75.Poverty!

In Rajsthan, I have seen some wonderful palace like  buildings. Even in rural areas, the doors will attract you. The housing and the variety in it is a matter of a deep knowledge base.

But sometimes, I do remember the moment when I entered a house in one of the villages in Barmer district.

There was hardly anything in the house. The wall had so many holes that winter would be very severe in this room.

Was it an "add on" room for a family - I wanted to know.
No, it was not.
This was the only room that the family had.
I wonder whether they have Rs. 26/- per person that out esteemed Planning Commission of India feels sufficient for a family.

67.Desert

One has to visit Desert to find its beauty.
Yes, it is not easy, but it is beautiful.

Here are some images of desert in Barmer district, Rajsthan.

And how do people live here? What is their lifestyle? Housing? Roads? Transport? Agriculture?
Maybe, some other time. 

50. Where is the Market?

Many times the poverty exists not due to lack of production but due to lack of access to market.

I was amazed to see this in Barmer district of Rajsthan.
Not once, but repeatedly.

There is so much watermelon, but no market to sell it.
Hence it is used to feed animals.

The people living in these types of remote areas will have a better life only if they have access to markets.

40. Shadow

Shadow is an inherent  part of our life.
We get so used to shadows that we forget that they have their individual personalities.

This one is observed in Karekal district in Pondicherry.

And the other is in the small desert in Badmer district of Rajsthan.

They are similar and yet distinct.
They have different stories to offer - if we care to listen. 

3. Moving Sand

Prior to this visit I had traveled from Patna to Chapara number of times.
It was during September 2010, I observed something different.
I had always watched Ganga water flowing and was surprised to see the sudden appearance of the huge amount of sand there. It was as if I did not know the road.

As we moved on, I saw it more closely. There were few small boats and they all seemed to be engaged in some kind of urgent work.

I was still clueless about what was happening. I thought maybe, people are using boats as a means of transport. We kept on moving and through the car window I could capture some more images.

After few more snaps, I realized what it was all about. I am a 'late' learner, by the way.

This is not a Natural Sand Movement.
It is actually Sand Mining.
Whether legal or illegal - I do not know.
What price people pay for such activities, we all can imagine.
But who cares?