Newsletter-February-2018

2 days ago

So much of what Venkat and IRDT achieve is through setting an example and encouraging others.

The 1000 farmer cooperative that Venkat helped to establish around Mettupalayam have taken note of what he has been doing to help the very poor people who have been so badly affected by total loss of their daily income. Several of these farmers have been growing vegetables for sale, but have decided to hand these out to the Irula tribal folk of Ullampakkam, and to the Kuruvi tribal villagers of Nadupattu. They also bought lots of onions to donate, as these are an essential in most recipes.

We will still be buying vegetables again on Thursday and will be able to help even more families. Currently Venkat is spending around £165 each week on vegetables and also donating rice grown on our farm last year.

Thank you everyone for your support, and I hope that you all take great satisfaction in seeing how much you are achieving at this very difficult time- for all of us! ... See MoreSee Less

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5 days ago

Apologies for posting again so soon, but I just had to share this beautiful video taken by Venkat this morning. The rice is turning an amazing golden colour and is almost ready to harvest.
Everyone who has visited IRDT Mettupalayam will remember the amazing bird song! As no-one is allowed to shoot the birds on or around our farm, it is a wonderful haven for them, helped by our percolation lagoon and many wells.
Thank you for sharing this special moment with us Venkat, you live in such beautiful countryside. ... See MoreSee Less

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6 days ago

Some very good news from our IRDT Mettupalayam farm. On Tuesday, two of the farm's cows gave birth, unusual to be on the same day, and, both calves are females! All our female calves are kept to increase the herd, which now totals 10 females and two males.
It is amazing to think that all these animals are descended from the first cow which was bought for IRDT by the children at Bedale Primary School, over 20 years ago. ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

Imagine the problems for the Indian Govt. Around 800 million Indians rely on daily wages for their income. As all business has been banned, many are walking very long distances to return to their families and villages. Once there, they will qualify for the rations that have been promised.
Here in Mettupalayam area, at the Ullampakkam village, there are 15 Irula families who don't have id cards, or ration cards. They won't qualify for food aid, so, in addition to the vegetables that Venkat has been providing, today he has arranged for 4kgs of our farm rice to be given to each of these families.
Long term, of course, we are trying to register them for their entitlements, but, as always, this takes time and money. Meantime, Venkat and his team continue to provide full support.
Thank you to everyone who has given support and encouragement for this emergency aid. ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

The first week of the whole country lockdown in India.

The Government has promised to provide each family with rice, pulses, sugar and oil plus 1000rps, about £11. Probably enough to survive on for three weeks, but I don't think they intended that all the markets in our area of Tamil Nadu should be closed.

As soon as Venkat realised that there would be no fresh vegetables available locally, he contacted the wholesalers in Chennai and arranged for around 500kgs to be brought in. These vegetables have been distributed to the most needy 87 families in and around Mettupalayam, keeping back enough to continue with the old age people's midday meals programme- 23 elderly being fed every day.
Hopefully, provided the wholesalers are allowed to transport the vegetables to us, we will be able to continue with this programme until the 15th April when the lockdown is due to end.

The reality of life in a poor rural area, with no social security and many people on daily wages!

To all our donors and supporters- we can only empower Venkat and his team to respond in this timely way thanks to your generosity and long term commitment. Whilst a proportion of the cost will be covered by not providing school meals, this will be a significant additional cost, for who knows how long. ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

We are all experiencing very difficult times, right around the world. In India, the Government has closed all schools for two weeks, including our Crakehall School, Mettupalayam. Our weekly surgery last Friday was also cancelled, and the eye camp planned for later in the month has also had to be postponed.
Yesterday, everyone was asked to stay at home for 14 hours, and no transport was running.
However, we are still running our social care programme,including providing nutritious food to the Irula quarry people. Venkat is also taking time to work with our team of teachers to improve the standard of education and build team spirit. He is also always on hand to help with any urgent health or social problems in the community.
Searching for a photograph to post today, I remembered this one that I took some two years ago. I often show it during talks, just because it is of two beautiful village girls at our school. It reminded me that this is what we are working for- improving the lives and the futures for this next generation.
Wherever you are and however dark things seem to be, the dawn will come and the sun will shine again. Thank you all for your support. ... See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago

Congratulations to Madhavan on receiving your certificate- a degree in civil engineering. Not only that, but FIRST CLASS WITH DISTINCTION!
Madhavan finished his course last year and he has been working at our Crakehall Primary School Mettupalayam, earning the money to pay to receive it IRps15,000.
Venkat has arranged for him to register in Kancheepuram and he is now looking for a well paid job in construction. We are so proud of Madhavan, another of our former primary school pupils going on to achieve the highest qualification.
Madhavan is the fourth Kuruvi tribal boy from Puddunagar village to attain a degree, some three years after his friends in 2016. Our next ambition is to see Kottaswary, in her second year nursing studies, graduate as the first Kuruvi girl with a higher level qualification. She may well be the first tribal girl to do this, a real step forward in so many ways
In a time of such turmoil and worry, please try to share good news, wherever you find it. These young people have so much to look forward to. ... See MoreSee Less

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4 weeks ago

A wonderful sight from an area that is often badly affected by drought. Venkat has planted almost seven acres of paddy and is irrigating the fields from three of our farm wells. This involves almost a mile of pipe and diesel motors. The rice fields will need constant watering for another 25 days or so, until the paddy is ready for harvest. He hopes to harvest between two to three tonnes per acre, and most will have to be sold through the regulating market office as our storage is nearly full.
All the income goes into the IRDT account and will be used to support further rural development work ... See MoreSee Less

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1 month ago

A very significant photo highlighting the progress made in Mettupalayam and the villages around, due to the work of Venkat and his team.

This is Venkatesan and his new wife, Roja. A generation ago, a man from Mettupalayam village would, almost certainly, be a daily wage labourer, working either in the fields around, or on his own, very small ,farm plot. He and his family would have been living hand to mouth with little savings.

Venkatesan was a pupil at our primary school from 1993 to 1998. He is the son of our old school cook, Annammal. After going on to high school, Venkatesan studied for an MCA at college and through his hard work and effort, he is now working in computing in Dubai, earning an excellent salary. What a change in just one generation.

A huge thank you also, to all our donors and Friends- this is what your financial support has facilitated

Congratulations on your recent marriage, my friends, and have a happy and prosperous future together. ... See MoreSee Less

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