Ritas Story

1
Ritas Story

• A story for parents

2

• This is the story of Rita..
• Rita is a child.
• She could be from anywhere -
• Nepal, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Nigeria,
  Spain, Thailand, Italy ..
• But, she just happens to be from India.
• Rita is a sweet little girl,
• barely into school

3

• One afternoon, Rita came back from school, and
  ran to Mummy -
• Mummy, our teacher told us today to eat salt
  that has iodine. She said it will help us stay
  bright!
• Mummy, is it true?!
• Must I eat salt with iodine?
• I dont know, dear! Why dont you go and ask
  someone else
• So Rita went out to find someone ...

4

• She asked her doctor ...
• He looked puzzled. You know, there should be no
  harm in it ... but they never told us anything at
  medical school. I thought iodized salt was only
  for mothers ... Tell you what, Rita - let me read
  it up ..
• Im sorry, doctor ... I thought you might know
  about salt
• She went looking for someone else ...

5

• She asked the shopkeeper..
• Iodized salt, of course! he said, That pays me
  a better commission. He lowered his voice and
  said, But I dont eat that - the other one is
  cheaper. And your mother is also wise - she buys
  the one without iodine!
• But I only asked about what is good ..
• She went on to find a wiser person ..

6

• She found a man with a flowing beard and saffron
  robes
• Iodine! he thundered, Dont you dare mention
  that! It is all imported - the west imposing its
  culture on us!
• Why dont we make iodine in India, then? asked
  Rita.
• Make it? Oh, its useless anyway..
• Perplexed, Rita went on...

7

• She then found a lady in a dull red sari, gazing
  into the distance ..
• She laughed on hearing Ritas question.
• So, they have been teaching you this imperialist
  nonsense, have they? We must rewrite your
  textbooks it is a conspiracy by the MNCs
• I think I will need to grow up to understand
  that.. thought Rita, as she went on..

8

• She found an old man, dressed in homespun cotton,
  like the apostle of Truth and Nonviolence he
  worshipped.
• They can never force me to part with my salt! It
  is the British in disguise again! he muttered,
  This government has no use for austerity -
  betraying Gandhi!
• Where does Gandhiji come in? she wondered, and
  went on ..

9

• Then she met a scientist.
• At levels of upto 15 ppm there have been no
  adverse effects reported. In populations
  consuming this level of iodine in the form of
  potassium iodate, IQ levels are on average 15
  higher among groups tested. However, there is no
  conclusive proof that ..
• Rita felt a bit dull, and moved on ..

10

• She met this gentleman who owned salt pans ..
• We are ready to supply iodized salt, provided
  they give us enough subsidies, and if they take
  care of the problems of our laborers, and if they
  lift restrictions on free sale of salt, and if
  they stop inspections
• But my only question was, but he was beyond
  hearing range ..

11

• She then met the minister..
• Well, I could give you an answer, but then your
  father might not vote for me and if I gave the
  other answer, maybe your mother ..
• Did he somehow mistake salt for vote .. she
  wondered.

12

• Then she remembered her aunt who worked for
  UNICEF ..
• I could certainly tell you, dear, but we only
  work with the government! she said cheerily.
• But I thought UNICEF worked for children ..
  Rita wondered.
• Who might I ask, then? asked Rita.

13

• Maybe, you can try the ICCIDD!
• That seemed like someone saying the alphabet with
  a stammer..
• Where can I find ICCDD..?
• On the web, of course!
• But by now, the only webs Rita could see were the
  cobwebs in her mind...

14

• Alas, she found no one who could give her the
  simple answer -
• Yes, dear.
• You can and must eat iodized salt.
• It will keep your mind from becoming dull.

15

• The moral of the story
• Forget them all.
• Eat iodized salt.
• Theyll all catch up some day.