Life and nature are similar concepts because nature is the study of how life acts and
interacts within circle of existence. When we take the time to examine the beauty of the
world around us, we are able to see parallels within our own live. One who is attuned with
nature is attuned with practice of living. All of nature moves in a spiral as do our personal
lives. It is important to spend time in nature because in this way we can become attuned to
its wisdom. On the other hand, when we ignore the beauty of nature and spend our times in
an urban jungle our stress levels go up and we begin to feel as if we are made out of the
concrete that we see all around us.
It was on 3 rd November, excitement to visit one of the places in my wish list to go and here I
am on my toes to take flight. It was late night so could not feel the beauty of North East but
deep inside I was full of energy to look this place on the scale of social, political and cultural
background. Understanding Drishtee more closely and finding out much of my queries
answers how we are involved in North East.
It was dark all around, peeping through the window of flight lights all around blinking like
stars in the sky. Pilot finally announced here we reached Guwahati and fasten the seat belt
time to land. I was actually in my thoughts of imagination. It’s finally Guwahati….
Then took cab to the hotel, had dinner and finally went to sleep waited for the early
morning
I took my eyes out of my blanket, room was full of light and immediately checked my phone
it was just 6 am and I got out of bed to look outside the window could not resist myself
capturing the sky. Clear beautiful and fresh, i was not able to take my eyes off. This is what
we call the beauty.
Moved towards the office and met the staff. Before having the presentation by Parag Sir,
met some of the CSPs (customer service point) from Meghalaya. They were in their
traditional clothes. We just interacted with them with the help of Drishtee Team as they
were neither able to speak nor able to understand Hindi. But the smile which they were
having on their faces expressed the contribution which Drishtee has made in their lives.
Then time for the presentation, we saw how Drishtee was working in North East. Much of
clarity was done by the way presentation was given and as we will schedule our plan further
for the visit then it will all in mind. This was how our first half was engaged. Post lunch we,
Parag sir, Reshma, Dhruva and shruti moved to see the immersion side. The roads were
beautiful and green fields all around and road side’s small shops with fresh vegetables.
Reached the immersion site and went around the house to take a view of site. What else
you want from a village site, green fields, open area, trees and finally good people around. It
was the combination of all. Consist of six rooms with three washrooms and combined
kitchen with one of the smallest room to be kept for office people.
While we went through the house there was interaction with the family and things needed to be
done and what are to be changed. It was one of the good feelings to be there and having their local
house made sweets, tea, fruits and eggs.
After having the view of the immersion site we moved towards the meeting of farmers related to
planning and various other scientific and organic farming. I had a very good time there though was
not able to transmit my knowledge but was putting my full to understand the issues and problem
which they are facing in agriculture. Drishtee is helping a lot to bring a change in every sphere and it
was very good to associate with this organisation
We had discussion on SRI (system of root intensification), on the vegetable cultivation which
can add to the incomes and generate much of the revenues, promoted to cultivate a patch
of land together to get a feeling of being one and it will help as a whole to the village in
particular and farmer in specific.
Back to the hotel, shared whole day experience with shruti. Then dinner and back to bed
with a satisfied day.
Untraveled roads, early morning by the side of river Brahmaputra. It looked calm, beautiful and
something that i will miss every morning. We had plans to go for a session in IIT guwahati. As we
entered the campus it was silent, you can’t say that you are in a place where student study. Met my
Friend there, who wanted Drishtee to come to IIT for a session on what actually Drishtee is involved
as a development organisation. We had our breakfast in boy’s hotel and from there we went to the
hall where whole of the session would take place. Waited for Parag Sir and Tilak Sir to join us and
them we moved for the session.
We had our brief introduction by Shekhar and then session started with the presentation by Parag
Sir on the work of Drishtee specifically in Assam. It was a good one and then Parag sir called Tilak Sir
to continue with the session. It was a very productive one with Tilak sir; he made the session more of
the interactive one with how the coming generation looks towards development and why they are
studying development? From there everyone was charged up and a good session with productive
ending.
The session ended with a good interaction. The second half we were having plan with the
community to meet farmers and have interaction with them. So we moved to the place we visited
yesterday to have some” gap shap” related to their life, experience and more to learn from them. So
we (me shruti, resham and raj ) moved towards the field. We interacted with three to four farmers
related to the whole year how they invest it. The first farmer we met he was around eighty full of
energy he took us to show his field and he was rewarded the best farmer by the chief minister with a
certificate.
We then visited one family in which they had handloom factory. People come to work there. It was
very beautifully made. When i actually asked the price It coasted in thousands. Over there we had
meeting with around three to four of the families on the various agriculture practices they are
involved. It was nice of the experiences sharing my knowledge and understanding their problems.
This is how the day was spent. We moved back to our place whole tired and excited for such new
experiences.
It was Sunday. We planned to explore Assam. Planned so much but ended visited Kamakhya. It was
chat pooja so the temple was too full with people. We started our journey early and the time we
were able to visit the main temple by 4 in evening.
It was 7 th November, only a day left. We moved towards sonitpur to look in the other work which
Drishtee is involved in.
It was long drive. We first took our stop in Darrang district and met some of the CSPs. It was a nice
experience because the CSP points were too old still they had maintained their registers and other
formal documents every well.
These were the SBI kiosks which were manager very properly and from the interaction with the
people around they were also very much satisfied with the services which they provide.
Next place we visited was a field area near ITC, as it was a biscuit base company so maximum of the
insect were attracted and the land near was put to no use, with Drishtee efforts solar insecticides
were installs to protect the crop.
We also saw some of the fields in which SRI was practiced but because of excess of water it was
destroyed.
Then we went to place were mobilisation was done of the villagers and they were given training on
the dairy. What is they need to do to increase the milk and how can they use cow dung and cow
urine in different uses. It was month training and who so ever would be able to complete and pass
the exam would be given certificate. The certificates carry its own value; at the time of loan from the
bag they can easy have it by showing the certificate. It was also good experience to attend the
meeting.
The next it was meeting with the village women related to vermicompost. Firstly there was
interaction with the women and then vermicompost bed was given to them. After that some of the
girls from the asked me to give introduction and then we interacted with them what are the works
they are doing in group/ whether they are able to understand hindi? How much they are qualified
and future plans
Finally last visit of our, certificate distribution to the tribal women.
The program was conducted by drishtee and sponsor by TRIFED. After the training they were offered
to make handloom cloth of around 200 meters long, their first assignment.
Local wine, it was good acted as tranquilizer. Whole day travel ended with glass of wine. Though it
tasted horrible. ”LOL”
Last day in Guwahati
Went to office, met some of the staff people and some of women from the training who stitched
mosquito nets as per the given assignment. And after that looked into the SCM how they pack the
stuff and manage to deliver to different people on different routes.
And finally back to Guwahati office and said goodbyeeeeeeeeeee………………..
Hope to get more of such opportunities to learn more.