MV: We told what we were doing, right? We are seeing how there are certain people, who although do not make much money, work and still succeed. And we are writing a book about it and taking videos... MV: How long have you been [living] here? Lady: From the days of my mother in law, around 30-40 years MV: You have been here for 30 years? Lady: Yes, I've been married for 30 years. MV: Is all this [area] your home? Can we go and see? Lady: Yes, please come in. MV: Do we need to remove our shoes? Lady: [No] please come in MV: Do you have cable for your TV? Lady 1: Yes, we have it, sir Man: They have given us cable MV: How much does it cost? Lady: Monthly 100 Rs Lady 2: Some people have bought the Dish [for their homes] MV: How many channels do you get? Lady 1: 25? Lady 2: Around 20. We just watch 5 channels. MV: What is that over here? Lady: It is where we worship our God MV: Has this home always been like this from the beginning? Or have you built it in small [multiple] stages? Lady: We have suffered [worked hard] and built it little by little MV: What was it in the beginning? Lady: It used to be a thatched hut home MV: So what did you build first? Lady: We had built a thatched home in the beginning. Now, my child has earned money and helped us build this house MV: So by thatched house, were the sides [wall] built of bricks? Ladies: The walls were made of mud. MV: So, it was small. After that did you build it one room at a time? Or did you build all together? Lady: We built it room by room. Initially we had 3 rooms, but they broke and fell apart and then we built this home MV: What do you mean by it broke and fell apart? Lady: It rains, doesn't it? The mud walls dissolved. The one there, he is my first son. MV: Ok, âhelloâ! MV: He is brought this photo for you. Man: He remembered and brought it?! MV: Yes, he remembered and brought it. He has retired from the university that I am from 1.5 years ago, but he still comes with us. He likes Tamil Nadu a lot! This is the fifth time he is coming. He has a lot of desire to come here! Lady: It has been 6 years [since we moved into this house] MV: How is the house during the summer season? Lady: There are trees and all to protect. MV: Is this a colour TV? Respondent: Yes, it is. MV: How much does the Colour TV cost for you? Respondent: It costs around 9000 Rs. Srini: Where is your other son from last time? Lady: I actually have twins. He doesn't walk and he is eating at the back. Srini: How is he doing? Lady: He is just eating by sitting. MV: I wasn't here during the previous interview, but he is saying that he remembers a wheelchair you had, which was bad and that you got it through an organization. Lady: The wheelchair is not that useful. MV: In what sense is it not useful? Lady: He can't sit and use the wheelchair. There has to be someone to pull it. MV: So you have the same chair even today? How did you get this chair? Lady: Yes. There was an organization that offered it. MV: Is there any other organization that offers such products? Lady: No there isn't. MV: What he is asking is that you were selling vegetables under a tree previously. Where is it? Lady: It is there. MV: Can you show us? Lady: Yes. Lady: If there is no electricity, I grind the chillies and spices on this. MV: Do you have something similar like this which grinds this way? They also used to have it in my grandfather's house. Lady: Yes MV: Yes, it is an older version. MV: Now, are these the electrical wires and all? Lady: Yes. MV: So does the fuse blow off? Lady: Yes, the fuse blows and we will put it again. MV: So what do you have inside? 1 fan? Lady: 1 fan, a T.V., a grinder and a mixie. MV: And do you know when the electricity will be available and when not? Lady: No, I don't know. MV: We know quite a bit because we have an office but it is the same problem for us too. MV: If you look at a whole 24 hour day, how many times generally do you not have electricity? Lady: It will stop 2-3 times during the day. It will stop at 10am, 1pm and 4pm. MV: So when the electricity supply stops, how long does it generally stop for? 2-3 hours at a time or 10-20 minutes? Lady: Usually for 1 or 2 hours each time. MV: So if you see for a whole day, you typically do not have electricity for 4-5 hours?
Lady: Yes. MV: He is asking where you get your water from. Lady: We get it from a pipe from there. MV: Is it drinking water? Lady: Yes. MV: Do you boil it? Lady: Sometimes I do, sometimes not. Lady: We boil it if it is the Rainy season but don't if it is the summer season. MV: What did you do before that? Lady: Before that we would use a pulley and rope to draw water from the well. MV: What would you say are some developments that have taken place in the village overthe last 10-20 years? MV: For example, if you were to say that the quality of life is better now as compared to 10 years back because of a few changes, what would those changes be? MV: You already said you now have access to tap-water, what else do you view as progress? Lady: We can progress by doing some business or by having a cow, milking it, and selling the milk. MV: Yes, I understand that. You are saying that at the individual level. But when we look at progress at the level of a village, can we say, MV: for example, that the road is better? What would be other such dimensions of progress that you see? Lady: Road is better, we have access to water and electricity. We graduated from a thatched hut to a concrete house. Lady: During rainy season, there will be insects in the water so we boil water and drink during the rainy season. Respondent: When it does not rain, water is constantly pumped and remains fresh. So we don't boil. But during the rains, there is stagnant water in the lake, which is right next to the well. Because of which the water is contaminated. So we boil the water. MV: Would you please show the place where you sold vegetables? MV: I see you have toothpaste, brush, and ... is it bulb? Shopkeeper: Yes. Shopkeeper: Please watch your head. MV: And eggs .... Where do you get supply from for eggs? Shopkeeper: It is delivered to the shop in a vehicle. MV: Do you also go outside to get supplies? Shopkeeper: Yes, I go to buy these things. MV: What else is supplied to the shop other than eggs? Shopkeeper: These bags of fried peas. MV: Do you have to give rent for this place? Shopkeeper: No. MV: How much did it cost for you to install all this? Shopkeeper: Rs. 3000-4000 MV: How much will your daily income be? You could just give an estimate. Shopkeeper: Around Rs. 300 of sales in a day. MV: Do you keep the shop open all days of the week? Shopkeeper: Yes. MV: Aside from all this... you don't sell items like coco-cola? Shopkeeper: No. MV: Why don't you sell coca-cola? Shopkeeper: We need a fridge for that. Respondent: We don't have electricity, sir. We need electricity and fridge for that. MV: The shop is open till 6 pm. After that there is no electricity. So you close the shop after 6 pm? Respondent: Yes. Because it would be dark. MV: Thank you so much.