17th July 2003 Dear Shailen, Extremely sorry for the inadvertant delay. No excuse, simply beg your pardon. Now at last I am sending you my answers to your querries. It is heartening that from far-far land you take keen interest in our activities and try to fetch generous help for the same. Thank you very-very much. Yours, Kanti Bhai Residential School Sarvodaya Parivar Trust, Pindval 1) What are the teacher's salaries? How many teachers are there? What other staff does the trust employ related to the school? ANSWER: Teachers' Salaries - between Rs. 1,600 and 2,700 per month. 7 teachers plus 3 cooks. 2) What is the cost per student at the residential school? What does it include (food, lodging, medical costs, books, clothing/uniforms, cost of teacher's salary, etc.) Please give details of estimated costs per child. ANSWER: Rs. 3,500 yearly per student. This include(s) food, lodging, books, uniform, (teacher) salary, etc. 3) Are you funded by the government or any division of the government? If so, how much funding do they give you? Please give details. ANSWER: No funding by government or any government agency. 4) What happens to the students after standard 7? Are you planning on starting a standard 8 next year? ANSWER: After standard VII, students go to other schools, mainly in Dharmapur Township. We have no plan for expansion at present. 5) What types of jobs will the students do when they leave the school after standard 7? ANSWER: Mostly the try to get further education. Since the inception of our school, all the students passed in standard VII, have continued their study further. 6) What are the occupations of the families of the children that are in the school in Pindval? ANSWER: Occupation of the families is mainly agriculture. Besides agriculture, some do job of a tailor, carpenter, mason, etc. 7) Do you or anyone at the trust have email/internet access? If so, what email address can we get in touch with you at? ANSWER: No email or internet at Pindval. You may contact us - means you may send message through Shri Narendra Thakker, Jalaram Rice mill, Kumbharwada, Dharampur - Phone: (02633) 242367. The message may reach in two-three days. Dharampur is 25 km. from Pindval. 8) What is a contact telephone number? ANSWER: As above. There is no phone facility at Pindval. 9) Right now, there is no telephone access in Pindval. Is this correct? Do you know if there are any plans by the telephone company to bring telephone access to Pindval? If so, when? ANSWER: No plan known as yet for telephone facility. 10) What activities are going on right now at the school in Pindval? ANSWER: Besides study children take part in cultural activities, such as music, drama, games, physical training. Once in a year they are taken on a tour, so that they get exposure to the outside world. All the work on the campus is done by students, so they get training to shoulder various responsibilities. By living together in the hostel they learn the lesson of cooperative living. 11) when did you start the school in Khadki? How many teachers are working there? ANSWER: School in Khadki is started since 2000. 3 teachers plus one cook. 12) What do the women of the children do? Are they mostly just mothers or do they work too? What type of work do they do? (Farming, labor, other?) ANSWER: Mostly just mohter. The do agricultural work also. They go outside for labour work too. 13) Are you receiving any funding from other organizations either local in Gujarat or India? Are you receiving any funds from organizations outside of India? ANSWER: At present we are not receiving any fund from other organization, local, national, or foreign. 14) What is your long term goal for the schools in Pindval and Khadki? ANSWER: No expansion plan at present. We try to fulfill the basic need of education to the growing child upto a certain stage, so that to enable him to study further. 15) What do the villagers in Pindval, Khadki, and surrounding areas think about the school? How do they feel about sending their children there? ANSWER: They are very happy that the education facility is provided at their door-step. They consider the quality of the education at our school far more superior than the education at governmental school. 16) IMPORTANT: Do you have FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) clearance to receive funds from a foreign institution? ANSWER: Yes we have FCRA clearance to receive funds from a foreign institution. Our number is - 04200019 dated 15-3-1985. Kanti Bhai Shah Trustee Sarvodaya Parivar Trust During the year 2002-2003, the total students at Pindval - 200 including 85 girls. During the year 2002-2003, the total students at Khadki - 62, including 26 girls. The total expenses during the year - Pindval Khadki Salary 2,03,863 92,865 Food & Hostel Expenses 4,17,428 1,49,780 (Uniform etc.) Untensils & Deadstock 3,955 36,474 Fuel Expenses 19,893 9,672 Educational Appliances 25,526 14,667 Excursion (Students) 26,410 16,442 Miscellaneous 9,414 10,824 Road Construction - 15,000 --------------------------------------------------------------- 7,06,489 3,45,724