On first glance, adopting individual families and providing bare minimum assistance might seem like a mere drop in the ocean, even a band-aid on a gaping wound. Such a critique is misplaced not only because there is (yet) no other alternate program of systematic change that does better, but also because BNES is savvy--quietly and modestly so--and already tackling the rural plight from many different angles:

Fastidious field work has verified suicides beyond a doubt (verification forms are filled in ink by local workers; entered in spreadsheets in the office; and double verified by the Program Coordinators); Litigation against the State of Punjab in the High Court has pushed the government for lump-sum compensation for families of deceased farmers; Advocacy has made pensions (widows/orphans/disabled persons) available for villagers otherwise disconnected from social services; Jasmer Singh Jaijee college run by BNES sponsors children who grew up through AAF, as well as provides quality education to over 1100 other children from neighboring villages; Partnership with the Kabliji Memorial Trust has facilitated the opening of 5 stitching centers (starting in Jan 2013) for girls and women, reviving tradition with a commercial eye (such as the Phulkari Challas/keychains below), while providing women a self-help group for advice, discussion, support, and building economic self-sufficiency.

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