ASHA For Education
Document Number 9
Indian Site Visit Report

Organization Name: Jupiter Academy
Establishment Date/ Location:  September 2001 Registration #1215 Location A-1489/7 Indira Nagar near Gole Chauraha, Lucknow U.P. 226016 India
Religious affiliation/Target Group: None/ Urban Poor
Loading and Transportation: As the state capital of U.P. Lucknow is well connected by rail and air with direct transportation. The B.D. Guesthouse is within 1km. of Jupiter Academy facilities and is recommended. (A-993 Indira Nagar, Lucknow Phone # 0522-237713 or 2385465) Report date/author /contact information: January 8th-14th, 2004, James Minter 3300 Wyndale Court Woodbridge, Virginia 22192 Ph. 703-590-0289 Email: jamesminter@comcast.net, mintersadhna@hotmail.com.
Organizational Personnel:
Organization Leadership: Mr. Sandeep Bhatnagar Business: 165 Anand Bhavan Bastuli B-Block Indira Nagar Lucknow, U.P. 226016 jupiter_academy@rediffmail.com  Contacts at Jupiter Academy are highly skilled in both Hindi and English, Special thanks for Roopali Varma roopali_varma@yahoo.com and Satish Pant Jupiter_academy@rediffmail.com 
·1  Assigned ASHA contact:  DimpleKapoor@hotmail.com  NirmitJoshi@yahoo.com Mona Sehgal sehgalm@gao.gov ASHA India Sandeep Pandey ashain@sancharnet.in 
Operational Structure:
Takrohi the only operational school is divided among 6 professionals. The Amarpali Steel Fabrication business has evening tutoring programs for students enrolled in government schools from the Baustoli area. 
Mr. Sandeep Bhatnagar	Site Founder
Mrs. Kiran Jaiswal		Principal Takrohi
Km. Deepmala Singh		Assistant Teacher
Km. Shabnam Siddiqui	Assistant Teacher
Km. Uma Graur		Assistant Teacher
Sri. Ramesh Kumar		Teacher
Smt. Babita Pathak		Assistant Teacher

Management structure:
An advisory committee overseas and directs activities composed of:
	Mr. Sandeep Bhatnagar		President
	Smt. Beena Jain			Vice-President
	Mr. Rakesh				Secretary
	Mr. P.C. Jain				Secretary
	Smt. Sunita				Treasurer
	Ram Kumar				Member 
All oversight and management decisions are made by Mr. Sandeep Bhatnagar. At the Takrohi facility all academic decisions are coordinated by Mrs. Kiran Jaiswal.

Activity #1
Amarpali is an evening tutoring activity for students in existing schools. During the site visit approximately 60 students age 3-15 were waiting for two teachers. The space is aprox. 300 sq/ft. During summer months some 286 students are claimed. However, when asked for records, only scattered records some of adult males could be located.	  

Activity #2
Samaudipur Village is also an evening tutoring location for existing school students. No on site visit was done during this site visit.

Activity #3
Takrohi Shiv Bihar Colony near Mayawati Twin Colony, Indira Nagar. This is the only activity which is a functional school. Students who are successful are transported to government schools. Excellent attendance and academic records have been maintained since start on July 2004 Vocational education is focused on plant stand production and sewing activities. 

Capital Outlay: 
The Samaudipur activity uses existing village facilities. The Amarpali Market facility pays a 1500 Rs. Rent to an unlisted trustee named Rom Kumar. The Takrohi facility is owned by the wife of Mr. Bhatnagar. She has signed a ten year lease to allow school use, and receives 451 Rs./Month

Target Group Characteristics:
The parents from the Baustoli and Takrohi communities are 70% Scheduled Caste, and 60% Below Poverty Line. Family incomes range from 100-200 Rs./Day. Although private schools exist in Lucknow for 150-1200 Rs./Month, parents prefer the no cost structure and report higher quality. Many of the parents have migrated to Lucknow for the superior job availability. 

Visitation Discussion:
A number of warnings were apparent during the visit. Collective they give concern. 
1. No FCRA exist nor did Mr. Bhatnagar know what one was or intended to apply.
2. Mr. Bhatnagar did not fill out the proposal; it was done by Sandeep Pandey. Funds are not given Jupiter Academy, but dispensed directly by Pandey.
3. Although 85,000 Rs has been sanctioned only 65,000 Rs. has been given to Bhatnagar.
4. 39% of received funds were deposited directly with Mr. Bhatnagar for purchased metal fabrication. 
5. Another 50% was paid in Honorariums/Salaries, this leave only a tenth of the funds for direct student use.
6. Lucknow is the wealthiest city in UP. Additionally, this school is only one of four ASHA efforts in the city. 
	A. ASHA Samajak Vidaya Vaba: Educational activity focused on Gomti Nagar.
	B. Springdale: After hours use of a private school for NGO work
	C. Charbagh: Rail station education coordinated by Sonia Singh
	D. Jupiter Academy: Multiple facilities for BPL students
7. Quality of life data was reported by Bhatnagar, such as brushing teeth, cleanliness, etc. to indicate % increase. 45% of his reported numbers were 90.00%. When asked to be candid, he held firm that it was calculated data. Only when asked for the raw data to allow verification did he admit, the data by simple estimated. 
8. Two trustee's are receiving monthly payments to allow continuation of school activities.
9. Two unsecured loans by P.C. Jain for were documented during auditing. When asked, Bhatnagar confirmed that they had been paid back. When asked for the receipt, he confirmed that no record existed of repayment. In fact only 20% of claimed fund raising was actually included in the audit report.
10. Bhatnagar claimed that Jupiter sent 10 boys to six months computer training 1hr. week. When asked for documentation, he confessed that the Lucknow Computer Learning Center had provided free tuition for the boys. At most Jupiter advocated admission. 

Visitation Conclusion
The combination of warning indications, non application of FCRA, in a heavily served State Capital makes the conclusion clear. Rural focus, legal requirements, and organizational transparency, require the use of funding on better projects. If Mr. Bhatnagar is sincere in obtaining foreign funding, I have personally offered to help him fill and file the correct proposal, follow FCRA requirements, and help construct a budget that equals the sanctioned funding.