Poverty, ignorance and apathy are fought wholeheartedly by Calcutta Rescue, offering free holistic health care, education, food, financial benefits and vocational training for those most needy.
At present, the organisation operates from referral outpatient clinics at Tala Park, Chitpur, Sealdah and Belgachia. Between them they see approximately 450 patients a day. Free treatment, nutritional supplements and clothes are given to patients suffering from illnesses such as tuberculosis (TB), leprosy (Hansen's Disease), diabetes, heart disease, thalassaemia, malnutrition, MCH (including immunization) and trauma etc. We are also running Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis (DOTS) as per the guidleines of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme both in the Calcutta suburbs as well as rurally.
COMMUNICATIONS
Calcutta Rescue Office,4th fl,85 Collins Street, Calcutta BY FAX: +91 33 217 5675
BY POST: Calcutta Rescue Box: P.O. Box 9253, Middleton Row, P.O., Calcutta 700 071
E-mail: info[at]calcuttarescue.org
Calres[at]cal.vsnl.net.in
http://www.calcuttarescue.org/
N.B. Registered post or large items will not be accepted at this address. Please remember to ensure that mail is securely closed.
(There are always some CR people staying here, although people should try to make contact with the office wherever possible)
(please note that the phone at Modern Lodge is not reliable and often out of order)
1 Stuart Lane, off Sudder Street, Calcutta 700 016
In an emergency situation and there is no contact through any of the above, you might try: Gautam Chatterjee: +91 33 570 0244
Meeting Point:
Volunteers normally meet opposite the Khalsa restaurant at 7.55 am, Monday to Saturday except public holidays. The Khalsa is located on Madge Lane, which is the road opposite the Salvation Army in Sudder Street. The meeting point is about 18 metres along on the right hand side. However because of the conditions in Madge Lane we are currently meeting outside the Lytton Hotel (in Suddar Street). Alternatively,volunteers may be found breakfasting at either Curd Corner or the Blue Sky, before proceeding to the Meeting Point. If neither of these yield any success, find someone at Modern Lodge in the late afternoon or evening.
Calcutta Rescue - A Photo Journey
The Pavement Doctor of CalcuttaPhoto Galleries
http://www.imagesbyevvy.com/calcutta%20india/Calcutta%20Rescue%203.htmhttp://www.galasoft.ch/pictures/?path=Travel/India/Kolkata/2007/CalcuttaRescue
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VOLUNTEER FACT SHEET
This Fact Sheet is intended to give some guidance, along with useful tips and information to help you decide whether or not to volunteer, and to give you as realistic an idea as possible of the work and its context within Calcutta.
Calcutta Rescue seeks volunteers with the following skills: pharmacy, nursing, nutrition, physiotherapy, podiatry, midwifery, office/computer skills/administration, and accountancy.
Working at Calcutta Rescue in India is entirely voluntary. You should make your own arrangements for travel and accommodation and the usual traveller’s insurance covering medical insurance, theft, etc. is essential, and you should be self funding. A working knowledge of the English language is necessary. The decision to go is yours.
It is essential that both short and long-term volunteers contact Calcutta (either directly or via the Calcutta Rescue Support Group in their country) prior to making plans to go to Calcutta, so it can be ascertained whether or not there is work for them.
• For Short-term Volunteers (known as General Volunteers) there is no formal application procedure. Following your initial contact and after thoroughly reading the information supplied, and having, if possible, phone discussions with ex-volunteers, etc, if you decide to go you should get in touch with the Administrator in the office in Calcutta direct by email, fax, phone or airmail post (as they co-ordinate the over-all staffing) in order to ascertain whether or not there is work for you and what dates would suit Calcutta Rescue and yourself best. Alternatively this can be done through a Calcutta Rescue Support Group in your country.
• If you do arrange dates etc. direct with the Administrator, it is helpful if you let your local Support Group know what has been arranged, as they may have further information to send to you before departure. The minimum duration for short-term volunteers is 6 weeks, which allows time to acclimatize to Calcutta and to familiarize yourself with the working of the clinics. As Calcutta Rescue is trying to employ, train and develop the skills of local staff there are relatively few opportunities for General Volunteers, especially those who do not have the skills listed above. Volunteers with office skills are only accepted on a long term basis for the sake of continuity.
• For Long-Term Volunteers (known as Recruited Volunteers) with special skills such as pharmacy, nursing, nutrition, physiotherapy, podiatry, midwifery, office/computer/administration skills, or accountancy, the minimum expected stay is 6 months. For the Nurse Co-ordinator and the Administrator 9 months is the minimum appointment.
Job descriptions are supplied for each profession, and there are some forms to be filled in. For long term volunteers a monthly sponsorship is paid to them with an extra month’s money to be given if the volunteer stays for 9 months or more. This amount is paid from the respective Support Group, no money is paid or can be paid in India due to legal difficulties.
