Today we drove from Belgaum to Ramdurg about 95 km away. For most of this trip we were on secondary roads competing with the tractors and wagons carrying sugar cane to the mills. This is the busy season for this.
The roads are shared with all manner of beings and vehicles . Here a woman carries a heavy bundle of dried cane along the highway in bare feet. She along with the six others that came before her walk very quickly…almost a jog. No need for yoga or the gym.
We
were stopped for a few minutes outside this settlement while the driver
fixed a flat tire. We were enjoying watching the children,
dogs, chickens and goats. These little guys started waving to us. The
taller boy in the all yellow top has only stumps for arms.
The oxen are used for transport along with other duties. Here the horns are often painted orange or blue.
A shrine down by the river which is almost dry this time of year. During the wet season this would be like an island
A fort on the way which was used by the British but dates back a thousand years. There are no signs with information.
It seams like it has a variety of architecture
There are a variety of shapes and sizes used for water collection. This is one of the few wheelbarrows I have seen. The woman usually carry the containers on their head.
This is a view of some of the lush fields on our way.
The area we covered is primarily farm land. Some of it is very fertile but in other cases there is little but rock and cactus.
Our distribution today brought people from 30 km away. There certainly is a great need for the contents of the kit.
Parents are very grateful and value the school supplies that are included. It is every parents dream to have their children
be healthy and have a promising future. The bed kits are certainly helping these families.
Yesterday when I spoke with parents through an interpreter, one mother was widowed when her daughter was 2 …7 years ago. She was left with nothing. She works as a domestic in the town of Ugar where she earns a week what a latte might cost you.
A
father I spoke with broke down in tears because he feels he should be
providing for his three children but that is not possible.
We are so fortunate to have been born in Canada at this time.
