The People of Birahimpur

During my visit in December 2016, one of the first exercises in the village was to take a survey to establish the needs and wants of the people. 

We were greeted at every home by very pleasant, reserved people who answered our questions without expansion - telling us how many people lived in their home, if they had children at school or household members who were working. 

As the weeks went on, I was invited to many homes, accompanied by my interpreter, to see in person exactly what their needs were. Along with recognising their needs for water, sanitation, better built homes, I was struck by how difficult it was for these gentle people to admit how badly off they were and how embarrassed they were by their lack.

The majority of homes consisted of two rooms. The first room functioned as a living room, dining room, bedroom, study, fulfilling all the family's needs. The second room was the kitchen, often a room with no shelving, where pots and pans were kept on the floor. Outside the back door was a small, one-stone fire for cooking. For the ten most privileged homes in the village there would also be a pump outside, and possibly a toilet.  ​