Project Name: Asha Shikshan Sansthan |
|
Date:
13-1-2003 |
|
Project Contact Information |
Asha Contact |
Name |
Asha
Shikshan Sansthan Babhnauli
(Ballia
Chapter) |
Asha |
Contact |
Brajendra
Bhai |
Melli Annamalai. Ph.D. Volunteer, Asha for Education, Boston,
U.S.A. |
Address |
Brajendra
Bhai, Asha
Shikshan Sansthan, (Near
power house) At
Babhnauli (via) Reoti Ballia
District U.P. PIN:
277209 |
#4,
Canter Court, Nashua NH
03063, U.S.A. |
Phone(s) |
955494-260315
(local) 04594
– 260315 (STD) |
|
Fax |
Not
available |
|
|
Not
available |
annam38@yahoo.com |
Please feel free to attach any additional sheets and/or information
such as brochures, press reports etc.
An action group of Asha activists for socio-economic change in the
society. It is being included always in the ASHA India’s pamphlets and
photographs under “Ballia chapter” besides the visit of many ASHA volunteers
from U.S.A., which includes Jayshree, Sanmuga, Vidhi, Sarique, D.P. Prakash,
Deepak Gupta etc.
1. Name of the
group/organization requesting funds. Asha Shikshan Sansthan, Babhnauli (via) Reoti, Ballia (U.P.) |
2. When was the group established? In 1998/99 |
3. Briefly describe the motivation for starting this
group. Asha
abroad was earlier supporting few children in Veda Mata Geriatric
Shikshapith, Reoti through
its SAC program . Soon after the
return of Sandeep Bhai to India and
his arrival at the school, it was felt necessary to separate the SAC children and also have more children from the Dalit community in order to uplift their
socio-economic condition through education. Thus, a separate school was started for better education
whereby self-reliance and good human behavior are imparted to the students as
well as their parents. This was done in the year 96-97 during the stay of
Sandeep Bhai at Reoti, Ballia (U.P.)
and later on by Brajendra Bhai’s group at Babhnauli village in the nearby
gram sabha called Kuan Pipar, adjacent to Reoti. |
4. Briefly describe the aims of your group. To bring about socio-economic change in the
society of Dalits and other SC/ST backward communities through education
which could guide students for self-reliance and good human behavior in the
society. |
5.
Does your group have any religious or political affiliation? If yes, please
describe the type of affiliation and the reason for it. No, Although people belong to Hindu community,
their thinking is totally secular. Politically, they desire a change instead of any affiliation with
any political party. They have lost all hopes of any political party working on their behalf. |
6.
What non education-related community development activities is your group
involved in? Guidance in medical care though PHC, frequent
liaison with community in their day to day functioning, meetings with community members for social
problems, if any and its removal to possible extent through various Asha programs of self reliance as has been
described as the “aim” of education in the present system of education in
India. |
7.
Does your organization have FCRA clearance from the Indian government? This
is required for you to receive foreign funds. Yes, through
Asha India, We are presently part of Asha only and not a separate NGO. Asha
India FCRA can be used for us. |
8. List the school/s run by your group, and their locations. If you are requesting funds for only a few of several schools, please specify which one/s. a) Asha Shikshan Sansthan b) cutting/tailoring /knitting center c) organic farming center d) bee keeping center e) bari/papad manufacturing center f) scented perfume making center All the above centers are located at Babhnauli, (near power house) via Reoti. |
10.
Specify the type of education provided (e.g. basic literacy, vocational
training etc.). Besides basic literacy , various training (like agarbatti making, farming etc.) activities are conducted to make the students self-reliant. |
11.
Please tell us about your teaching techniques (conventional vs. alternative). In the absence of resources and teachers required for education, it has become necessary to use alternative sources and methods. The teachers identify the classes but all the students sit together in the same class. The teacher knows the boys’ capacity and deals accordingly with each child . The children of higher classes also guide their colleagues of lower classes. |
12.
