I am William Watt, a student journalist and visual communications major living in Goa, India for the summer. I recently had a personal experience that helped me more clearly realize the importance of proper Infrastructure in developing countries.
A week ago I was involved in a minor scooter accident. I received only small abrasions and cuts on my leg and foot, which I thought would heal very easily with the use of antiseptic ointments and powders. I did not take into account that the water in Goa, which coincidentally is significantly better than almost anywhere else in India, was contaminated with diseases and bacteria.
It is now almost a week after the crash, and my wounds have made very little progress. Both wounds experienced infections, which I fought quickly, but without the access to proper medicine and clean water, my condition could have been severe.
Now, imagine a different place in India where the people’s cleanest water looks like tea. A place where there are no roads. Many towns look like this, but for simplicity sake, let us focus our attention to Kurumagondi Village, in the East Godavari District.
Here, in order to reach the hospital located several kilometers away, the townspeople must go along paths and cross through streams. These paths and streams are not beautiful with lush soil and crystal clear water, but smelly, and dangerous, especially to be taking sick or injured people.
In such places, local politicians promise roads during each election, but nothing is done once they are in office. Officials must be bribed to speak about the road work that seems to be stopped before it is started. And once accepting the bribes, these officials still do not produce any answers.
Corruption in this town is so bad that their electricity has been out for over 6 months, yet the officials still demand electricity bills be paid.
I am not trying to make people feel guilty or bad by writing these articles, only lucky and powerful. For in the world we live, those of you looking at a computer screen and reading this article are most fortunate indeed! At the same time, it is also important for people in our position to comprehend the conditions that others around the world are forced to endure. Because, by understanding, we are empowering the voices of the marginalized to be heard. That in itself is a wonderful thing!
Here is a short video directly related to this topic. The video interviews the townspeople of the Kurumagondi Village.
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