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

     

E-mail

Not available

annam38@yahoo.com

 

 

Part I: Information about your group/organization

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part II: Details about your educational project/s

 

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.

 

 

9. Location of school/s        Urban       Ö Rural        Other      

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       Number      

Number 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 Intermediate

Other 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.

 

 

Part III: Financial Details

                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.)