For every 3 month period worked, volunteers are entitled within that time to a total of two weeks holiday leave (and must take a minimum of one week). This does not include time off due to illness. The timing of these holidays must be discussed with and approved by the Administrator and the Nurse Co-ordinator.
Following your initial contact and after thoroughly reading the information supplied, and having, if possible, phone discussions with ex-volunteers, etc, if you decide to volunteer you should contact the Support Group in your country to arrange dates etc.
A separate document entitled Guidelines for Long Term Volunteers and Nurses is attached.
India’s strong seasonality affects the clinics’ work, both in terms of the numbers of patients and volunteers, and of the severity and incidence of the patients’ illnesses. For instance, during the monsoon (June to September/October approximately -probably the most challenging time of year to volunteer) help is very much appreciated. During the winter months, on the other hand (especially December/January), the work may be less intensive, but with a similar number of volunteers there. It is also important to remember that while the work can be highly rewarding to the volunteer, conditions in Calcutta do occasionally conspire to present a significant challenge to the mental and physical well-being of all volunteers.
The Volunteer’s Work
We attempt to provide a service in Calcutta of the highest possible quality and, therefore, even though you are there because you have chosen to be, we ask you to respond with sensitivity to the needs of the patients and of the clinics, and to be willing to work where the need is greatest. At present, the clinics are open from about 8.30 am. until all the patients have been seen - this is dependent on how many patients and volunteers there are. The clinics will normally see between 300 and 500 patients a day, with conditions treated including tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy, skin diseases, liver conditions, diarrhoea and malnutrition, to name but a few. The clinics have locally employed doctors.
The main jobs for general (short-term) volunteers are either:
• within the pharmacy section, dispensing medication which has been prescribed by the doctors. (Volunteers are asked to job shadow before doing the dispensing themselves.) • or undertaking specific projects within either one of the clinics or one of the schools.
• There is also a Mother & Child programme and a Vitamin A programme within the clinics - these may require volunteers at certain times.
Recruited (long term) volunteers with special skills such as pharmacy, nursing, nutrition, physiotherapy, podiatry, midwifery, office/computer skills, accountancy etc.are sought, and job descriptions for these categories are supplied. Please see the attached Guidelines for Long Term Volunteers and Nurses.
Both General Volunteers and Recruited Volunteers will find that their work involves quite a lot of administration and paperwork, and sometimes other tasks which do not involve direct contact with the patients.
While the clinics’ Bengali staff may be happy to teach some basic Bengali, please continue to work through interpreters when dealing with patients, as misunderstandings can cause problems.
Working hours
Calcutta Rescue clinics and schools are open 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday), excluding statutory holidays. Barring illness, and if numbers allow, volunteers work five days a week. On occasions of shortage or illness of personnel, however, volunteers may need to work six days a week. There is time after clinics close for volunteers to do administration work afterwards. This is expected particularly of Recruited Volunteers.
Dress and different nationalities
It is important to wear appropriate dress at the clinics to show respect for the local people we work with and to avoid misunderstandings. Therefore in the interests of cultural sensitivity, we maintain the following dress-code:
(a) women should keep their knees and shoulders covered, and should not wear shorts, short skirts or lunghi worn above the knee, no sleeveless or low-cut tops, leggings and so on;
(b) men should not wear shorts or sleeveless tops.
There are volunteers of several different nationalities working at the clinics; therefore the first language of some is not English -- please make allowances for this. Similarly we need to be aware that because we come from a different culture and country, our mentality and behaviour will at times be different from the local staff. We ask you to be sensitive and tolerant about this and avoid judging. This will hopefully lead to mutual respect between us all and enable us to meet the needs of the patients.
BEFORE YOU GO
Guide Book
“India, A Travel Survival Kit”, published by Lonely Planet is probably the most useful. It includes information about almost everything, including where to stay and what to eat, along with maps, items to take, how to get there and what to see.
Passport and Visa
You need a passport which is up to date for at least the complete period of your intended stay. You also need a visa. It is important to know, however, that volunteer worker visas are not granted by the Indian Government for work at Calcutta Rescue’s clinics or office, and that you should apply for a Tourist Visa. If you mention on your application form that you intend to volunteer, your application will probably be refused.
This is the present situation; it is hoped that it may change in the future, and you should check the visa regulations before leaving. This, however, also means that if the length of your stay allows you to venture beyond Calcutta, you will be able to sample more of India’s many tourist attractions. Visa application forms may be obtained from the Indian Embassy in your country (or High Commission in Commonwealth countries). The visas are for 6 months. In your luggage it’s wise to pack a photocopy of your passport and visa and leave a photocopy with a willing relative or friend at home.
If you intend to work for more than six months you will need to leave India to get another visa. Please note that, at present, your visa must have expired before an Indian embassy will issue another one. From India, the most reliable place to have the visa renewed is Bangkok – both Nepal and Bangladesh frequently refuse.