What is the literacy rate in your local community? Less than 1%. There is hardly any graduate in the community. Very few people who have completed intermediate or high school education. Most students leave school at the age of 10-12 to supplement their parents’ income. |
13.
Describe the socio-economic background of the children and their parents
(e.g. education, occupational). If any of your students are employed, please
tell us about that as well. By caste, they are fishermen or Bhar of the same social status viz. backward castes. There is a big pond in which they catch fish and sell it in the market. But, it is not enough to provide them meals. They go outside the village in search of jobs . Mostly they catch fish in other states too, carry sand from sea to the plain area in Bombay, do labor work on other fields /farms/houses for livelihood. Very few of them go to school located nearby and soon drop out when they can do labor work either to supplement their parent’s income or help other elders in the family for other jobs like grass collection for cattle, take care of small kids in the family so that the elders cab do labor work in the fields elsewhere. Less than 1% would be intermediate/high school educated. And only one or two people are graduates in the entire community. Few of them pull rikshaw/thela in the towns/cities and even in the village. Some boys who left our school are seen selling fish /hens and others are doing labor work to support the family expenses. Few are seem doing house jobs to supplement their parent’s income. None has completed 5th class in the school. There all dropped out due to pressure from the family in economic crises. The activities planned at the school would farm part of their education to provide them good skills to the children for earning their livelihood. |
14.
What is the admission criteria for the students to join your school? How many
children attend your school currently? What is your boy:girl ratio? What is your teacher:student ratio? Whoever comes
from the fishermen community or the
Bhar community is admitted into the school. There are 34 children at present.
They are 5 boys and 29 girls. Other
children have been denied admission for lack of space/sitting
arrangements/teachers salary etc. The teacher student ratio is 1:13. Most of the time only one teacher has to
run the school as Brajendra Bhai cannot manage the honorarium within his
limited personal income. Financial income from Asha abroad or elsewhere would
increase the efficiency of the school. Our own school building is a must.
Present space and location is not good enough as it is in the temple property
and thus troublesome for meditators. |
15.
In addition to education, does your group provide any other services to the
children in your schools (e.g. food, health care, clothing, etc.)? The above services were provided to the children for one year (98-99). The school was thereafter shifted to other place. Sandeep Bhai left for Lucknow and remained busy with various other activities. All facilities were withdrawn due to lack of funds. It will be started again after we receive the expected financial support. |
16. How do you perceive
that education will improve the lives of the children in your village? They would be able to understand their rights and
duties better, become human being in the true sense, earn their livelihood
comfortably and contribute more to the betterment of the community. |
17. Does your school have: Its own building(s): Yes Ö No NumberNumber and type of classrooms (e.g. Pukka): 3
pukka verandahs of a temple dharamshala Yes
No Yes
No Yes
No Toilets
Ö Playground Ö Toys Ö Chairs & Tables (2)Ö Blackboard Ö
Library Ö Drinking water Ö
Electricity Ö Computers Ö Laboratory Ö Teaching aids (e.g. books/slates) Ö There is a temple dharamshala of one room and 3 verandahs outside it. The classes are run in the verandahs and also in the open air as needed. The classes are often disturbed due to various religious functions taking place every now and then at the temple and also when the dharamshala is needed for hosting saints and cooking etc. |
18. What is the age group of the children currently enrolled in your
school(s)? between 5 to 17 years |
19. How many staff are employed at your schools? Teachers 3 Minimum Qualifications IntermediateOther staff 2 |
20. Average distance the children travel to attend your school 200m to 1500m |
21. Please answer this if
your school has existed for at least 5 years. How many children have gone
through your program in the past five years and what are they doing
currently? Please tell us about their future education possibilities. How would you
visualize their future employment possibilities? None of our students passed 5th std so
far from our school, they all dropped out mid-way. Few of them have adopted
their traditional professions such as fishing/agriculture/labor etc. We are
looking forward helplessly because various resources that are needed for good
education viz. practical training of
hand skills/technical knowledge etc The proposed way of education viz. practical training
of hand skills and further help in higher education through SAC program or
opening of such resource centers are under way through help of Asha abroad.
