Stories from the field

I kick-start my bike and start my routine 50 km journey to Phagi where I’m now working on my assignment to document Shiksha Samarthan Project, Phagi. The drive till Sanganer is as usual lots of traffic; once you cross Sanganer you can heave a sigh of relief, no more congested roads. Driving to Phagi has its own rewards and punishment. Miles and miles of open sky, a long stretch of straight road which is partly pockmarked, wind that makes your eyes water nudging you to fall asleep and your helmet which is happily engaged in grinding your neck. This vista is in stark contrast to Jaipur which haughtily prides itself of its well maintained roads and its monuments both old and new.
Located about 50 kilometres south-west of Jaipur, Phagi block is semi-arid like the rest of Jaipur district. Groundwater levels and quality both are an issue in this block. Most wells have water that has either high fluoride levels or is hard. This is not suitable either for drinking or for agriculture as it increases the salinity of soil. The quality of water in the wells that are near the two seasonal rivers, Bandi and Mansi, is better. Owners of these wells are able to grow more than one crop per year on their land. Most of the agriculture in the block is however rain-fed. The major communities in the region are Bairwas, Balais, Bhils, Banjaras (Muslims), Jats and Brahmins. All the communities, except the Brahmins and Jats are from socially disadvantaged groups. Jats, while not being high in the social order, are a dominant community with the Brahmins.
Most of the lands near the road till village Renwal which happens to be midpoint between Jaipur and Phagi have been sold to builders and developers. A few farmhouses also stand proudly on the road and the rest of the landscape is dotted with hamlets, tea shops and the like you would find in an under developed place.
On a long journey such as this I pray that I do not get a flat tyre, at least, not while I’m speeding. A small pond and a few buildings announce that I have reached Phagi. A small signboard tells you about Shiksha Samarthan’s office.
Digantar’s Shiksha Samarthan Project Office is housed in a building which has much empty ground. The Shiksha Samarthan team has taken efforts to level the ground and a makeshift badminton court now proudly adorns this ground.
The office is in a rented place and has a big Verandah, four rooms and a small kitchenette. One room is used for trainings, another for computer related work, one for store-keeping and one for library purpose.