Flights
Prices can vary considerably, depending on the airline flown and the travel agent. When booking your flight, you might want to consider the flight’s arrival time in Calcutta, allowing also for possible delays. The journey into the city can be less daunting for jet lagged passengers if they arrive early in the day. Please note that due to the clinics’ daily workload, the unreliability of information from the airport, and the frequency of arrivals, it is not usually possible to meet and pick up volunteers from the airport, although the people in Calcutta Rescue’s office do try to arrange to collect anyone who will be staying for a considerable period of time. (See also On Arrival and Meeting New Volunteers below.)
Immunisations/vaccinations
If possible, start planning immunisations with your doctor up to 6 months in advance. While some vaccines do not provide total protection, you should make use of such protection as they do afford. The effective duration of immunisations varies - for up to date information on what is necessary for India check with your doctor or your country’s Department of Health. In addition to what these authorities recommend, Calcutta Rescue recommends vaccination against measles and mumps if the volunteer has not had these diseases before. (They are much more widespread in India and Asia than in Western countries, due to lack of immunization.) Protection against TB should also be seriously considered.
Malaria prevention medication is a necessity and sufficient supplies of the prophylaxis recommended by your own doctor should be taken with you for your entire stay. (Contrary to popular belief, paludrine is not available in Calcutta, however chloroquine is.) Unfortunately, a recent study in India showed 30% of volunteers/tourists stop taking their prophylaxis on arrival. A medical expert on malaria in Calcutta, Dr Chatterjee, advises that volunteers should stick to the advice given to them by their own doctors.
Mosquito nets should always be used, and if you are unable to purchase a mosquito net at home they are available in India at a cost of approximately Rs. 600. However ex-volunteers advise that its better to take a net with you as the ones available in India are really thick, so that when its hot you get even hotter.
Mosquito repellant creams and lotions which contain 35-50% DEET are recommended and it is wise to take a sufficient supply with you for your whole stay. Autan has recently been introduced to the Indian market, but may not always be available. Citronella, and Neem oil are widely available.
Anyone who suffers from asthma should seriously consider not going to work in Calcutta because of the air pollution.
Insurance
It is essential for all volunteers (short term and long term) to take out a separate insurance policy to cover their trip. Read the small print to ensure that it provides all the necessary cover (particularly medical expenses and theft), and make sure you know what to do with it in case of an emergency. Also write down any relevant document numbers, passport number, etc, and leave a copy with a willing friend or relative.
Money
Obviously the amount that you spend is up to you, and depends very much on the accommodation you choose. However, as a rough guide you can cover accommodation at one of the budget hotels, food and local transport without quite scraping the bottom of the barrel on approximately Indian Rs.2500/- per week (June 2000 figure).
You might think of taking a combination of cash (avoid torn and soiled notes) and travellers cheques. In many countries Indian rupees are not available, so in this case it is best to take your cash in American dollars. Credit cards, although not widely accepted in India, can sometimes be used in the major cities. ATMs are available a short walk (approx. 10 minutes) from Sudder St. There are plenty of places where travellers’ cheques can be changed so its best to check around for rates and commission charged.
WHEN YOU ARE IN CALCUTTA
On Arrival
Calcutta is five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.. If you are arriving by air at Calcutta’s Dum Dum airport, first change some money at the bank in the International terminal (adjacent and to the left after leaving the Arrivals’ terminal). The easiest to change is a Yankee hundred-dollar bill. You have to fill in paperwork, show passport, and keep the “encashment certificate” they give you to show when you leave the country.
There are two pre-paid taxi booths - one in the International terminal and, if that one is closed, one in the Domestic terminal. (As a guide, the fare to Sudder Street in July 2000 was about Indian Rs.160/-.) If, for some reason, you are not able to use this facility, then take a taxi from the taxi rank, either insisting the driver uses the meter and/or clearly agreeing the fare before setting off. At this stage, it is useful to know that phonetic interpretation of the written English word can be slightly different in India. Hence Sudder Street may become Sudderi St, Park Street, Parki St, and so on.
At Dum Dum airport there are a lot of people that try and help you with your bags when you come out of Arrivals. Unless you want to give them money for doing so (which is difficult if you don’t have small change in Indian currency) we suggest that volunteers do not accept their help - they can get a bit aggressive if they help you and then you do not pay them.
If you are arriving late at night, as some flights do, make sure in advance that the hotel where you book for that night has a night clerk on duty. If not you could remain overnight in the airport, and travel into the city once it is light. Some volunteers book into the hotel at the airport for their first night in Calcutta. When you are tired and it is dark and the streets are quiet, getting into a taxi on your own and going somewhere unfamiliar is not a good idea. Taxi drivers usually have a companion male with them -- this is not usually a threat -- but can be a little daunting for female passengers.
If you are arriving by train, the taxi ride from Howrah Station to Sudder Street can take between twenty minutes and one hour, depending on the traffic. Alteratively there are buses to the Indian Museum (on the corner of Chowringhee Road and Sudder St), but if you are new to Calcutta and carrying baggage, a taxi - if available would be better. Again, clearly agree the fare before setting off.
