Date: 22nd May 2016
Place: around Jawhar, Dist. Palghar, Maharashtra
Vehicle: Mahindra Xylo
Im sure many of us are already involved in variety of activities for noble causes, assisting the society. Whenever possible, whatever possible, I try to do my bit for the under-privileged and unfortunate sections. Mostly during my road trips, I take along food items (grains, pulses, biscuits, chocolates, edible oil etc), or stationeries (books, pens, crayons etc).
I have some thought process, that money is not the only thing, though its important. Example: just donating money for a particular activity or to some organization. Hopefully, the rightful people would make best use of such monetary donations, but somehow it may leave you bit disconnected from the actual purpose. I have my own reason for mostly not directly attached to any specific NGO / organization. Rather, there is also need of resources at the ground level, or the execution level. Even that contribution would play a big role, and because of one’s active participation (time and efforts), the feeling of being connected and satisfaction is greatly increased. Mostly I try to be involved in the activity, and not just superficial. Ofcourse, its not always possible, because of many engagements of our routine lives. Don’t get me wrong, the whole idea of my article is – even if a cent I could inspire others. And secondly, as a traveller I would share details about the places we visit.
These days the water scarcity in various parts of country has already made big news, it’s a very serious issue. Its been exactly four years since I did
my earlier trip, on same lines. Few weeks earlier, I had decided that I will again attempt to do my bit. I had told few of my very close friends, if they could join and actively participate in the goal. Time was running out, the summers were at the peak, and due to some or other engagements of mine, even the month of May was getting over. I finalized on a date – Sunday 22nd May 2016 and communicated to few of my friends.
The plan was simple: carrying drinking water to remote villages around Jawhar / Mokhada towns. Even last year I had been to Jawhar (saw the Sun Set point) and nearby Dabhosa waterfalls, that time distributed some grains in villages. I absolutely love this region, the vast hilly landscape, which becomes beautiful in monsoon. It’s the summers that cause real difficulties with severe water scarcity. Do refer my post on earlier trip, that time I was carrying 324 litres of water bottles (each bottle of one litre), but this time I had some bigger plans.
A friend of mine was tentative to join us, and in that case we would have two SUV cars capable of carrying more material, but he had to cancel due to some reasons. Another friend who was to tag along in my vehicle got ill, so he also couldn’t join, which he informed early morning of Sunday itself. Then who was accompanying me ?! Yes, again my dear friend DK (Dharmendra Kumaria), who had accompanied me in my previous trip, in the same region, for the same cause! On Sat 21st, after speaking to few water suppliers in my area, eventually went to the same shop which last time we had been. The guy was bit known to us. Even after discounts, the rate of 1 litre bottles was very high, and so we decided to take along 20 litres bottles. I got my car in front of shop, and the guy started loading the big heavy water bottles, totally to 22 bottles, that’s 440 KGS of weight. The third row seat of my car was folded to create this huge boot area. I wasn’t sure of the official load bearing capacity of my vehicle, but was also confident that it should not be much issue. Next we went to supermarket and purchased pouches of different grains, and packets of biscuits. Then got the tyre pressure checked at a shop. After fully loading, I parked my car for the night, and next day we had to start.
Map of the trip :
https://goo.gl/maps/6gjb1c5og9S2
Picture of my loaded car :
Next day 22nd May, we started by 7.15am and filled diesel at a highway bunk near Vasai. We drove for sometime and stopped at Shree Dutt food mall near Manor for breakfast. We relished puri-bhaji, vada-pao, missal-pao. After driving a while, taking a right from highway, took the road towards Vikramgadh, and further ahead was Jawhar. Our plan was to distribute the 1st round of material to Dolhara village, ahead on Jawhar on the Khodala-Igatpuri road. And if possible we wanted to get some more water for 2nd round of distribution at some other village. On our way, we were trying to locate another shop which could supply us more water, but could locate any such big shop in Vikramgadh or Jawhar, still we continued ahead and decided to later figure out the material for 2nd round.
The weather was mixed for the whole day, sometimes it was bit overcast (rain clouds starting to appear), and majority of time it was really hot sun blazing with warm air breezing. On the way we saw many wells, hand-pumps and some smaller water bodies (ponds). I was very confident that most of these wells etc are already dried-up, and even the ponds were shallow with dirty water. Some of these wells are already deserted, and at some places the infrastructure build for water collection was in ruins because of no usage.
On the way, we kept seeing many females (women of varied age groups, from kids to aged), walking a long way to fetch water in their vessels, mostly placed over their heads. During long summers the wells gradually dry, and so people may have to walk more to identify another well which would be still wet (if not plentiful). In some small river stream, the people used to bath in same, wash clothes in same, and also take along water for their needs, such a pity state.
Me on the driving seat, and DK clicking a selfie :
(to be continued....)