Utah university in pact to improve Punjab villages

In a bid to improve conditions in the villages of Punjab a foreign university has entered into a partnership with the department of public health at PGIMER and a family run trust. The University of Utah, USA in collaboration with the department of public health, PGIMER and a the trust, Meher Baba Charitable trust (MBCT) has started a development programme for the villages of the state.

Nine villages from Fatehgarh Sahib district have been selected for the pilot project, according to Sharon Talboys, project director for India from the University of Utah. Nearly 20 volunteers from the university of Utah are in Punjab to conduct field work. This summer, they analysed the villages on the basis of four criteria - environmental analysis, demographic analysis, qualitative aspects and understanding and building personal relations with the villagers.

According to Robin Moore, an environmental analyst, preliminary test results of water samples collected from village households and public drinking outlets shows the presence of disease causing bacteria. In an attempt to build personal relations, the volunteers went door to door in each of the villages and talked to people about their problems.

For qualitative analysis, the volunteers held one on one interactions. Jaread Blacke, one of the volunteers said: "The youngsters of the villages are unemployed. They have a strong desire to work and contribute to their financial development." While another volunteer Tiffiny Law said that the girls fear early marriages and want to pursue higher studies.

Among the volunteers is a three time Olympian, Tracy Evens. Evens will take care of the hockey nurseries, set up by the trust in the villages. The university conducts similar programmes in Ghana, Peru and China.

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