We do not go to any other agency for financial help. We plan to expand Asha’s
ideas and goals in public and welcome suggestions. |
22. Do you help your students with their future education efforts
after they have passed out of your school? If so please describe your
efforts. Yes, through personal guidance/liaison to each of
the individuals, as they happen to meet us very often in normal walk of life.
Brajendra Bhai and his group himself do it. Brajendra Bhai is a full time volunteer for Asha and devotes
his time entirely for the upliftment of Dalits and the backward community in
the society. |
23.
Are there any other schools (Kindergarten/Balwadi, Elementary school, High school) in the area? If so, please list the schools and the range of classes
each of them offers. Yes, there are three primary schools, one junior high school and one intermediate college within The radius of 2 to 4 km.. Besides, so-called convent/English medium school are also there where the teachers are paid around Rs. 200 p.m. as salary. They are unhappy with themselves and society but helpless . Asha’s efforts through various sorts of work are rays of hope for them too in making a just society and these teachers also would become our activists. |
24. Is your program
different from that provided at these schools? Please explain. Yes, definitely in the other schools none bothers
whether any student comes or not and what he does. In our case, it is just
the opposite. Even in the private schools, things are very poor. Teachers get
around Rs. 200 to Rs. 500/ for whole day teaching. Although unhappy , he
cannot leave the school as there is no other job in the society. Our group
thinking the other way, go to each and every house/ man/boy and help them through
out various programs /talks planning directly for the community. |
25. Why are the children in your school/s not attending government/other schools in the local area? In our local area/ community, few boys go to
school as teenagers but do not get any jobs. They also go to private schools
for sometime, but leave the school as soon as become strong enough to support
the family expenses leaving the class midway. Educating the girls is not considered important enough. They
never go to school . Instead they help the mother in grass cutting and take care of the little kids so that the
elder women are free to do other
labor jobs for earning their livelihood.
Brajendra Bhai and Sandeep Bhai visited this area many times /met
people/ conducted meetings with the
community members. With great difficulty, people were made to realize that
Asha is unlike other political parties and only desires socio-economic change
in the society. Importance of education for girls and women was emphasized.
Brajendra Bhai devoted his entire time
for the community. It was only then that the girls started coming to
school and thus making this school mainly for girls. |
26. Do you try to involve
the parents of the children in the running of the school (e.g. in setting the
syllabus etc.)? Please specify. Yes,
parents are visited regularly. Meetings with parents are also organized.
Exchange of news takes place regularly. Needs of the community are
visualized/ discussed and implemented. |
27. What are your
expansion plans for the future (e.g. adding more classes or schools)? How do
you see your school impacting the village five years from now? We find that unemployment is main problem.
Ours is a rural area. There is no
development at all. Also, no hand skills. Even in agriculture, they lack the
latest technology. Government
efforts also do not reach them. It is
being tapped only by the upper class community. NGO’s networking is also not
there except for Asha. In this
context the Asha group here has become a ray to this Community. The following is our expansion plan. a)
Shifting of agricultural inputs to cash crops from the traditional
ones through education on the subject b)
Provide various hand skills to community /students, which would bring
help from other NGO’s in the cities such as tailoring/cutting/embroidery. c)
Bee keeping, organic farming, making scented perfumes and other such
activities are to be spread on a large scale in order to make the school
self-reliant. d)
Opening of various such schools at different places would be another
priority. |
28. Any additional details
you would like to provide to us. There are
about 200 houses of fishermen and 150 houses of Bhar castes, which are
backward. Besides, there are several other Dalit castes like Bhangi
Sadhus, Dom etc. Presently we have restricted admission to our school
as we have no space and proper facilities. We are not able to find land as it mostly belongs to the upper class
community. The Bhar community has no or very small land of its won. However
two persons have agreed to allow us to for running school over their land,
but they do not want to register it to Asha in the court. It is proposed to
purchase accommodation for outsiders coming to visit school for shorter
duration. Presently, every one had to be accommodated in our houses only. It
is also necessary for meetings. Seminars etc. If agreed to , it may be
included in the estimated budget clearly. The strength of the students may go
up to any extent as these students are unhappy in the private schools because
of poor education there. |
29. Do you have any
suggestions for us? The aim of the Asha organization may need to be
made more specific and also incorporated/circulated to all activists for
planning/ working towards its. The decision/discussion at Timbuktu during Asha’s annual conference still needs elaboration.
