Clouds had been gathering all afternoon and we were convinced it would rain. But it didn't. The stillness and humidity was replaced by cool gusts of wind and the weather now is quite pleasant. It must have rained nearby. That's it. It's raining all around us but now on us!

It's been a busy day. School. Computer classes and then visitors. Rajinder, who used to work with me in Cheo (for a year or so) dropped in to say hello and we chatted about old times. He's a successful "doctor" in his village Lathibari. I had sent him to Hiranpur to study to become a lab technician and para medic. He came back and worked for a few months in Cheo. But then decided to go back to his village and start his own practise. I'm glad he is successful. I'm sad he did not stay on the project and do the same work for the people here. He's one of the few of "my people" who came learnt and left. But it's good he is serving some community somewhere.

It's also been a busy day for the team. Bhola had set them a deadline to finish painting the window grills in the volunteer room. Then they had to clean out the rooms and also the western toilet because Mitali arrives tomorrow and she will be using it. In between they also had to assist the handpump mechanic to repair the pump near the toilets that had stopped working a few months ago. It's working ok and we now can get water for the toilet and wash.

I'm happy as we now have three water sources -- the main handpump, the one near my room and the one at the well. So even if one stops working, we won't have a water crisis on hand. What's great is that the well hasn't dried up. In fact, quite a few wells in the area have dried up because of lack of rain. But our well has more than enough water for our needs and also for watering the plants. The good news is that the handpump mechanic has a relative who is also a well-digger. Since our original well-digger is not coming, we may get this new guy to complete the job on the second well. Let's see when he shows up!

Khagen is playing with the kids. Bansi is probably resting. Bhola and Nilambar have gone to visit a village. That programme is doing fine. The team has already visited the homes of all the children who come to school more than once. In the next phase, they will be visiting the homes of all the kids who have dropped out from our school to find out why and what they are doing these days. If the dropouts are going to school elsewhere, it's fine. If not, then the team will try to convince the parents to ensure that the child gets some education somewhere. They don't necessarily have to come to Baba Gyan Mandir.

The computer classes are going well. The kids are growing more and more confident every day. Unfortunately, the teachers don't seem to be interested at all! They are probably afraid that it's additional work for them. They may be worried that I may teach them and ask them to teach yet another subject? I really don't know. I am going to have a meeting this evening and hopefully I'll find out why. It was Bansi's turn to learn today. He didn't show up. In fact, he was sitting in his room reading the papers. Well, it's his loss. Not mine. Classes are held under the tree and I had hoped that Nilambar and Khagen would come and at least watch what the kids were up to. But they too decided to retire to their rooms once classes were over at 9:30. To their credit, however, they all started painting the grills at 11:00 when Bhola showed up and yelled at them!

I'm really getting very, very tired of this scenario. In fact, I'm now toying with the idea of closing down the "ashram" part of the project. I don't see why the "teachers" should stay on the project if all they are interested in is teaching. They can rent rooms in the village, come and teach and then get lost. They can take care of themselves. I don't care what arrangements they will make for food etc. This will save the project a lot of money and me, a lot of headache. I'll retain Suman to look after the project and hire labour if work has to be done. I've already discussed this with Bhola and he feels it's a good idea. Hmmmmm.... I'm still thinking......