even if it did, we would have preferred the school to remain closed for a day to let the training continue. Having this training is far more important than a day's schooling for young kids at this point of time)

Employment of some people from Chargheri at various hotels

We have missed out on highlighting to you the news of another important bit of support that we could provide to some people of Chargheri over the past 2 visits. I am including Kaustuv's email below which some of you may have already received. It is self-explanatory. This is a very effective initiative for which PAKT's Khelaghar and Biswajit da have taken a leading role.

Inspite of the desperate condition that they find themselves in, people of Chargheri have generally shown mixed responses when presented with the option of moving out for a job. Hopefully a feedback from the four people, who have already moved out by taking up jobs at Sikkim, will help some others make up their minds on taking up the remaining offers available.

--------------

"As per the commitment made by PAKT to the local people of Chargheri, we have successfully placed 4 men from Chargheri into Hotel jobs at Rinchenpong, West Sikkim. These guys halted overnight at Kolkata
on 8th Sep'09. On 9th Sep'09 they departed for Sikkim via Darjeeling Mail and on 10th Sep'09 they have reached the hotels at Rinchenpong, safely and in good health.

All the arrangements for these 4 men, since they reached Kolkata, have been done by the Hotel owner Mr. Dibbendu Ghosh. He has also arranged for garments, shoes and other necessities of these 4 men. At present these 4 men are working in two Hotels at Rinchenpong. They will undergo a training cycle of 2/3 months, after which they will be fully functional to serve the Hotel & its customers.

The names of these 4 men are - Harekrishna Mondal, Surajit Mondal, Manab Mondal & Ranjan Mondal. They are placed in the hotels, "Rinchenpong Nest" & "Norla", at Rinchenpong, West Sikkim.

This is just the beginning of the PAKT's Employment Rehabilitation program. We are planning to provide such placements to 15 more villagers from the Aila affected Chargheri area and hopefully this shall be accomplished within a month's time. At present, we are satisfied to be able to save at least 4 families by providing them an alternative livelihood.

Regards,

Kaustuv (on behalf of
PAKT)"

An eventful journey on the 7th trip

The journey from Sonakhali to Chargheri during 7th visit (05-Sep-09) was somewhat more eventful than other weeks.

We woke up early in the morning to find that the overnight wind and rain still continued into the dawn. We started a little late. On the way to Sonakhali, Sandeepan got a met office forecast that there will be a cyclone. We looked at each other for a while. None of us is a regular at river travel, especially in areas that are so severely exposed to tropical storms. We second-guessed the wisdom of making the trip with a cyclone alert in the backdrop. However all of us knew fully well that people will be waiting for our food materials at Chargheri as we have promised to come this week. Besides, the crop training was scheduled to start from this visit.

Over the preceding weeks we had to put in some effort in making this training happen. All of us in PAKT saw the importance of this training to the locals who are largely farmers. Since the time he learnt of this idea, Sandeepan in particular had put in relentless effort towards this training program. An earlier attempt to get this effort started had to be cancelled because the trainers were done in by vehicle problems on their way to Sonakhali. Trainers, thus, could not make that earlier trip. This time we were determined to start the crop training program. It was too important a program to get delayed any further. We decided on going ahead and travelling to Chargheri.

We started the journey from Sonakhali at around 11 AM. Some videos of that journey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHSESLAHqV4

[This video shows the windy conditions prevailing during most of our river journey to Satjelia on 5th Sep 2009]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL_FGen-7gQ

[The wind and rain lashed us to wetness on the top deck of the boat. Kaustuv and Sandeepan were better served by their rain jackets.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu0CXg0KO38

[The usual practice of picking up Sumo driver from Gosaba. We started from Sonakhali where we buy the rice. Mahender took the Sumo to Gadkhali and crossed the ferry to Gosaba, where we pick him up.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCj_GF5leE0

[A bird soared along with the boat for a stretch near Chargheri, as if to wish us good luck]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVoYp_c98mg

[Soon the well wishing bird near Chargheri was joined by a companion. They said hi to us and then went their way.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glYl5EeCz7I

[Since the water was already receding, our boat was anchored at a distance from the banks. The remaining distance was covered on the now-familiar small boat. We also carried some bags of rice and kochu (Arum) with us as also the soya packs, so that initial distribution could be promptly started even as the material gets unloaded from the main boat.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIRIHlV1vfA

[Another common sight on our visits: A video of the small boat being dragged from the river over the mud to the distribution point. As I said in an earlier blog post, the slippery mud (which poses a serious accident risk to all who walk on the dyke paths) is a boon for this activity.]

