It may
have some historic sights, but India is also a country of contrasts as there
are sights that many find offensive, says Jimoh Babatunde.
India’s
new groove starts from the Indra Ghandi International Airport which is
currently undergoing expansion. Right from when you step off your plane, you
will be amazed with the beauty of the latest airport terminal three.
After the
completion of Terminal 3 in 2010, two more terminals and runways are planned as
airport authorities are expecting a capacity of 100 million passengers a year
by 2026.
From the
airport, that evening of my arrival aboard Emirates, to the central park area
where accommodation reservation has been made for me at the Radisson Hotel
Connaught, the transformation taking place in New Delhi was visible.
Construction
of roads and over head bridges were going on simultaneously. Getting to the
Central Park at Rajiv Chowk in Connaught Place, I was stunned by the beautiful
developed park which has innumerable trees and shrubs.
The
central park has twinkling lamp posts and four water bodies including a
cascade, The pathways for the people to take a walk was another attraction of
the place where the Radisson Hotel Connaught is located.
Settling
into the well-furnished hotel afforded me the opportunity to relax after the
long trip from Lagos, still wondering on what the conference on “Leveraging
Agriculture for improving Nutrition and Health” organised by International Food
Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) will offer, a call came from the reception
for a dinner.
At the
dinner I got to meet other journalists from other parts of the world invited
for the event. After the introduction by Rubinstein Michael of IFPRI we got
down to eating. It was difficult for most of us from Africa eating the various
meal served at the dinner.
Muhangi
Jossy from Uganda made the dinner lively with his rib cracking jokes which kept
most of the journalists from Europe and Asia wondering why the African
journalists were laughing heartily.
It did
not take long before most of them joined in the laughter on our way to Bhindusi
is a village located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan state. The four and the
half journey from New Delhi started early in the morning after breakfast to afford
the traffic jam new Delhi is noted for.
The
journey from New Delhi to Rajasthan state proves interesting as the adage that
all that glitters is not gold was brought home to me. Traveling through
Guragon, Dharuehra and Bhiwadi that morning, the level of poverty and
deprivation was appalling.
Young and
able-bodied men were seen having their baths in open places along the road.
Street trading in dirty environment was a common sight on the road. It reminds
one of traveling to the Eastern part of Nigeria and having to pass through
Onitsha.
Arriving
Bhindushi Village at about 10:00 a.m., the team was received by Spectra
officials at one of the India’s Integrated Child Development Services Program
centres.
On hand
with the Spectra officials was the district head, Shafia Khan. At the centre
were more than forty children and women who are participating in the program
meant to address the major causes of Child under_nutrition in India.
Under_nutrition
is concentrated in number of districts and villages. We were shown how children
and mothers get together every day to learn about the need for nutritious food
during pregnancy and during early childhood. The most appropriate foods for
good health; proper hygiene and cleaning.
Yadav
Shaahab, 45years old with two children while lauding the program said there are
still rooms for improvement, She said the food provided by the Government must
conform to what they take in the various regions. The government, she said,
must look into the funding of the project.
SARISKA
PALACE HOTEL
We
retired to the Prime Heritage Hotel, the Sariska Palace built by Maharaja of
Alwar on the edge of Sariska National Park as a royal hunting lodge.
The
interior of Sariska Palace is a blend of French and regal architecture. Under
the biting cold dinner was served.
I ate the
best meal here since arriving India. Just as we had time to dance to the
cultural dances provided by the hotel with burn fire set up to help in
ameliorating the effect of the cold.
The environment
of the people of Bhuriyabas village in Rajasthan, India.
If not
for Angel Navuri, probably, I would have been left behind the following morning
as I over slept. She was gracious enough to check on me on her way for the
break fast. Joining them for the break fast when they were about departing, I
was still able to take one or two bites.
We
finally set out for Bhuriyabas village to see what an NGO, Ibtada, was doing to
promote agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods. The NGO focuses on animal husbandry
as a major livelihood intervention and has trained dozens of women who are able
to enhance their income from animals and land resources.