Meeting New Volunteers
As a general rule, new volunteers are requested to make their own way from the airport or railway station to their booked accommodation. Because of the frequency of arrivals and the unreliability of information from the airport, in addition to the clinics’ and office’s daily workload, it can be difficult to find someone to go and meet people, particularly when there is no surplus of volunteers. It is not unusual in this part of the world for flights to be delayed without notice and this means that the clinics can lose a volunteer for the whole day. Of course if a volunteer arrives with special needs (e.g. is carrying donations), we will do everything possible to meet them if required. (See also Flights on page 3) Volunteers are requested to advise the Administrator a few days in advance of airline, flight no. and date & time of arrival and details of accommodation booked for the first two nights, and also please advise if arrangements are altered. If advance warning of exact arrival date is given, arrangements for the volunteer to be contacted and welcomed on the day they arrive in Calcutta will be made, or a note giving instructions will be left in the post box at the Modern Lodge. (See also 3rd paragraph in Accommodation below.)
Accommodation
With accommodation you get more or less what you pay for. Of the higher priced hotels the Lytton has air-conditioning and TV and includes a cooked breakfast in the tariff. It also has a night clerk on duty. (Beware of added taxes, and be prepared to bargain hard to get the price down.) The Astoria Hotel is not bad and has airconditioning and TV and is cheaper than the Lytton.
Budget accommodation for tourists is mostly in the Sudder Street area. Reasonably up to date information can be found in the Lonely Planet guide book. Many volunteers stay at the “Modern Lodge” (which is not ‘modern’).
Modern Lodge, (1 Stuart Lane, just off Sudder St) .
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Salvation Army Red Shield Guest House, (2 Sudder St)
Coordinates: 22°33'29"N 88°21'9"E
Maria Hotel (Stuart Lane).
Sometimes it may be difficult to get rooms in these “hotels” when you first arrive, and you may need to stay in another “hotel” - of which there are several on Sudder St - until rooms become vacant. If you let Calcutta Rescue’s office know in advance of when you are arriving the Administrator will do all they can to book a room for you (if you have not arranged one for yourself) – check at the post box at the Modern Lodge for a note telling
you what has been organised.
Getting your bearings
Tired after a long flight or train journey, your senses may be further tested upon initial exposure to Calcutta. Do, therefore, allow two or three days to settle in, adjust to the pace of India and meet people.
A fortnightly meeting is held for volunteers – either the Administrator or the Nurse Coordiantor will give you the details of the time and venue.
Health
It is important to take good care of your health in India - don’t compromise it! Stomach upsets are almost inevitable, but can often be avoided by drinking bottled water and eating sensibly at tried and “trusted” restaurants. By talking to other volunteers, you will soon find out where and what to eat and what not to eat.
• Of course you drink only bottled water (make sure cap is sealed). You need at least 2 litres a day. In the hot season (April to August) replacement salts (electrolyte) may be added to bottled drinking water to avoid salt loss and heat fatigue. The replacement salts can be bought at the “pharmacy” in Sudder St.
• Don't eat salads.
• Avoid fruit that you cannot peel, salads, icecream, iceblocks, and drinks containing ice. (A popular drink called Lassi contains ice - ask that ice be left out of it.)
• Fruit and vegetable stalls in “New Market” will be the source of most food!
• Prawns, fish and meat are sometimes of dubious quality, especially on Fridays. -- Avoid.
• Don’t walk barefoot; wear flip-flops/thongs in your hotel room and in the shower.
• Apply first aid to any cuts, grazes, etc. as soon as possible.
As with any tropical country, serious health problems can usually be avoided by living sensibly. The Administrator has contact numbers for doctors and dentists if you become seriously ill / concerned by any ailment.
Take your malaria prophylaxis right throughout your stay and use your mosquito net and insect repellent.
Food
Places to eat are many and varied in the Sudder Street area, including Chinese and “Western” as well as Indian. Current volunteers will point out the current best places and their ‘favourites’. Fruit is on sale everywhere and is very cheap - if you like mangoes it is paradise. Curd Corner sells curd, obviously, which is popularly held to be good for wobbly tummies.
Entertainment
Calcutta does not have a particularly ‘busy’ nightlife. There are one or two bars, but these tend to be in Four /Five Star Hotels (‘Happy hour’ at the Oberoi is popular, as is a beer in the garden at the Fairlawn Hotel). There is an off license / liquor store in Suddar Street but it is shut on Thursday which is a ‘dry day’.
Friday night in the bar at the Lytton is often a meeting place for volunteers.
There are two or three nightclubs – again in the better hotels. Volunteers will be able to tell you which is the current favourite.
Calcutta has a range of venues for concerts (typically Indian Classical) plus a number of air conditioned cinemas, which are cheap and show the latest ‘Bollywood’ films and films that have been on general release in Europe two or three months previously.
There is also a small volunteer ‘library’ – a large box of books left by previous volunteers – which can be borrowed. Ask the Administrator / assistant administrator where it is being kept. There is also a small medical library in the office.
