Block level meetings are usually held twice a year and offer an opportunity for single women to meet useful Government officers, local officials and doctors to discuss their various problems and receive advice and help. Over 350 women attended the meetings and enjoyed the opportunity to meet and share a good lunch.

Our volunteer Niklas was awed by the experience of working with the local printing press where the sounds and smells are intense! We are screen printing our latest bag design – a Gaddi dancing girl drawn by Veronica Leo and Ronny. Watch out for these new bags on the Nayi Asha on-line shop.

Spring is here and the fields are alive with flowers and grasses. Our team have been out picking plantain (plantago) leaves which they wash and dry and then bottle along with raw sugar and spices to make our very effective cough syrup.

The Nishtha team assisted the local Panchayat in putting on an interesting and enjoyable event for International Women’s Day, attended by over 50 local women. The Pradaan introduced the event by explaining the origin and importance of Women’s Day. Ravindra and two of Nishtha students spoke encouraging women to be aware of their rights. There followed traditional lively Kangri and Ghaddi dance performances which everyone enjoyed.

Spring is here and the fields are alive with flowers and grasses. Our team have been out picking plantain (plantago) leaves which they wash and dry and then bottle along with raw sugar and spices to make our very effective cough syrup.

For a full two years, because of CORONA the little children in the villages have had no pre-school classes. Feeling very sorry for them at home without their friends, this month Nishtha  decided to give each of the 50 children who a registered to attend the 4 anganwaris we look after a special care package. We bought shoes & crocks, socks & underwear, a selection of toys:  cars, balls & playdough as well as colours and drawing pads. They were especially delighted with the nice things to eat: cake, noodles, mango papad and dates. The mothers and children were very surprised to receive such a lot of lovely things. The kids faces lit up when they received the big yellow balls and the cars! What joy!

A full day sports program was organized by Nishtha last Saturday. Around 90 primary school children had a wonderful time playing and competing in running, long jump, high,  jump spoon and lemon race, tug of war and much more. Everyone enjoyed snacking on eggs, samosas, namkeen and banana.  At the end the prize winners were delighted with their trophies and every child received a nice fat copy book and a smart pen. It was a joy to be out on the ground playing with the children on such a bright winter’s day.

165 local primary school children received sturdy sports shoes and 3 pairs of socks this week. Usually we give black school shoes so the children were very pleased to receive such special colorful ones and planned to take good care of them.

On Saturday we had enough children to make two teams to play football – the current craze in the village. Nishtha staff distributed samosa and bananas which everyone needed after an energetic game.

Lovely to see the children back on the ground enjoying picking waste using our new catchers, at the same time as riding bicycles.