Lucky Draws - 19 May 2016 (Sunday)

As Tata Strive team visited along with Rotary club central team for a workshop on jobs for youth, and Volunteers were participating in the event, we had decided to meet later in the day. Rotary club president introduced me to the Tata Strive and Surabhi foundation personnel and asked me to address the youth and also to share about the work I was doing here. I was happy to see the volunteers responding to my interaction. When I asked them "Who are you?" all the volunteers shouted "Leaders!"

I took the opportunity to interact with the boys there. When I asked them why they were not part of the literacy project which was a unique opportunity for the village to put itself on the national map, the boys collectively responded saying they were not requested or approached. I then told them that was the difference between the girls and the boys. Girls feel that they are the leaders and are leading from the front and if the boys also felt like leaders they should have proactively participated in the literacy program. They told me that they would also join the project and start helping the volunteers. I gave them a task of mobilizing all the illiterates near Panchayat office at 6.30 in the evening where Lucky draws were being taken.

The Sakshar Bharat village coordinator Meenakshi again complained about the Slates, TV Channels etc. That meant neither the Sarpanch or the Ward member, who promised to arrange in no time, did anything. I was happy that at least the photographs were taken, of course after chasing for two weeks. But, how about banners?

In the evening several of the illiterates assembled at the Sakshar Bharat office for the lucky draws, on their own and not because of the boys. This was an opportunity for me to talk to the illiterates for the first time. There were around 70 to 80 people. I was told many people came and went away as there was not enough place in the office which was a small hall. I promised them that I will continue this activity of Lucky draws every week, till August. Requested them to talk to other illiterates who are not cooperating and convince them. Discussed with them the time to meet every Sunday and they agreed to meet at 7.30 pm. They even promised that they would start from their residence at 7.10 pm itself.

Volunteers prepared chits with the names of only those illiterates who have attended learning sessions on all the 6 days of the week, as was the plan. I arranged for 23 steel bowls as prizes. Chits were picked up and the prizes were distributed by Sarpanch, village mandal level coordinator and the volunteer themselves. Funny part of this lucky draw was that a woman illiterate got the prize who never attended even one session. :)

When I asked the Sarpanch about TV Channels stoppage, as usual he called somebody and instructed again to stop the cable telecast. Again when asked about slates, he called somebody and as usual the person on the other side promised to come and donate 100 slates the next day. I told Sarpanch that that person is never going to come. I decided that neither the Sarpanch nor the Ward members are going to do anything for slates, Banners etc. I need to do something myself! ,