From the tourist point of view it is worth seeing the Kali Temple -but do not try to photograph the ceremony there or in other temples. Also worth a visit is the Marble Palace (they will ask for a tourist pass, but will accept a R10/- note in lieu), the Victoria Memorial, the Jain temple, St John’s churchyard, Job Charnock, and the Black Hole Memorial. The Botanic Gardens are worth a visit if only to see the biggest banyan tree in the world and the ferry trip on the Hooghly is interesting. It is always best to go sightseeing in a group or with a companion.
Sunday lunch at the Oberoi is a pleasant luxury, and if you are in Calcutta in the hot season then go to the Hotel Hindustan on Sundays, when you can swim all day for approximately R250/-. (Take fruit for lunch, and your own bottled water to drink as the beer is ruinously overpriced.)
If there are thirsty English in the group then Thursday nights are half price nights at the British Consulate, but you need a Briton with you to get in.
Kingfisher or Black Label Beer is fine. Mixed drinks are usually served lukewarm - don’t accept ice!!
“Eve Teasing” or sexual harassment - groping, pinching - is always happening in crowded situations, also when shopping or on buses or trains at peak hour. Most buses will have seats reserved for women, often at the front.
Travel in groups.
Clothing
Cotton clothes are best. A light jumper can be useful for winter evenings. Clothes can be made inexpensively by local tailors. Take flip-flops (thongs) with you - alternatively, these can also be bought cheaply in Calcutta. (Please see also Dress and Different Nationalities) Don’t bring too much with you as almost everyone can not resist buying! Women often choose to wear salwar suits (trousers with long dress over) as these are comfortable in the heat and cheap.
Local Transport
Local transport is very cheap and very chaotic. Buses, both privately and state operated, are invariably full to overflowing, but have a good network. Trams are excruciatingly slow. Calcutta also has a limited underground railway system - a great way of getting from North to South in Calcutta and used by volunteers to get to and from the clinics and other places. Its cheap, much quicker than travelling on the roads and pretty reliable but does not run on Sundays.
If you are on a very tight budget, taxis may not be for everyday use, but are probably the most comfortable way of getting around. Central Calcutta is one of the last outposts of the hand pulled rickshaw, while cycle rickshaws are common elsewhere. Again, if you use them, agree a price with the rickshaw puller in advance. (Some people have moral objections to using hand pulled rickshaws, while others feel that in not doing so, they may be depriving the willing rickshaw puller of some income.)
Taxi fares - make sure the meter is used. Fares are double what the meter shows, plus a bit. The driver should have a fare chart – ask to see it. However, some volunteers find that no taxi they get into ever has a chart!
Post and Telephone
Volunteers should ask family and friends to send letters to their hotel or the GPO Poste Restante, as the Calcutta Rescue P.O. Box is only accessible to Dr Preger who collects the post usually once a week. Any mail which does come there will be passed on when Dr. Jack is next in the office.
The “Poste Restante” facility at the GPO is a useful address for receiving mail if you don’t know where you will be staying. Your surname should be in capital letters and underlined. The address is: Poste Restante, GPO, Dalhousie Square (BBD Bagh), Calcutta 700 001. Parcels and letters should be securely sealed.
Many volunteers use the Modern Lodge address to send post to - even if they do not end up living there, as it is a convenient place to pick up post. The GPO is difficult to get to.
Please note that post, especially parcels, can be very unreliable, and it is wise to advise family and friends not to send anything that is valuable. If there is something valuable that needs to be sent to you (such as a replacement visa card!) use a courier service (such as DHL).
It is possible to make direct dialled international phone calls and send faxes from various locations on Sudder St and elsewhere.
Internet cafes are everywhere around Sudder Street. Email is probably the quickest and most reliable method of communication - and costs around R.60/- per hour, although if you shop around you can find places for as low as R.35/-..
Visiting other projects
CR Volunteers are welcome to visit the other projects in Calcutta. However, the sensitivity of some of the areas means that prior permission to visit the clinic/project should be obtained beforehand from the Administrator or Nurse Co-ordinator
The No. 10 school is in a very sensitive and volatile area. Volunteers are welcome to visit, but MUST make an arrangement to do so through the Administrator or Nurse Co-ordinator - not the School Nurse or long term volunteer at the school. If you have any skills which might be useful at the school (e.g. art, music, drama), please let the Administrator know. Please do NOT take photographs, either in the school, from its roof, or in the area away from the main road. Go directly to the school and straight back. Do not wander around or visit local chai stalls.
Chitpur is also a sensitive area. Again, please check with the Administrator or Nurse Co-ordinator to arrange a visit.
Discretion
Due to the judicial complications, please be careful about talking openly about the organisation, there have been problems in the past. The same applies in the restaurants and cafes around Sudder St when talking amongst ourselves. Although Calcutta Rescue is a registered society, it is not fully established. Many people come to visit the clinics, including journalists, photographers, etc. Damage can, and has been done - although inadvertently with careless remarks. For this reason if you are approached by a journalist you must refer them to the Administrator immediately and should not even try to give correct answers - just don’t answer at all! The Administrator and Management Committee need to deal with all journalists. It is also a good idea to inform the Administrator if anyone visits a clinic directly.
