The New Direction

The main objective of the well blasting program India 89, was the improvement of existing open irrigation wells by deepening them, and assisting in the digging of new ones. Through good organization the project would also demonstrate that blasting a well, work that took months using a traditional hand held star drill and black powder, could be completed in a few days with jackhammers and dynamite. Through its work, the project would also illustrate for Agro Industries the benefits of the proper care and the efficient use of modern drilling equipment.

India 89 was unique for the Peace Corps and considered a “Pilot Project” that was a precursor to the programs that would revitalize the Peace Corps through its “New Direction” initiative. The cornerstone of the project was a team of skilled volunteers that would train local counterparts not only in the technical side of well blasting, but also in the organizational in order to insure its continuity and long-term results.

The Peace Corp, having gained insight from earlier programs, began to see its commitments from a broader perspective, realizing that effective aid had to be more than just temporary good-will, and instead, be of lasting benefit to the host country.