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| Sep 26th - The Kerala
Model of development |
| Traveling through the backwaters of coastal Southern
India, for two days Global University and International students experienced
first hand a development campaign focusing on bringing democratic
power to grassroots levels through local capacity building projects.
As Peace Boaters have been learning since departing Singapore, the
state of Kerala is home to one of the most successful regional grassroots
development projects in the world. What we also found in these humid
lowlands of India though, when we did not have our noses poking into
a particular project, was the hospitality warm, the home-style curry
hot and the unhurried nature of the local people enviable - especially
for those coming from Japan's metropolitan madness. |
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| A powerful performance about friends and family
caught on opposite sides of a border between warring countries
- symbolic of India and Pakistan - followed Dr. Isaac's welcome
on our arrival in Mararikulam village |
In a region with a per capita income lower than
many developing or poor countries, it was an eye-opener to find standards
of living higher, people healthier and democratic participation stronger
than many Western or developed countries of the world. Dr. Thomas
Isaac, a member of the Kerala State Parliament and architect of the
decentralized planning model of the KSSP organization, welcomed us
on the first day with a detailed explanation of just how such development
is implemented. Beginning with literacy, a basic requirement for local
empowerment and capacity for civil participation, KSSP introduced
a model of decentralization of power and local planning. In other
words, the local use of state funds should be planned by local people
who understand their own unique needs, rather than the state level
from which more general or formulaic and less effective plans will
come. |
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| Lina, an International Student from Palestine,
a master of the brush stroke |
How this model of development is put into practice
was the focus of our busy two day tour around Mararikulam, a small
backwater village 50km from Cochin. After an introduction to various
projects in the area, we were introduced to many levels of elected
representative, from village to state level. Political participation
is imperative to decentralized planning, and through the KSSP model,
political structures were extended down to the most local levels possible
and participation encouraged. A key focus of all activities was the
mobilization of women, who traditionally are confined to the home
and not active in civil society while comprising half of the population.
With a political planning and participation structure in place, various
projects oriented towards the good of local people could be planned
and state money allocated more efficiently. |
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| Kids from a local free pre-school project with
donated soccer balls from the Peace Ball team. Quite shy, but
not too much so for a round of soccer with the big gawking people
who'd come for a visit |
One of the most successful projects is a locally
based soap production and selling by women. This project is successful
in a number of ways. Women are the main participants in such projects,
giving them employment, business experience and a more active place
in society. The project, aiming to compete with products produced
and distributed by multinational companies whose presence in India
is growing, was both profitable and cheaper than brand name alternatives,
and based upon local resources such as coconut oil. This helped raise
household incomes and stimulated an otherwise collapsing (due to recently
introduced international market competition) sector of the local economy.
Other projects included an all women coconut fiber weaving operation,
various agriculture projects and a system of local free pre-schools,
volunteer operated, which increased educational choice and accessibility
for the great majority of people who cannot afford private education.
Another factor introduced into all of these projects, reflecting KSSP's
roots as a science oriented group, is the importance of utilizing
and educating people to understand moderate levels of technology -
for example, soap making techniques or improved agricultural practices. |
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| Spinning coconut fiber into rope and mats,
one of many local women's projects |
One of the highlights of the tour was the lunch
to which we were treated by the KSSP organization. Our stomachs happily
received the generosity of our guides, which consisted of fried fish
and a traditional banana leaf lunch where rice and curry is surrounded
by various small sauces, sweets and fruit. After lunch, Peace Boat
staff met with local and national press representatives and journalists,
discussed our agenda and presented an official statement conducted
interviews concerning the recent terrorist attacks on the US and current
preparations for response. |
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| Dr. Isaac and IS Coordinator Hanna Jopinger
speaking to the media about our tour |
To complement our academic oriented tour with something
different, home-stay families were arranged and the GU and IS students
and staff spent the night and next morning experiencing local hospitality
and home-cooked meals. For all that we learned during the days, this
was quite possibly the most popular part of the program. One home-stay
was organized for every two participants. Talking about and comparing
lifestyles, singing, sign language where English was not possible,
and delicious (for most) curry, sweet like dessert or spicy enough
to make you cry, was the order of the night. |
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| International student Dejan from Serbia strolling
with good company |
Exhausted by two very full days of activity and
experience, the group returned to Cochin and Peace Boat. Meeting up
with other people, we found that other tours had enjoyed the two days
just as much. Of particular note was the GET program, on which participants
and staff did yoga, a home-stay and cultural and friendship exchange
with a local school and did their best to practice the English with
they study between ports. Other tours included a curry-experience
and visiting elephants. As is usually the case, the most difficult
part of the stop in India was departure. But never fear, we look forward
to Mombassa, Kenya as much as we are looking back on our experiences
in Cochin, India. An agreeable predicament indeed.Text and photos by Stacy Hughes |
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PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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