Handicrafts
A selection of handicrafts are available for sale to volunteers and visitors. The handicraft box is situated in The Modern Lodge, 1 Stuart Lane, off Sudder Street. The box is opened on Tuesday’s 5.00pm – 7.00pm. The Administrator or Assistant Administrator usually have the key.
Things to Take
Most of what may be considered essential is available in Calcutta, although quality is variable. The following are
some suggestions:
The Lonely Planet guidebook - a necessity and also a good read in its own right.
A basic medical kit - might include eye drops, plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, antifungals (Canesten skin cream for example), Lomotil tablets, etc. These are sometimes but not always available locally, and are reassuring to have anyway. A bottle of Solyptol, Savlon, or other antiseptic is a comforting safeguard.
Women may wish to take tampons with them as they are not easy to find in Calcutta. Malaria tablets and insect repellent. Mosquito net. Tea towel Plastic tooth tumbler Sun glasses Small back pack Flip-flops (thongs) or sandals. Compact umbrella - for the monsoon, but also readily available locally – and / or a folding rain coat Some take gum boots/wellingtons for the monsoon. Knife/penknife - has many uses. Padlocks - and length of chain to padlock case, bags etc. to rail or seat leg. Big padlock for door. If you are at Modern Lodge - a combination one is good.
Photocopy of passport and visa and airline tickets in your baggage, and extra passport size photograph of yourself.
A few clothes, to keep you going until you start buying!
Also appreciated, if you can fit them in your bag, are items like cheese and marmite – for long term volunteers as these are difficult to find (though please do not feel that you are expected to bring anything).
Climate
November to February - sunny and pleasant with virtually no rain, average daily temperature in the low to mid 20’sC.
March to May - becoming increasingly hot and humid with May temperatures often over 35C and humidity frequently between 90% and 100%.
June to September/October: - the SW monsoon breaks in June, initially providing welcome relief from the heat and humidity. Heavy and sometimes prolonged rain showers alternate with bright sunny spells - at ground level this equates to flooding alternating with evaporation. This can mean walking through flooded streets and is when the rickshaws do their most business.
FURTHER INFORMATION
We hope that this Fact Sheet has answered some of your questions. Please do not hesitate to get in touch again with our Support Group in your country or with the Administrator in the Calcutta Rescue Office in India if you have further questions.
SOME BACKGROUND NOTES ABOUT CALCUTTA
Geography
Situated just south of the Tropic of Cancer, Calcutta is the capital of West Bengal and the largest city in India. It lies on the Hooghly River, the last major tributary in India of the Ganges. To the west of the Hooghly is Howrah, one of the most densely populated areas on earth. Calcutta is about eighty miles north of the Bay of Bengal, and some sixty miles west of the Bangladesh border, and has an estimated population in excess of 10 million. Bengali is the main language, but English and Hindi are widely spoken. Its very apparent poverty in various forms has given rise to the city’s occasional synonymity with urban deprivation.
Brief History
Calcutta is sometimes referred to as a British invention. It was founded by Job Charnock as a base for the East India Company in the late seventeenth century. It prospered politically and commercially throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centures, but its status as capital of India under the British raj was lost in 1911, when Delhi became the new capital.
Calcutta was the site of serious communal riots in 1946 during which many thousands were killed and which ended only after a hunger strike there by Mahatma Gandhi. Its proximity to Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) has political significance. It was the focus for many refugees during India’s independence and partition in 1947, and again during Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1970/l.
Religion
Calcutta is a cosmopolitan city and this is reflected in its population’s religious affiliations. Hinduism is the main religion, with the Kali Temple a major pilgrimage site. There is also a significant Muslim population and may patients are Muslim. The office is located in a predominantly Muslim area. Around the city you can see numerous mosques, churches and other religious buildings.
Economy
Calcutta’s historical role as India’s economically most important city has diminished in recent years, and today it ranks behind Bombay and Delhi in this respect. Nonetheless, it retains significance as an industrial port and a commercial centre.
Refugees
There was a huge influx of mainly Hindu refugees from eastern Bengal at partition. The birth of Bangladesh in 1971 heralded further mass migration to Calcutta. The flow of migrants to Calcutta has continued since and has been augmented by other economic refugees from Calcutta’s rural hinterland and beyond. This has increased the city’s “informal sector” workforce and, with respect to those from Bangladesh, has given rise to a politically sensitive situation between India and Bangladesh.
September 2000 intvlfct.doc
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CALCUTTA RESCUE
GUIDELINES FOR LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS
Calcutta Rescue relies on the efforts of volunteers to run certain aspects of its operation. They provide accountability to Support Groups and skill transfer to the multi-cultural team in Calcutta. Thus, although a volunteer may only be with CR for nine months, we expect the same degree of commitment that you might give salaried employment at home. Working in Calcutta is never a simple task. In order for us to be successful, volunteers must work together in the spirit of teamwork. The following guidelines are intended to give long-term personnel (here referred to as "volunteers") a clear picture of what is expected of them, and what they are entitled to while working with Calcutta Rescue.
