In India, Jagdishpur Village Chief and Wife Aspire to Transform Villagers' Lives
Ching-chun Lin, Hsiu-lien Chu, Shu-hsien Ho, and Yu-hsien Wei | India
Spreading Love and Health
Founded in 1966 under the leadership of Master Cheng Yen, Tzu Chi has extended its compassionate mission to 136 countries over 58 years. Recently, Master Cheng Yen has aimed to uplift lives in the Buddhist holy lands of India and Nepal. In 2022, volunteers from Malaysia and Singapore began their humanitarian efforts in Lumbini, Nepal, and Bodh Gaya, India, offering services in charity, medical care, education, and humanistic culture.
On July 16, 2023, Tzu Chi volunteers extended their compassionate reach to Jagdishpur, a village near Bodh Gaya, India, offering health checkups and health education.
Volunteers and Village Chief Join Hands for Health
Village chief Dinesh Kumar assisted the volunteers in organizing health checkups for 160 households in Jagdishpur between July 25 and August 3, 2023. Nurse Kim Yan Lim from Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) Singapore discovered widespread malnutrition among villagers and decided to provide nutritional supplements and health education to address issues like alcohol consumption and betel nut chewing.
On August 12, volunteers held another health education session. Dinesh expressed, "Health is vital for villagers' work, and I am willing to support the volunteers in protecting their well-being."
Village Chief's Wife Encourages Villagers to Swap Alcohol for Tea
The village chief’s wife, Manorma Devi, actively participated in efforts to improve villagers' health. Learning from health check data about villagers' drinking habits, volunteers launched the "Swapping Alcohol for Tea" campaign on March 13, 2024, encouraging villagers to replace Mahua, a local alcoholic drink, with Masala tea. On April 2, Manorma joined the volunteers in urging villagers, "Stop drinking. It's bad for your health and a waste of money."
Villagers gradually embraced tea as a substitute for alcohol, bringing joy to Manorma. She remarked, "We work together like a family, which is why my husband and I are committed to this cause." Seeing volunteers travel from afar to provide health checkups and nutritious food deeply moved Dinesh and Manorma. Manorma urged the villagers, "If you want a better life, you must change your mindset."
Village Chief and Wife: United as Tzu Chi Volunteers
Village Chief Dinesh Kumar and his wife were deeply moved by the selfless dedication of Tzu Chi volunteers, readily supporting any initiatives benefiting their community. When volunteers proposed a parent-child sports day last year, the chief immediately agreed. The event on September 1, 2023, not only brought novelty and fun to the villagers but also strengthened parent-child relationships, a first for Chief Dinesh Kumar to witness.
Upon learning about Tzu Chi's foot-washing activities at schools in Bodh Gaya, the chief invited volunteers to organize a similar event in their village. On the afternoon of September 5, 2023, nineteen volunteers returned to Jagdishpur Village, offering 24 parent-child pairs an opportunity to experience foot-washing and express gratitude to their parents.
The volunteers delved deep into the Bodh Gaya community, aiming not only to improve the lives of low-caste villagers but also to cultivate local volunteers to assist their fellow villagers. Recognizing this shared mission, Chief Dinesh Kumar and his wife eagerly participated in a volunteer training session on October 15, 2023.
Due to these connections, during a ceremony on February 23, 2024, where Tzu Chi Vice Present Pi-yu Lin distributed volunteer uniforms to 56 local volunteers at the Tzu Chi Office in Bodh Gaya, Chief Dinesh Kumar and his wife were among them, having officially become Tzu Chi volunteers. They continued their commitment by attending a volunteer training course on March 17.
Throughout the intensive day-long course attended by 38 students, Chief Dinesh Kumar, known for his enthusiasm, expressed his willingness to join volunteers in their efforts to help others, inspired by videos showcasing Tzu Chi's humanitarian work. He stated, "I will share what I learn here with others and teach my villagers to help others as well."
Chief Dinesh Kumar further emphasized his agreement with Tzu Chi's spirit of "Bamboo Bank Era" and "Rice Bank," highlighting that helping others doesn't necessarily require large donations but rather a sincere intention to give, something everyone can do. He passionately expressed that while everyone may have different ideas, collectively, they can all serve society together.
Manorama, who joined the volunteer training course, mentioned that she decided to become a volunteer because she observed how they were all helping the poor.
"My husband became a volunteer after Tzu Chi came. Sometimes when he’s not around, I will join the volunteers to visit households and work together," Manorama said. "I enjoy working together with everyone, so I'm doing this now, and I plan to continue in the future."
Manorama finds joy in distributing pulses, milk, and rice to needy households alongside Tzu Chi volunteers. She also participates in blood pressure checks conducted by the medical team for villagers. Her aim is to set an example for villagers, demonstrating that everyone can contribute to helping others. She believes that if everyone works together, it can greatly benefit the poor, hoping her thoughts will inspire others to do the same.
Traveling from the Tzu Chi office in Bodh Gaya to Jagdishpur Village typically requires more than 40 minutes by auto-rickshaw, navigating bumpy dirt and gravel roads, sometimes through clouds of dust. Despite these challenges, volunteers tirelessly conduct health check-ups, educational outreach, distribute nutritional supplies, and continue their caring visits to villagers, embodying Tzu Chi's spirit of "Swapping Alcohol for Tea."
Every Tzu Chi volunteer hopes their efforts will improve the lives of the locals, potentially transforming lives and fulfilling their aspiration to give back to the Buddha homeland, one step at a time.
