INDIA TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25306, 4 October 1947, Page 2

INDIA TO-DAY

IMPROVING VILLAGE LIFE Although India is disturbed by riots and other problems as a result of change in administration, much valuable work is continuing in the villages toward better health, education, and living conditions for the natives. Mr W. Neil Johnson, of Christchurch, a member of the China convoy of the Friends’ Ambulance Unit, has been in India on business and in letters to friends in New Zealand he describes some of this.

Writing from New Delhi, he says the racial riots w£te bad, but the resulting general panic probably did as much harm as anything else. Armed gangs of Hindus and Sikhs were searching out and killing Moslems, presumably in retaliation for similar deeds allegedly perpetrated on nonMoslem minorities in Pakistan. Tne presence of large numbers of refugees changing their homes aggravated the unrest. Long curfews imposed by the authorities to restore order caused a virtual cessation of business and even when heads of departments returned they were without staff for some time. All welfare workers co-operated in accelerating the movement of refugees. In another letter, Mr Johnson describes a trip to Santiniketan. Here he noted a big erosion problem from the heavy rains on the red sandy-clay soil. Much of the land was high and irrigation was arranged by forming long lagoons. These reservoirs were also used for drinking water, bathing, and washing. Soil, cropping, and farm economics surveys were in progress, in association with schemes of the Cooperative Health Societies, and educational services for the natives. Big advances were being made in teaching the natives handcrafts in which thdy introduced traditional designs. These included carpentry, leatherwork, weaving, and pottery. After training in the centres, natives went back to their villages and marketed their goods through the centres.

Mr Johnson says officers are finding it difficult to change the habits of the older people, but good habits are being inculcated through the schools.