Asha for Education

         Boston

 

http://www.ashanet.org/mit

asha-request@mit.edu

 

Asha-Boston / MIT

PO Box 391802,

Cambridge, MA 02139.

 
                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 24, 2004.

P.Suria Ranjini,

PO Box # 47

D.No. 22-977/1

Moruganipalli Road,

Chittor - 517 001

Andhra Pradesh

India.   

 

Dear Ranjini ji,

 

May I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year.  Srikanth has conveyed to us the progress of the project and other happenings.  Nevertheless a short report about the same indicating the use of funds would be helpful also. 

 

Asha Boston got involved with Sahanivasa in 2000, funding the coaching centers for Xth class students.   It would be of interest to find out what these children are doing, if they are in college?

Or if the occupation they maybe involved in?  Though these children maybe the first set to go through the coaching center program, would progress on that front be an indicator of potential social change through the Sahanivasa project.

 

Initially, it was also mentioned that the project is looking for 5-year funding, upon which the project would become self-sufficient.  Could you outline some thoughts regarding this, and if self-sufficiency is still a goal, progress on that front?

 

I believe Srikanth helped setup the mobile library.   I hope the children are benefiting from the available books?  How often do the children read?  It is a good practice, and definitely should be encouraged for all children, including the younger ones.

 

Enclosed is the second installment for $ 6,400.00.   Kindly do send us a written receipt upon receiving these funds.

 

As the progress of the project continues, we would be interested in continuing to partner with Sahanivasa.  This installment would be used over the next 6 months, breakdown of which was indicated in our previous correspondence, also enclosed.  To continue funding after July, 2004, we would require

-         Annual progress report

-         description of utilization of funds

-         audit report

-         proposal for following year

 

Please do let us know if we can be of additional help.

 

Regards,

 

Harish Chawla,

Srikanth Voorakaranam

Asha Boston

 


August 12th, 2003.

 

P.Suria Ranjini,

PO Box # 47

D.No. 22-977/1

Moruganipalli Road,

Chittor - 517 001

Andhra Pradesh

India.   

 

Dear Ranjini ji,

 

Thank you for submitting the 2003-2004 year budget proposal to Asha Boston for renewal.  We are delighted to hear that the Sahanivasa project is doing well.  Recently we had a conversation with a couple volunteers from AID (Association for India's Development) who are working with Sahanivsa with respect to land rights etc.  Further, we have been in email communication with Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) also, who would be working with Sahanivasa on gender and Dalit rights.  It is great to know that Sahanivasa is well established and working on multiple aspects, making the most impact on the community.

 

With respect to the budget, we had a few questions / queries that we wanted to ask about.  The budget put forth by Sahanivasa has increased significantly compared to the previous years.  Additional centres are added, along with more community involvement.  Keeping in touch with old students is also of great importance, thus the meetings are surely of benefit.

 

We were though, unable to understand the costs related to these meetings.  Could you kindly let us know more details about these meetings, and breakdown of the costs involved with the meetings

- Old students meeting,

- Dalit employee meeting

- Parents Motivational meeting

 

The budget included costs for a library and furniture.  Srikanth mentioned he could help in setting up the library as needed, thus the cost for the same is not included in the updated budget.  What furniture would you have in mind, bookshelves or something else? 

 

Due to monetary limitations with our chapter, we updated the budget request omitting the cost of the Dalit employee meeting and the Parents Motivational meeting.  Maybe we can discuss

this further to better understand the costs associated here.

 

The budget also included 15 educational kits for each supplementary school.  We were hoping that the kits may be shared amongst the school.  Thus, here we updated the budget to provide for 8 kits at this time. If you do believe that sharing 8 amongst the schools will not be satisfactory, kindly do let us know, and we will include the cost for the remaining in the following installment.

 

I do apologize for having to update the budget.  Our chapter does have limited funds, thus requiring some modifications in the proposed budget.  Hope this is satisfactory, and we can continue looking into the remaining needs.

 

At this time, we are approving the renewal for this project for the year 2003 - 2004, and providing funds as mentioned in the updated budget totaling US $12,800.  The first installment of $6,400.00 is enclosed.  The second installment of US $6,400.00 will be sent after 6 months upon receiving a progress report and receipts.

 

Please send us a paper receipt for this amount as soon as you receive it. Please also send us receipts at the end of the year showing how the amount was utilized. This is required so that Asha-MIT can file these receipts with the US government’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

 

The next installment will be mailed in six months upon review of the performance of the project. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help out with.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Harish Chawla,

Srikanth Voorakaranam

 

Asha Boston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Updated Budged Details for Sahanivasa

Year 2003 - 2004

 

 

Special Coaching for Dalits 10th std. children

 

1. Teachers Honorarium

                         8 centres x 3 teachers x rs. 1200 x 10 months =  Rs. 2,88,000

2. Education material and stationary                                                      =  Rs. 20,000

3. coordinator travel costs                                                                     =  Rs. 13,000

 

                                                            Total                =  Rs. 321,000

                                    Rs. 47 per dollar           = $ 6830

 

 

Dalit Primary School Supplementary Education:

 

1. Educational Kits  Rs. 2500 x 8                                                          = Rs. 20,000

2. Teachers Training Rs. 2000 x 15                                                       = Rs. 30,000

3. Center arrangements                                                                          = Rs. 15,000

4. Childrens club                                                                                   = Rs. 15,000

5. Teachers Honorarium  15 x 12 x rs. 500                                            = Rs. 90,000

6. Coordinator salary.  Rs. 4500 x 12                                                   = Rs. 54,000

7. Parents motivational meeting.                

                                    (Rs. 1000 per meeting)                        = Rs. 15,000

7. Stationary                                                                                         = Rs. 25,000

 

                                                                                    Total                 = Rs. 264,000

                                                                                                                $ 5617.00

 

-- Srikanth will help Sahanivasa setup the mobile library.

   

 

Total Budget for year 2003.

 

Xth Coaching               -  Rs. 321,000  $ 6830

Primary education                     -  Rs. 264,000  $ 5617

                        Total                -  Rs. 585,000  $ 12,446  ($1 = Rs. 47)

                                                                        $ 12,717  ($1 =  Rs. 46)

 

Budget approved for US $12,800.00

 

Encl:     1. Check for $ 6,400.00