The return journey had a little twist a well. It was dark and we were yet to start our return journey when we learnt that the cyclone warning was now a TV news. Upon return to the boat, we learned that the boat hull had been punctured at the bottom by a blow from the anchor spikes during lifting operation. Some repair work had thankfully been done to 'cover' the return journey.

Midway through the 3 hour journey we realised that water still kept seeping in though the repair work. We checked it out. Thankfully the rate on seepage was evidently too low to raise an alarm. Also, the boatmen were attentive to that . They kept throwing out accumulated water from the boat hull manually from time to time.

The good wishes from the two birds on Ganral river near Chargheri were desperately needed on our way back as well.

Agricultural Training Phase II

From tomorrow Second Phase of Agricultural Training on alternative crop cultivation will be starting at Chargheri. The first phase of training program, initiated during our last visit (on 5th September), was successfully completed on 7th, covering over 25 farmers from our five villages: Chargheri, Parasmani, Santigachhi, Bidhan Collony and Lahiripur. The training started with a great enthusiasm almost 40 farmers were present on the first day including a number of women folks. Trainers are happy with the keen interest of the villagers and the trainees are satisfied after learning something new. The trainers from the NGO
SWANIRVAR, Mr Narayan Bachar and Mrs Anjana Mandal, will again be back to Chargheri Primary school tomorrow (on 11th September) to resume the second phase of training with a fresh batch of 25 farmers. This time the trainers will distribute some seeds to the trainees of last batch so that they can start experimenting in the field. The trainers have suggested for arranging lunch for the trainees to ensure uninterrupted day long training and PAKT has readily agreed to arrange for the same. The responsibility of food and lodging of the trainers during these three days will be taken care of by Purbasha, our local group of friends. We have requested the trainers to identify at least 10 trainees from the last batch who can impart further training to some more farmers in the villages. This way we will try to benefit maximum possible villagers from this agricultural training program.

As advised by SWANIRVAR, the farmers will have to start working with the new techniques in their fields by October 15th. That is essential to have a crop of suitable vegetables during the coming winter. The seeds can always be handed over to them before that deadline but the key part is making hundreds of farmer families aware of what needs to be done with those seeds under the prevailing conditions.

The only way to achieve this is to train 2 or 3 batches of farmers through external trainers and then getting the rest of the farmers trained by these trainees. In other words, trainees will need to become trainers within a span of days. This is easier said than done. The first thing they will need to do that is some initial work on their fields with the alternative methods.

To achieve this, we have tried to make sure that the trained farmers start on their fields within days of receiving training. This is the principal reason behind PAKT distributing seeds to first lot of trainees this early. Subsequently they can train others in their villages about the procedures learnt by them. This is the only way to attain the target that by early October, majority of the villagers will be ready to make productive use of the seeds that PAKT plans to support them with.

7th Trip in pictures

Reaching Chargheri Primary school for initiation of alternative crop training program

Inaugural session of 3-day alternative crop training program for local farmers, starting 05-Sep-09

Local farmers interacting with the trainers during the inaugural session

Chargheri Abaitanik Prathomik Bidyalaya: the venue of inaugural training program for local farmers on alternative crop production

The still pictures from 7th trip (including food distribution camp and crop training) can be found in the following Picasa albums:

http://picasaweb.google.com/kaustuvlive/SunderbanAilaReliefWorkPhaseVII#

http://picasaweb.google.com/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip7Pix#

Crop Training Program: Introductory session

It is a matter of sweet coincidence that the alternative crop training program for farmers of Chargheri was initiated in Chargheri on Teachers' Day, the 5th of September. Furthermore, it was arranged inside a primary school, Chargheri Abaitanik Prathomik Bidyalaya!

