RISE UP INDIA is dedicated to helping children living in impoverished settings by providing education and other aid with the goal of stopping and preventing child exploitation.
SHERI & CURTIS
The three RISE UP INDIA schools are located in the state of Bihar. Bihar is located in northeast India and is bordered on the east by the state of West Bengal and to the north by Nepal. Bihar is located in the vast plain of the Ganges River. The topography is dead flat. The climate in monsoonal. The wet season starts in July and ends in October. Winter temperatures drop down to the 50s in December and it is quite dry. Summer temperatures can be unbearably hot in June and July, often approaching 120 degrees. The summer heat is broken in July by the monsoon when there is heavy daily rainfall.
Map: The state of Bihar located in northeast India.
The capital of Bihar is Patna. Bihar’s second city is Gaya. Bodhagya is located 13 kilometers south of Gaya. Bodhgaya is a town of 30,000 people. It’s claim to fame is being the location of the Bodhi Tree which is important in Buddhism and Hinduism.
Photo: Aerial image of Bodhgaya and Bakrour Village.
Bakrour Village is located across the Naraijana River from Bodhgaya. Bakrour has about 5000 people. Bakrour has erratic electric supply. There is no public water supply, no sanitary sewer disposal system, and no telephone/cable lines. The nearest gas station is 3 kilometers from Bodhgaya. The bridge across the Narainjana River between Bodhgaya and Bakrour was constructed in 1996. Before then Bakrour was cut off from road and rail for about three months each year. The primary economy is agricultural production. The main crop is barley and second are vegetables. All soil preparation, planting, weeding, irrigating, and harvesting is perform by hand.
During our travels when we mentioned that we were going to Bihar, local Indians would recommend against it. And after we returned when we said we stayed in Bihar local Indians would smile and put a look on their face that said “Are you out of your f-ing mind ?”. Bihar is known as the most corrupt and poorest state in India (which is saying something). It has the highest rates of illiteracy, especial for women, in the country. Maoist rebels are active in the villages and people refer to the existence of a parallel government. Crime and banditry were at quite high levels, but with the departure of Lalu Prasad, the chief minister, and his wife, crime levels have dropped. It is common for ministers of parliament to come out of prison and go straight to parliament and vise versa. If a criminal is under investigation it is common for them to run for office which offers a level of immunity.
Backwards beliefs still exist in the villages of Bihar. People believe in witchcraft. We witnessed an exorcism. Occasionally people accused of being a witch are stripped naked, marched through the village (a great insult) and burned, sometimes fatally. Bride burning is rare but is practiced in India. The wife is doused with kerosene burned to death to get rid of her. Shaman advise people against getting medical help. People hide their children when medical workers come. Despite tremendous efforts Bihar has the highest rate of Polio infection.
Bakrour along with most of India is experiencing rapid growth.
Peace
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