Moving
into the village, The stalk reality of the situation of the people dawn on most
of us as we saw children of school age who were previously engaged in child
labour and the condition under which the people were living. Social amenities
were missing, just as infrastructures were lacking.
Able
bodied young men were seen lazing away and some were seen doing menial jobs.
In the
villages around the area, because of poverty, most parents do not allow their
children to go to school instead takes them along for menial jobs like farming,
brick laying and other odd jobs.
But with
the intervention of the NGO, the government set up schools for children
labourers and potential child labourer. At the schools where they spend three
hours daily, they are given food and so get prepared for real school life.
The women
are also trained in livestock rearing. They take lessons in goats or any small
ruminant rearing as a tool to enhance their family incomes.
The
hospitality of the people was shown as the women of the town gathered to
welcome our team. After elaborating the benefits they have made from the
program, every member of our team was given a token gift.
A sour
point was when one of the women was dragged on the ground by one of the bulls
reared in the community. It is not un common to see bulls tied with large
chains in the community, but this one got loose and in the process injured the
said woman.
The fear
of another attack from bulls brought the trip to an abrupt end and the journey
to New Delhi begun.
Monkeys
mix freely in the community as they were seen in most residential houses and
even in our hotel.
The
traffic we tried avoiding on our way to Rajasthan, we finally ran into same
traffic on our way back to New Delhi. The long queue of articulated vehicles on
the road reminds one of the Oshodi Apapa express way where articulated vehicles
take over the road.
The trip
to Rajasthan state showed that India is a country of contrast as there are the
good and the ugly, the high and the low, as well as beautiful and the ugly
since arriving India. Just as we had time to dance to the cultural dances
provided by the hotel with burn fire set up to help in ameliorating the effect
of the cold.
If not
for Angel Navuri, probably, I would have been left behind the following morning
as I over slept. She was gracious enough to check on me on her way for the
break fast. Joining them for the break fast when they were about departing, I
was still able to take one or two bites.
We
finally set out for Bhuriyabas village to see what an NGO, Ibtada, was doing to
promote agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods. The NGO focuses on animal
husbandry as a major livelihood intervention and has trained dozens of women
who are able to enhance their income from animals and land resources.
Moving
into the village, The stalk reality of the situation of the people dawn on most
of us as we saw children of school age who were previously engaged in child
labour and the condition under which the people were living. Social amenities
were missing, just as infrastructures were lacking.
Able
bodied young men were seen lazing away and some were seen doing menial jobs.
In the
villages around the area, because of poverty, most parents do not allow their
children to go to school instead takes them along for menial jobs like farming,
brick laying and other odd jobs.
But with
the intervention of the NGO, the government set up schools for children
labourers and potential child labourer. At the schools where they spend three
hours daily, they are given food and so get prepared for real school life.
The women
are also trained in livestock rearing. They take lessons in goats or any small
ruminant rearing as a tool to enhance their family incomes.
The
hospitality of the people was shown as the women of the town gathered to
welcome our team. After elaborating the benefits they have made from the
program, every member of our team was given a token gift.
A sour
point was when one of the women was dragged on the ground by one of the bulls
reared in the community. It is not un common to see bulls tied with large
chains in the community, but this one got loose and in the process injured the
said woman.
The fear
of another attack from bulls brought the trip to an abrupt end and the journey
to New Delhi begun.
Monkeys
mix freely in the community as they were seen in most residential houses and
even in our hotel.
The
traffic we tried avoiding on our way to Rajasthan, we finally ran into same
traffic on our way back to New Delhi. The long queue of articulated vehicles on
the road reminds one of the Oshodi Apapa express way where articulated vehicles
take over the road.
The trip
to Rajasthan state showed that India is a country of contrast as there are the
good and the ugly, the high and the low, as well as beautiful and the ugly
- See
more at:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/02/india-truly-incredible/#sthash.kbe3zvrK.dpuf
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