A couple of weeks ago, Nilay and Kavin were doing a survey in rural Tamil Nadu for Eureka Homes (AID India). They were making a map of the village and figuring out what families need support.
I tagged along on the first day. Beyond the edge of the village was... I don't know the right term... a shrine where the village guardian, some other Gods, and a sacred banyan tree were there. At the very edge was a temple still under construction. While standing beside it we were met by a man who lamented the bad state of the temple, and implored us to do something about it.
By the third day Nilay had had it. This story apparently repeated in many village they surveyed. "There are no hospitals, no clinics. The schools are tiny and absolutely run down. The panchayat building is in shambles. And all these people care about is temples. One village had more than five temples and no functioning school!"
I tried to explain to Nilay that TN is a progressive state. The HDI is one of the highest for a large state. Per capita GDP is also high, and rising fast. The state government is progressive and focuses on social equity. He was unimpressed.
When you speak to people in Goa, issues like the environment, cutting of trees, quality of roads and schools, civic sense related to throwing garbage or driving properly, water and electricity - this is what people talk about. They don't talk about churches or temples - that's not a social issue to discuss.
But I really wonder - if TN hasn't moved beyond temples as an "infrastructure" issue, where are rural Bengal and Bihar?
I tagged along on the first day. Beyond the edge of the village was... I don't know the right term... a shrine where the village guardian, some other Gods, and a sacred banyan tree were there. At the very edge was a temple still under construction. While standing beside it we were met by a man who lamented the bad state of the temple, and implored us to do something about it.
By the third day Nilay had had it. This story apparently repeated in many village they surveyed. "There are no hospitals, no clinics. The schools are tiny and absolutely run down. The panchayat building is in shambles. And all these people care about is temples. One village had more than five temples and no functioning school!"
I tried to explain to Nilay that TN is a progressive state. The HDI is one of the highest for a large state. Per capita GDP is also high, and rising fast. The state government is progressive and focuses on social equity. He was unimpressed.
When you speak to people in Goa, issues like the environment, cutting of trees, quality of roads and schools, civic sense related to throwing garbage or driving properly, water and electricity - this is what people talk about. They don't talk about churches or temples - that's not a social issue to discuss.
But I really wonder - if TN hasn't moved beyond temples as an "infrastructure" issue, where are rural Bengal and Bihar?