Terms and Conditions of Being a Long-term Volunteer
1. Duration of Assignment :
Unless otherwise agreed with Calcutta Rescue, volunteers serve for a minimum of 9 months.
2. Hand over/Training Period : Upon arrival in Calcutta, a couple of days may be required in order to get settled and arrange appropriate accommodation. Within three days of arrival, volunteers should have their briefing from the administrator and report to the clinic. Volunteers may work half days for two or three days in order to acclimatise, and then begin regular work hours so as to allow for a maximum hand over period with outgoing personnel (nurses, pharmacists, etc). Whenever possible, the volunteer will be invited to attend a clinic tour so they gain an overview of all the CR projects.
3. Work Days and Hours :
i.) Calcutta Rescue projects (clinics and schools) operate on a six-day week (Monday - Saturday),
excluding local public holidays. Volunteers generally work five days a week, although when there is a shortage of volunteers it may be necessary to work six days.
ii.) Work hours begin thirty minutes before the clinic or school begins operation, and cease when the work is complete for the day. All volunteers arrive at the same time, and in general, no one leaves until all work is finished.
iii.) Once the clinic or school has closed for the day, volunteers will have computer and administrative work to complete or meetings to attend so working hours are not only restricted to the clinic/school hours. A normal working day could be from 8.30am until 5pm.
4. Flexibility :
Whenever possible volunteers are placed in an area which is most appropriate to their interests or qualifications, and has been discussed at interview / briefing session prior to them arriving in
Calcutta.
However, all volunteers must be willing to serve where the need is the greatest and may be required to work in another project or cover for absence. The nurse coordinator, together with the administrator, will be responsible for deciding if this is necessary.
5. Extra-Clinic Duties :
Duties outside normal clinic functioning (for example, visiting patients in hospital) are shared by volunteers on a rotating basis.
6. Other Commitments :
i.) All long-term volunteers must attend regular organisational meetings. These are conducted in English, so a good knowledge of the language is needed.
ii.) Most long term volunteers will have a certain amount of computer work to complete so some basic computer knowledge is preferable but failing that, a willingness to learn is essential. iii.) Contributions to Calcutta Rescue bi-monthly reports and newsletters will be needed regularly and must be completed in conjunction with the clinic supervisor/relevant staff members. iv.) A handover report must be written/updated prior to a volunteer finishing their term in Calcutta, giving a brief outline of the work involved and any new procedures or teaching methods. This will be given to the new volunteer taking over after review by the nurse coordinator/administrator.
7. Illness : i.) Unfortunately, most volunteers fall sick at some stage during their time in Calcutta. Don't take any unnecessary risks or compromise your health in any way. If you are in any way uncertain regarding the precautions you should take to minimise the risk of sickness whilst in India, you should talk to the Administrator/Nurse Coordinator who will know where to find the information you need. If unable to attend work due to illness, volunteers must tell the Administrator/Nurse Coordinator so that alternative arrangements can be made at the clinic or school. Relax take care of yourself, and return to work only when you are feeling better. The Administrator/Nurse Coordinator can recommend good medical facilities, but most of these will be private and will need to be paid for by the volunteer. ii.) It is a pre-requisite of working with Calcutta Rescue that all volunteers have travel insurance which covers medical expenses and evacuation to the volunteer's home country in the case of severe illness. Calcutta Rescue cannot work with any volunteers who do not have adequate insurance.
8. Vacation :
i.) For every three month period worked, volunteers are entitled within that time to a total of two weeks holiday (and must take a minimum of one week).This does not include time off due to illness. ii.) Time off cannot be taken during the first six weeks or last three weeks of the assignment period. iii.) Volunteers need to consult the nurse coordinator or administrator at the earliest possible time to arrange their time off. It cannot be guaranteed that time off will be given when requested as adequate cover has to be maintained at all times throughout the projects. If others volunteers already have holiday booked it may not be granted and it is unlikely that two volunteers working together in a specific sector of one project will be able to take holiday at the same time.
9. Dress-code :
In the interests of cultural sensitivity, we maintain the following dress-code:
For women - no shorts, no skirts or lunghi worn above the knee, no sleeveless or low-cut tops;
For men - no shorts, no sleeveless tops.
10. Contact with External Agencies : i.) Volunteer contact with other organisations (governmental or non-governmental) or authorities (government officials, police, etc.) in India should be brought to the attention of the Administrator or the Management Committee. ii.) Anyone wishing to produce articles, interviews, etc. concerning Calcutta Rescue for publication or distribution must first clear its contents with the Support Group (if in their home country) or the Management Committee (if in Calcutta).