Individuals may be free to act on their ideals alone, but the organization as a whole needs to have clear
guidance for each and every volunteer for the smooth functioning of the organization. Dalits and other backward communities have hardly any land for donation . So
Asha should not hesitate in purchasing small pieces of land if needed. The organization may increase later on when it has becomes self-sufficient. Our activists may
also be utilized for services elsewhere. Personal exchange of views for
expansion of Asha ideals from and within the volunteers/ well-wishers are to
be welcomed to achieved the desired goals. |
30. If possible, please provide us with the contact information of two individuals from your community who can describe the impact of your program.
1. Name |
Shri
Dukhan Rajbhar |
|
2. Name |
Shri
Gulab Rajbhar |
Address |
Babhnauli
(near power house) via Reoti |
|
Address |
Babhnauli
(near power house) via Reoti |
|
Ballia,
U.P. |
|
|
Ballia,
U.P. |
Phone |
nil |
|
Phone |
nil |
31. Asha for Education
requires reports from its projects every six months to continue funding. Please
provide the contact information for the person from your group who will be
responsible for these reports.
Name |
Shri
Vallabhacharya Pandey |
Address |
Pragatisheel
Growers, |
|
Pandey
Kunj |
|
Post:
Kaithi, Varanasi (U.P.) |
Phone |
(0522)-
2618201 |
Email |
ashakashi@yahoo.com |
In
a meetings held on the 9th
Jan 2003, at Bhainsaha schools, Shri Vallabhacharya Pandey of Kaithi
center (Asha India) agreed to submit the above report abroad as he has email
facilities, which are not available in Reoti/Ballia U.P. In case this is not
possible due to some reason, Brajendra Bhai will submit the reports by regular
post.
Please feel free to attach any
information such as annual reports, budgets etc.
32.
What sources fund your group’s activities at present? List the sources and
the current and future funding from each of them. If these funds are meant
for a specific part of your group’s activities, please describe those
restrictions. Mr.
Sandeep (An Asha India Trustee) was managing to provide the teachers’
salaries through his personal contacts in India and abroad. The
details of the sources re not known to use. He is now busy with various other
activities and there is no current or future funding for us. The group is not
aligned to Asha alone and is part of Asha.
Forming a separate organization was discussed at length in the
beginning when Mr. Sandeep came first to this place. It was decided to work
under the Asha banner as it already existed then and fulfilled the desired
objectives of everyone. It works for and on behalf of Asha and Brajendra Bhai
is a full time volunteer since its inception at this place. |
33. Please
provide us with details of your budget
for the past three years:
There was no budget proposed by us to Asha or
any other agency. The amount received as salary and for other activities in the
last 3 years ( 1999-20002) is as follows:
a) Shri Babu Lal
Rs.3600
b) Shri Keshav Pandey
Rs. 1500
c) Miss. Sunita nil
d) Brajendra Bhai Rs.
12000
e) Miss Rekha nil
The
payment was marginal and not as agreed due to non-availability of funds with
Asha for the specific purpose since we
didn’t propose a budget to Asha or any other agency earlier.
34. Salary
expenditure details:
|
Number |
Salary Range |
Teachers |
3 |
Rs.
6000 p.m. |
Other
Paid Staff |
2 |
Rs. 3000 p.m |
Volunteer
Staff |
|
|
35.
