From the Language Press
Rajasthan Patrika (Hindi)
Jodhpur, March 05,2003
Twenty Students from fifteen schools of Britain, thousands of miles from homes, came over to selflessly participate in the developmental works in a small village of Jodhpur district. they presented a great example with the message that once we have the determination, nothing remains difficult.
Worldwide Venture company collaborated with Marwar Medical and Relief Society and under their joint rubric these twenty students from Britain completed developmental activities in the village Desuria Bisnoia through Rajasthan Rural Project. These students while implementing the developmental project, studeied the life style of the village.
These students are stayin in Mandore Guest House near Jodhpur and they set out every morning at seven for the village. As soon as they reach there, they are busy with their work.
From Monday, they took up renovation of the school and first of all levelled the grounds around it. They accepted the challages of beautification and created a garden space in the middle of the ground.
They electrified the school building and then fabricated over thirty benches and desks carrying out cutting and welding operations then and there. A Volley ball Court was prepared and a toilet for girls of the school was built. Then these British studnets plastered the foor of the Jambheshwar (God of vishnois) temple. They arranged the medical check up of all the students of the school to create healthcare awareness.
In a detailed survey of the village included vaccination, crop produce, addiction to opium cases, leteracy, use of smokeless stove for cooking in kitchens etc. A thorough study of the practice of grinding-wheels to grind foodgrains and the smoke emission was made and the problems creating health hazards were sorted out to bring relief particularly to the womenfolk.
About twenty five of the grinding wheels were fitted with bearings for smooth and less strenuous function. About 35 smokeless stoves were made available to housewives to get rid of the suffocation caused by smoke while cooking.
District Collector Rajat Kumar Mishra visited the viallage and inspected the activities of the these students. Raj Gehlot the secretary of the Marware Medical and Relief Society explained that the project was prepared in consultation with the Venture Company well in advance. The village was selected for the experimental implementation of the concept for the first time in the country. The honorary president of the Project Surendra Gehlot informed that all the students engaged in the project were having a gap-year in their study schedule. In British Schools one gap year is devoted to inculcating interest for Community Development Activities among the students.
They first of all repaired and renovated a 150 metre long road to the religious place of worship, Bhomiaji's Than from the cold environment of Britain, they came to the scorchinh heat of the desert and put in hard labour to give a tile-finish to the road and thus won the hearts of the village folks.
They erected an iron gate to the temple and electified the place of worship. They planted trees in the coutyard of the place of worship and underlined the importace of the environmental awareness.