11. Staff:
i.) Under no circumstances are financial gratuities or gifts to be given to any members of staff.
ii.) Under no circumstances should volunteers discuss financial matters/sponsorship with staff.
12. Problem Solving : Most problems can be settled with other volunteers, the clinic supervisor or nurse in charge. Failing this, talk it through with the Nurse Coordinator or Administrator. If a mutually acceptable so1ution is still not forthcoming, where possible the Support Group, having jurisdiction over volunteers, will make a binding decision in conjunction with the Management Committee.
13. Early Departure :
i.) Should any volunteer, for whatever reason, feel unable to adhere to the above terms and conditions, they may terminate their assignment with Calcutta Rescue at any time, following discussion with the Administrator and Nurse Coordinator, and allowing for appropriate notice and training of replacement staff.
All volunteers must be aware that the extra one months sponsorship to extend their visa will not be given if for any reason (apart from illness) their assignment is terminated early.
ii.) The Management Committee, in conjunction with the relevant Support Group, has the right to terminate a volunteer's assignment immediately if gross professional misconduct has taken place or if the volunteer behaves in a way that is likely to jeopardise the name of CR or the work in the clinics and schools.
Calcutta Rescue's Support Groups
Australia
Mailing address Patricia Jones
PO Box 595
Thursday Island
Queensland 4875
Tel. +61 7 4069 1454 (home)
+61 7 4069 1118 (work)
Email pjones4[at]bigpond.com
Belgium
Mailing address Mia De Wispelaere
Eigenhaardtstraat 22
8870 Izegem
Tel./fax +32 51 306476
Email Jan.Vochten[at]vrt.Be
Canada
Mailing address Anup Bhattacharya
14 Tideworth Square
Agincourt
Ontario M1S 2V3
Tel./fax +416 609 1675
Email anup.bhattacharya[at]bmonesbittburns.com
Denmark
Mailing address Tina Pico
c/o Anderson
Gyrstingevej 98
4400 Ringsted
Tel./fax + 45 5364 5254
Email pico[at]rhk.dk
England
Mailing address Yasmine Nasim
Calcutta Rescue Fund
PO BOX 16163 - Clapham
London SW4 7ZT
Tel.
Fax +44 1483 440941
+44 1483 573184
Email calcutta_rescue[at]hotmail.com and yasmine_nasim[at]b1.com
France
Mailing address Vincent Cadiergue
Calcutta Espoir Lyon
29 rue Rochambeau
69008 Lyon
Tel./fax +33 4 78 77 52 57
Email cadiergue-tricot[at]libertysurf.fr
Web http://www.mad-max.net/calcutta
Germany
Mailing address Lisa Obermaier
Calcutta Rescue Deutschland e.V.
Johann-Karg-Str. 4d
8550 Haar
Tel./Fax +49 89 468105
Email Calcutta.Rescue[at]gmx.de
Web http://www.altmuehlnet.de/~calcutta
Ireland
Mailing address Michael O'Reilly
Calcutta Rescue Ireland
PO Box 600
Ballsbridge Dublin 4
Tel./fax + 353 1 452 6243
Email calcutta.rescue[at]oceanfree.net
Netherlands
Mailing address Jeroen Van Basten Batenburg
Calcutta Rescue Fund Netherlands
Frans Halslaan 34
2343 EJ Oegstgeest
Tel./fax +31 71 517 3432
Email Crfnl[at]worldonline.nl
Web http://www.calcuttarescue.nl
New Zealand
Mailing address Catherine Madigan
Calcutta Rescue
8 Cockle Bay Road
Howick Auckland
Norway
Mailing address Svein Olsen
Calcutta Rescue
Bureveien7
1621Gressvik
Email lghagen[at]online.no
Sweden
Mailing address Ann Christin Wideberg
Foreningen Hjalp Calcutta
PO Box 29109
10052 Stockholm
Tel. +46 8 6413584
Email britt.reuterwall[at]telia.com
Switzerland
Mailing address Fondation Calcutta Espoir
Rue Margencel 13
CP 395
1860 Aigle
Tel./fax +41 24 466 35 85
Email secretariat[at]calcutta-espoir.ch
Web http://www.calcutta-espoir.ch
Calcutta Rescue Fund UK
Volunteer Recruiting email recruiting@calcuttarescue.org.uk
http://www.calcuttarescue.org.uk/Contacts/Contacting.php
Calcutta Rescue Fund Netherlands
Frans Halslaan 34
3343 EJ Oegstgeest
Tel : 071 - 517 34 32
Email : CRFNL@worldonline.nl
Web : www.calcuttarescue.nl
http://www.indiawijzer.nl/ngo/ngo_holland/oegstgeest/oegstgeeest_calcutta_rescue.htm
Calcutta Rescue Deutschland e. V.
Calcutta Rescue Deutschland - eine unabhängige, humanitäre Hilfsorganisation
Aurbacherstraße 4
81541 München
Tel. 089/38908825
www.calcuttarescue.de
http://www.wbpcb.gov.in/html/ngo_names.shtml
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