Please provide details of the fixed costs of your school/s for the next three
years. Rs. 1,42,900 per annum x 3 =
4, 28,700 Rs. 2,48,000 one time expense = 2, 48,000 --------------------------------------------------------
Total = 6,76,700 |
36.
How many of your students pay school fees?
Please provide details. No fees are charged as the education is free up to intermediate class and also books and other materials are provided free up to primary level in the govt. schools. Earlier a fee of Rs. 10 per child was charged , but the response was not good and hence, it was discontinued. |
|
37. What
amount are you requesting from Asha, and for what specific purpose?
Center |
Items |
Amount |
One time / Annual |
Asha
Shikshan Sansthan |
One
acre land on lease |
3,700 |
Annual |
|
Tin
shed 50
‘L x 16’ W – 34 sheets @ Rs. 400 per sheet |
13,600 |
One
time |
|
Other
fitments like pillars etc. |
5,000 |
One
time |
|
Labor
charge |
2,000 |
One
time |
|
Study
material/ other benefits Rs.
700 x 34 p.a. |
23,800 |
Annual |
|
Desk
chair and other accessories |
15,000 |
One
time |
Organic
farming |
Two
acres land on lease for cooperative farming |
7,400 |
Annual |
|
Initial
expenses on farming @ Rs. 2000 per acre for 3 acres. |
6,000 |
One
time |
Tailoring
center |
Sewing
machine foot operated (2 No.’s) @ Rs. 2500 each |
5,000 |
One
time |
|
Knitting
machine (1 No.) |
8,000 |
One
time |
|
Other
tools accessories (desk/tools/cloth) |
2,000 |
One
time |
|
Tin
sheets for center -
21 sheets @ Rs. 400 per sheet |
8,400 |
One
time |
Papad/Bari
center |
Papad
pressing machine(1 No.) |
8,000 |
One
time |
|
Pulverizer
and mixer (1 No. each) |
25,000 |
One
time |
|
Raw
material for initial working |
5,000 |
One
time |
Bee
keeping |
Bee
boxes with fitment items – (20 No.s)
@ 3000 per box |
60,000 |
One
time |
|
Honey
extracting machine (1 No.) @ Rs. 2000 each |
2,000 |
One
time |
|
Other
accessories/expenses |
2,000 |
One
time |
|
Tin
shed 30’L x 16’ W, 20 sheets @ Rs.
400 each |
8,000 |
One
time |
|
Fitment
items |
2,000 |
One
time |
|
Labor
charge |
2,000 |
One
time |
Agarbatti
center |
Raw
materials like sandal wood, scent etc. |
15,000 |
One
time |
|
Printing
of packets 4
sizes @ Rs. 13500 for each size |
54,000 |
One
time |
Salary |
Brajendra
Bhai (fulltime
volunteer) @
Rs. 3000 p.m. |
36,000 |
Annual |
|
Two
teachers @ Rs. 1500 p.m. |
36,000 |
Annual |
|
One
Beekeeper @ Rs.
1500 p.m. |
18,000 |
Annual |
|
One
women trainer for
tailoring center @ Rs. 1500 p.m. |
18,000 |
Annual |
38.
What are your plan for achieving self-sufficiency for this school and
your organization?
We plan that every one closely connected with our program at school should link himself or herself with one or the other production work for self-reliance. Also, the students/ community members after education should be self-sufficient. For this purpose, we would start bee-keepings, organic farming , papad/bari making and agarbatti works. There were plans for Asha merchandise projected at Asha’s annual conference at Timbuktu on 27 to 30th Dec . 2002. We also would be part of that work. There is good scope for bee-keeping. It would be further increased in the community through cooperation to make them self-reliant. The school would become self –sufficient through various production works as proposed overleaf which would also form part of education in the school/community. The land
which is located near the school would initially be taken on lease. The students/ community members should learn new techniques in farming and earn profits for self-reliance as ours is agricultural based country.
Brajendra Bhai
Asha Shikshan Sansthan,
Babhnauli (via) Reoti
Ballia
(U.P.)