On our way to business trip to Baruch (south of Ahmedabad by a three hour drive), Rajeshbhai gave me a quick lesson on how states in India are organized:
Villages –> Taluka’s (made up of many villages) –> Districts (made up of Taluka’s…in Gujura, there are 25 of them)
We left for the business trip at 7am and got back by 9pm. Here were just a few of the things that occurred:
- Gujarat State Development Office: Meet with the new District officer and push forward a proposal.
- Gujuarat State Collector’s Office: Dispute a mangroves (aka wetlands) issue on behalf of SAVE.
- Vikas/Save Branch in Jampusar: Team meeting with Janishuta (co-op) and SETU (growers of tuvar and green mong dals)
Since the FMS program this January, I’ve developed a new found appreciation for entrepreneurs/small businesses….but maybe its because social enterprises are designed to include that “social impact” angle, so what can I say, it gets me at my heart!
While on that drive down, I also began to pick up the Times of India (I’m a huge news junkie! Which reminds me, I am so sad that Arriana Huffington, Founder of Huffington Post, is the main guest speaker at my undergrad at Bryant University this March, and I can’t make it! HuffPo is one on my go-to apps on my iPhone). Apparently, Gujarat is the top three fruit producers in the country and is strong in their industrial production, which includes petroleum. Last week, Rajeshbhai gave me an overview of the state, which was actually impressive. Here are some of the details:
- 1600 miles of coastline for fishing and oil/petroleum production (they also partner with the Middle East…Pakistan/Bangladesh is northwest of Gujarat.)
- Vast, lush grounds for agriculture and livestock
- Deserts up in the western/northern part
I am beginning to see why SABRAS is only part of the SAVE as it’s becoming obvious there are many marginalized workers throughout the state in any industry. As a social enterprise, it must be tough to make a decision on who and who not to help =T
Towards the end of the day, Rajeshbhai offered the opportunity for me to visit salt processing at the Little Rann of Kutch in the Thar Desert to help further my knowledge of SABRAS’s suppy chain and operations. Kutch is in the western part of the state, bare, nothing grows there with temperatures ranging from – 3 to 168 degrees. Let’s just say, I am thankful I brought SPF 100 on this trip and my straw hat from Florence, Italy! Good sign of more things come! 😀
And now unto my favorite part….foodie adventures! I got my first taste of dosa’s during a stop-over (it’s big flat lentil crepe…mostly a southern Indian cuisine). It was pretty delicious and when you have chai tea afterwards…one word: heaven. Now, if only road-side food could be this good in the U.S., life would be a little better 😀