The first crop training program was a 3 day session for around 40 farmers (including women from farmers' families). Introductory session of this program took place on the 5th of September in front of PAKT. The attendance was a little lower on this day due to heavy rains and cyclonic weather which prevented many farmers from the distant villages to come. [Request you to spare some time and look into the videos at the bottom of this post to get a feel of the terrain that they need to cross to reach any destination far from their homes on a rainy day]

A lot of effort went into arranging this program. The training was given by experienced trainers Shrimati Anjana Mondal and Shri Narain Bachar on behalf of an NGO, 'Swanirvar'. We liked what we saw in the inaugural session of the training program. Clear communication was happening between trainer and trainees. The trainers clarified that the purpose of their visit was to provide guidance to the trainees and to agree on some proven solutions, rather than imposing something new on the latter. The trainers asked for feedback from the local farmers to chart a way forward. The trainers also urged the locals to leave aside the despair they must be having within and be single minded on the purpose for which the training is arranged.

The locals too appeared to be eager to make a success out of the knowledge they gain from Swanirvar trainers. A senior person amongst farmers said that they can see the brighter side when they find people from far off people coming to help them. They were assured by us that they will be supported by PAKT further down the line in their effort to get a produce.

This 1st phase of 3-day training has now been completed. We kept in touch with the trainers over these 2 days of hands-on workshop following the introductory session to keep ourselves updated with the progress. Also, we needed to check that two of them were confortable as they too were visiting this area for the first time.

We are awaiting the detailed report from the trainers. The feedback sounds encouraging from both sides. However the amount of land that each trainee can take up right now is likely to be substantially lesser than the total land owned by him / her. This is mainly because of the absolute non-existence of draining facility to help empty the brackish water from their fields and ponds. This is so frustrating..... if only there could be some miraculous way of emptying the area of the trapped saline water in their inland rain-water irrigation canals as well as fields. Or a not so miraculous way of someone relevant in the administration driving to execute this critical need of these villages and getting the dewatering done from all the areas in the next one month's time.

Some videos of the mockery of a 'path' that we traversed to reach the school from distribution point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoYrdUjo18w
A major part of our walk from food distribution point to the primary school (venue of crop training) consisted of plodding in the stagnated water on the erstwhile paddy fields. It served a direct reminder that if Aila had not happened then these fields would be sporting a lush-green-with-crops look instead of the depressing state they are currently in. Also, these are quite dangerous for unintroduced people like me to be walking on (A Purbasha guide was leading me along with Shri Narain and Smt. Anjana - but I fell way behind on both up and down trip). There may be ponds on the sides of these plots. Also, almost all plots have local deep cuts from which earth has been taken away for bund reconstruction work. On the way back I fell in one of those by deviating from the route shown by our 'guide' (the Purbasha volunteer) and promptly found myself standing in chest deep water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3JOd9nbeWU
In this video we are seen to be heading towards the venue where local farmers are waiting for us. This slippery entrapment is all that the locals have got to use as a road to travel. These mud paths are better when dry, in that at least standing still is not an ordeal. When these get soaked with rains, the mud gets really slippery. Any travel from one area to another on these 'concoctions' is like an adventure sport. To be able to travel some distance, especially climb up /down a slope, without having a fall feels like a triumph.

We from PAKT do it only during daytime, that too once in a fortnight on a special mission....and we still get daunted by the risk of it. Not without reason though. Sandeepan has already picked up a cut below the foot and an upturned toe nail in two separate trips while moving in the mud. And it is a miracle that the others amongst us have not had some more such injuries. The locals - they need to 'travel' on it every day (and also during the night if required with no illumination around) to go to dyke work, to go to the riverside for "bagda maara", to visit the market place for buying essentials, to go to the doctor, to visit the nearby shop for a sudden household requirement and to rush back home upon hearing that someone in the family is sick or injured. Children need to do it to go to school and come back.

Often these roads would have a break and the connecting part would be a plod in the inundated fields (including a treacherous climb down from the slope, as well as an equally harassing climb up). By the time we reached Chargheri, It had rained for over 24 hours and there was a cyclone warning. The location of this primary school selected as venue was near the distribution point (a mere 20 minute ordeal) which is at an edge of the area covered by PAKT. Hence a number of farmers must have needed to travel over these over miles to come to the inaugural program on alternative crop training organised for them. We were lucky that the rain held up specifically at the times we were moving through these areas.

Reaching the school: http://picasaweb.google.co.in/angshu2909/ChargheriTrip7Pix#5378309831895574290