When today came around, we could barely believe that we'd already spent two weeks in India. The trip has been, quote Amy, "an absolute whirlwind," and through its ups and its downs, we've all grown considerably as policy researchers, world travelers, and spicy food connoisseurs (http://now.dartmouth.edu/2013/12/global-policy-students-take-their-studies-to-india/). Nevertheless, as we rushed to pack and eat breakfast before saying goodbye to our Sheraton rooms, we couldn't help but feel homesick.

After driving to the edge of the city through the thickest fog of the season, our first stop of the day was the headquarters of Operation ASHA, a tuberculosis treatment NGO started by Sandeep Ahuja, who himself took this course with Professor Wheelan at the Harris School in 2005-2006 (http://www.opasha.org/). Although Mr. Ahuja was not available to meet with us, we were greeted by enthusiastic staff members, including one recent graduate from UC Berkeley, who gave us a crash course on the status of TB in India and how operation ASHA has made an impact. India's 3.5 million TB patients make up 1/4 of the cases worldwide, yet even with free medication provided by the government, the default rate is around 40% or higher due to accessibility barriers, social stigmas, lack of follow-up, and the belief that one can cease medication early upon feeling better. By pioneering an eCompliance technology on tablets and training local providers (who used to be "quacks"), Operation ASHA has cut regimen noncompliance rates to 3%, greatly reducing the risk of patients developing drug-resistant TB. 

Following the briefing (which was legitimately brief compared to the Swades and SEWA briefings), Professor Wheelan's son CJ acted as a test TB patient to demonstrate how the eCompliance biometric fingerprinting worked. Operation ASHA has tailor-designed the tablet program to maximize efficiency, and there is even a version with images only for illiterate care providers. Then, to the group's surprise, the staff members directed us back to the bus for a trip to a nearby slum's TB center. We were pretty on edge, having just learned that TB gets transmitted from person to person through the air. Nevertheless, everyone braved entering the small clinic to learn about how the TB medication was distributed. On our way out, Professor Wheelan's wife had a photoshoot-with-someone's-child experience; sound familiar?

With our policy report finished, the last two interviews of the trip served the purpose of assessing our understanding of the economic development issues at hand. Attributing every cough on the bus to a potential TB cases, we headed over to the US Embassy in Delhi. At the heavily fortified gates, we became the target of various news photographers camped out there due to the recent arrest of an Indian consular diplomat in NY. Apparently, as we were inside the embassy speaking to three officials from the political affairs, economics, and cultural affairs divisions, a protest was happening at the front gate. Thus, after the meeting, we sneaked out through the embassy's back gate, where our bus had been told to wait. It was unfortunate yet strangely exhilarating that we were smack dab in the middle of an international relations crisis.

The final meeting of the practicum did a fantastic job of wrapping up our analysis of potential economic reforms. At a government building in Delhi, we interviewed the highly esteemed Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of India's Planning Commission and a key figure in the reforms of the 80s and 90s. With an impeccable British accent, Mr. Ahuluwalia shared his priorities for reform, which included restructuring land use laws, investing in health and education, and fostering local-level initiatives for resource pricing. What surprised us was that, given our interviews across the spectrum of Indian society, we were able to disagree with a few of his points on the grounds that policies on paper do not fully reflect what happens during the implementation and maintenance of the policy. However, it was great to see that the Planning Commission has organized a very conscientious effort to bring change to India for the better; it all depends on whether or not the Indian society can push for achieving the targets of the next 5-year plan.

We ended the trip with a hefty Indian dinner, full of chicken tikka masala, lamb curry, nan, and various other delicious dishes. Each of the students had the honor of receiving a humorous accolade from Professor Wheelan, proving that our positive spirits endured the fumes of burning rubbage and the smells of uncleaned latrines. As we prepared to head to the airport, we said goodbye to Ayushi and Ashneil, who are staying in India for Christmas to visit relatives. We also said goodbye to Professor Wheelan and his family, as they are also staying in India to continue their adventures.

Right before heading to the Delhi airport, we became aware of a delay in the flight, which we misread as 4 hours. Fortunately, the delay was only about half an hour, leaving us plenty of time to catch our transfer in London. Hours and hours later, with several strangely-timed airplane meals and a program malfunction in the customs system, we arrived in Boston-Logan, each heading our separate ways homeward. For the students who flew out again from Boston, the airport security was longer and more tedious than even in India, reminding us that even in the states, there is much to be desired in terms of policy reforms. And so ends a very, very long day (flying back in time), and a very, very wonderful PBPL85 trip to India. 

To all our faithful blog followers: Happy Holidays!