Foundation for Rural Recovery and Development (FORRAD)

15th February was SPORTS day at the Kaliyachak Shiksha Setu. Each successive year brings greater preparedness, familiarity and enthusiasm. The girls look like they are ready to train more professionally. This year, we held the three legged race, alphabet matching, slow cycling, lemon and spoon, high jump, the sack race and the 200 metre race. The concept of slow cycling was not fully understood and also not appreciated AT ALL but space constraints prevented speed cycling 🚴🏾‍♀️. We understand we’ll have to rethink this! The day started with exercises for everyone and ended with prize distribution, speeches and freshly prepared samosas. The centre holds two sports days a year. The second will be open to spectators.
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Our health team in Thiruvallur district have 409 patients of type 2 DM and hypertension on regular follow up. The burden of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in our country is ever growing. A small audit in our MMU spread over a month, showed us the large quantities in which we dispense medications in a few villages in Thiruvallur district. 40,740 tablets to 409 patients for the month.
Over the years, we have tried working with the local population to reduce their dependence on foods with high glycemic index like rice and transition to millets. It has been a difficult and ongoing process. The switch would probably be more feasible if local ration shops start dispensing fair quantities of millets over just rice.

Planting fruit trees is always a great idea. In an area where land holdings are minuscule, poverty is dire and malnutrition is extremely severe - it gains even more importance. Last year, we planted 1750 trees of predominantly of mango, banana, and guava in and around the pyne embankments in Nalanda, Bihar. Relieved to report that contrary to all doomsday predictions, most of the teees are doing very well and the guava and the banana trees have begun producing fruit. Much to look forward to - fingers crossed.