Sahanivasa

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Harish

July 13th, 2003

 

Asha Boston / MIT has been working with Sahanivasa
since 1999, when a proposal was received from them
initially. This is an organization working in the
Chitoor district of A.P. since 1985. Sahanivasa has
been also received funding from WAH 2000 and WAH 2001
for running expenses (salaries / material etc).
Sahanivasa specifically focuses on dalit rights /
issues, including land reforms. AID also supports
Sahanivasa.

The initial proposal from Sahanivasa mentioned that
they were looking for a period of 5 year funding from
Asha, as they expect to become self sufficient
thereon. The methods for self sufficiency include
donations from individuals, students contribution of
Rs. 4 per month, students helping out after
graduating. The current proposal represents the 4th
year request.

Sahanivasa is involved in ‘Special Coaching for Dalits
10th std. Children’ and ‘Strengthening Primary School
Education Program’. For the former, Sahanivasa wants
to run 8 centres (an increase of 3 from previous
year), and has primary school education in 15
villages. Progress is quite significant, 92 % of the
Xth class students have passed in 2002 – 2003, as
opposed to 35 % in 1999-2000. The primary school
education program may have actually be suggested by
Asha Boston volunteers, as the original proposal only
included Xth coaching program. It was mentioned that
it is essential to try to help improve the quality of
education from early on, as opposed to only ensuring
that the children pass. Srikanth and Ram have visited
the project and have provided positive feedback about
this organization. Srikanth is the current steward.


Due to the addition of the 3 centres, the current
proposal requests a total of $15,266, which includes
teachers salaries, educational kits, costs for
meetings, coordinator salary, administrative costs,
utility bills, mobile library etc. The proposal and
other project related information is available at
http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=155

 

The community has been quite satisfied with
Sahanivasa, and thus has requested that they provide
help to additional schools / children for the Xth
coaching program.

 

The general feeling about the project was that the
efforts are quite commendable, and we are quite
satisfied to continue working with them.
Nevertheless, the amount requested is beyond our
chapter budget. As in the past, we would have to
request Seattle to help out in funding this project.

A few questions were asked, suggestions made

· The request of two additional coaching centers
result in more financial resources required. Our
chapter and Asha generally have not been able to grow
monetarily as fast as the needs have grown within the
organization. Thus, at this time, it seems difficult
for Asha Boston to commit to funding additional
centres.

· Part of the proposal was a request for a mobile
library. We would prefer to provide a set of standard
static libraries to the centres. With the cost
requested for the mobile libraries, we should be able
to provide ~6-8 school libraries. This also seems
beneficial, as does not involve the recurring expenses
for petrol and vehicle maintenance.

· Seattle has helped in funding this project in the
past, and we will be approaching them again.

· The proposal discusses old students meeting, and
requirements are set to Rs. 70,000. We found this
figure somewhat high, and thus wanted to find out what
the breakdown for this.

· Similarly parents motivational meeting requires rs.
75,000 seems high.

· Can we try to help find cheaper educational kits? do
they require this every year, why can't they be reused
year to year.

· Some asha projects supply educational kits, that we
could try to get for a cheaper cost (Sutradhar would
be one, i believe)

· Details regarding the dalit employee meetings, and
the associated cost of rs. 30,000?

You can read more about this project at
http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=155

We are awaiting response for an updated proposal, in
order to approve, and send the funds.

Responses from Srikanth for above questions  (July 31st, 2003)

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-  reg. Mobile library, it is not really a library on

   wheels that is envisaged. They want to buy books

   worth about 40,000 rupees to be kept centrally,

   and it will be the responsibility of individual

   teachers to take them to their respective centers

   (this way the books could be rotated).

 

-  The request from Asha for the parent motivational

   meetings is only Rs. 15,000 (rest 60K coming from

   the people themselves, and as such can vary

   based on their ability to bear this cost).

 

-  I will get the breakdown for the old student

   meeting. Here again the amount requested from Asha

   is half of the total amount.

 

-  I will ask them what is envisaged for the education

   kits. You will be surpised but Rs. 2500 per kit is

   not very costly (Sutradhar is pricey by indian standards).

 

-  The Dalit employee meeting expenses is something we

   can reduce our contribution to (though I believe such

    a network is good to build).

 

 

 

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Sahanivasa

July 14th, 2002

 

Sahanivasa has asked for a renewal of funding for 2002-03. We had sent them $10,000.00 (from Asha-Seattle).

 

Q1. They are investigating methods for self-sustenance. There are questions about these methods.

Q2. We do not have receipts for the amount paid last year.

 

Ranjini will find out more about these questions from Ram/Srikanth et al.

10th Std pass pctg has increased dramatically.  Topic 1a: Project discussion over email. Since Ram/Srikanth know a lot about Sahanivasa, it might be easier to conduct the discussion over email where they can be included than over a mtg. A lot of information is available on this project. All renewals and known projects can be done online with voting online too. One proposal is to have a quorum for voting (10 is a decent number). We can decide what projects can be discussed online.

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Sahanivasa:

June 25th, 2000

Presented for WAH2000

Presented by Srikanth.

 

Location:AP. Works with the Dailts.

 

- Has been around for the last 10 years.

- supplementary education program.

Most of the questions were regarding details that are available on the

infoshare site.

- Some people were concerned as to why the same teachers were able to help

these children get better results when they taught outside of the

classroom (tuition) than as part of regular school.