The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-01-29
MONTANA FARMERS HELP POINT WAY
TO BETTER WORLD UNDERSTANDING

- VHv0ARaO kAlv0uhv0
forts. By personal example, demon
stration and patient education RaJa
| and 0osha Fumdit and DR.. ATnrute
have stirred the people to the realiza-
ton that by working together they
can better the living conditions of all.
The land for the road right-of way
was all donated. One farmer who
owned only tenth of an acre do
mated the right-of-way across his land.
Raja's home is the cooperative
center. A room in his utility building
is the cooperative office. Another
is the cooler for the coop milk sup
ply. He has war surplus generator
which runs the air compressor for the
cooler and generates electricity for
his home and several others, and
charges batteries for radios. He has
trained boy who had only fifth
grade education to test the milk for
the cooperative. The members are
paid according to the grade and
cleanliness of their milk. This has en-
couraged them to try to produce bet
ter milk. The milk is taken by train
to Bombay twice a day. Some is
shipped in milk cans to the milk
center. Some is carried in brass jars
hung from yoke across the shoulders
and sold directly to the public.
Perhaps the greatest sacrifices of
all have been made by Oosha Pundit
who did not grow up in a village.
Used to the comparative comforts of
city life, she has made many adjust
ments in order to help the village
women. She has left her jewelry and
delicate sarees in Bombay and wears
only the coarser materials worn by
the villagers. In this way she has been
able to identify herself with them
and help them improve their methods
of cooking, child raising, and stand
ards of cleanliness and nutrition.
ABORIGINES ARE THE
LANDLESS PEOPLE
The tribal people who originally
inhabited India before the invasion
Of the Aryans at the dawn of history,
are the landless people. They live in
mud or straw huts on land which
doesn't belong to them. If the land
S sold they must move off and build
elsewhere without receiving compen-
'ation for their hut which is de-
'troyed. They seem to care very little
or their lives. Raja took to the city
me who had been bitten by mad Z
log, explaining that he could get free
reatment and would die if he failed
o get the injections. But the tribes
nan hated the city and Raja caught
i'm short time later boarding the
rain to return to the village. 1t was
ecessary to send an insistent friend
nth him to see that he actually got
he treatment.
1t is these people who actually do
lost of the field work for the farm
rs. Men. women and children all
rork. A days wage is one rupee.
he children are being encouraged
, attend school, but their attendance
very irregular and many find it
ifficult to keep up with the class
Some, however, do very we'll. We
sited the hut of one man who is such
good worker that he earns rupee
nd half day. Although made of
nd and plastered with dung, his
'use was shiny clean. He had no
lrniture, three clay pots and brass
r, calendar and an almanac. He
I'd managed to get fifth grade edu-
ution so he reads the calendar and
manac to the other tribal people.
The Pundits and DR.. Amrute could
I'VE made comfortable living in the
ty, because of their advanced edu-
tion, but they chose to go back to
cir village and try to raise the
andard of living of their people.
e are convinced it is only through
,ople such as them that midas vii
ges will progress. The spirit of the
'ople is there, but education is the
" that will unlock the shackles that
nd them to the past.