4th February 2007

I arrive into a hot and humid Delhi at 11:00 Sunday morning. I quickly met up with my driver Kuldip and we head off to Jaipur, a car journey that takes us about 5 hours.

Our destination is the Jaipur Natural Stone Show, where I am due to meet with Mrs Joshi from Hadoti, the NGO that we have chosen to work with. We meet and work through the details of the programme, agreeing priorities, targets and review dates. I am delighted to be able to take part in the ceremonial handing over of the cheque. From left to right are:

• Rory Kendrick: Managing Director of Marshalls Natural Stone who had been at the exhibition during the previous week

• Me!

• Mrs Joshi: representing Hadoti

• Rajiv Bazaz: Managing Director of Stoneshippers India

Our funding of R860,000 will enable the provision of the following activities:

1: Medical Care A mobile medical centre with a doctor and two nurses will visit every fortnight to screen the main diseases that affect the quarry workers: TB, Syphilis, Malaria and Lung Cancer. Medication will be provided as will treatment for other illnesses and injuries.

2: Social Insurance We are aiming to provide social insurance to 1000 quarry workers during the year that will cover death and serious injury delivering cash payments to allow their families to survive without them.

3: Government liaison One of the main issues of migrant workers is that they loose their rights to education, medical and food vouchers when they move states. Hadoti will work with their parent states and the state of Rajasthan to try and find a solution that allows the workers to claim their rights. This is especially important for the education of their children.

We spend much time with the Hadoti team agreeing the timing plan, the measures and the implementation plan.

HADOTI HAST SHILP SANSTHAN, KOTA ACTION PLAN OF LABOUR SUPPORT IN THE MINING AREA (KOTA AND BUNDI DIST.)

YEARLY PLAN OF ACTION FEBRUARY 2007 TO DECEMBER 2007

With the programme agreed, dates for payment of funds in place, we head off to Kota – another 5 hour 250km car journey.

We reach the Hotel at 10:15, the Umed Bhawan Palace and manage to get some food before the restaurant closes. It feels a little like the famous Fawlty Towers sketch as we have to phone ahead to the hotel and arrange for the Chef to stay late!

More > 5th February 2007