ASHA DARSHAN: Annual Update 2008 & Budget Presentation Stewards: Roopa T & Kashyap Merchant 17 th Sept 2008

Location: Tamulpur area, Nalbari district, Assam (5hours from Guwahati) Background: Rural, Insurgency ridden area. Population is mostly Assamese, Adibashi, Bodo, Nepali, Bengali Poor health care and low school attendence before Asha Darshan. Funded by Asha – SV since Focus: - pre school children as well as primary (age group: 3 to 6 years, sometimes even 10years) - health education - vocational training - women’s Self Help Groups

UPDATE schools across Tamulpur, Nagrijuli and Ghograpar 1343 students and 36 teachers Seven schools are upto class 4 Three schools are upto class 7 One school is only balwadi or preschool 3 schools are in Bodo medium and the rest are in Assamese Teachers run the schools for an average of 5-6 hours everyday except Sunday. Asha Darshan staff monitor the schools and make an average of 3 surprise visits per month. One school at Garughutu is not upto mark, reason: the adivasi students have a problem with understanding Assamese which is the medium of instruction Started in students in students by

Activities at school: Morning Assembly Physical Exercise Meditation Prayer Mahatlokar vani (?) Hathar (?) Local News Headlines Classes Children enjoyed Shishu Mela Sports, Cultural activities and competitions.

Infrastructural Issues: One school (Garughutu) has half-complete RCC building (govt. sponsored) All other schools have bamboo-wall structures

Site visit vallabh bhai (asha india) : 2006

Mid Day Meal program: MDM was started in few centers in April Starting 2008 all centers have MDM program. Attendance improved after the introduction of MDM. Previously tried to give soaked lentils, wont work because its hard to estimate student attendance each day. a. Flat rice b. Brown sugar (Gur) c. Amul spray (Baby milk) Plans to introduce cornflakes as an extra meal. a.Cornflakes b.Brown sugar (Gur) c.Amul spray (Baby milk) But no mention in the budget!! Should check.

Teacher training is provided subject wise. Subjects taught are Assamese, Hindi, English, Social Science in middle school and primary school Pre-primary children are taught games, dancing etc. The teachers are accordingly trained.

Health education and Malaria prevention, detection and treatment Malaria is very prevalent in the region especially during monsoon season Unfortunately led to the death of four Asha Darshan children in early Health training of at least one teacher from each of the 11 schools, where the participant will be given inputs on preliminary health care and first aid, by expert professionals. 2. Mosquito nets was provided to students (request for 3.Provision for testing of blood samples. 4.Health awareness campaign will be carried out in the villagers of Tamulpur area. Total budget for Malaria prevention: Rs.3,12,000/-

Asha Darshan Team activities: Trained in gender issues, rights issues, health, money management, Group management, proposal development. November 2007: Exposure cum training program visit to Uttaranchal (Laxmi Ashram and Himalaya Foundation, Latika Vihar and Karuna Vihar in Dehradun.)

Other Activities: Tailoring classes for girls in the region and economically weak mothers of the children of Asha Darshan. Women’s Self Help Groups (SHG) (supported by AID): About 414 SHG provide a support system and vocational training programs around the Tamulpur area. Asha Darshan supervises: Monthly meetings, Credit and Savings. Members take credit for income generating jobs, like, poultry, selling vegetables, Mushroom farming, goat rearing, pig rearing, fishery, weaving, purchasing thela and rickshaw for their husbands. Efforts towards maintaining peace by encouraging /organizing people to make peaceful demonstrations against violence. 100 Shanti Sena groups.

Audit report for Funds sent in : Mar $43, Jul $3, (Interim Medical budget for Malaria prevention and treatment) Jan $43,850.00

MONEY SPENT (Rs) PROPOSED BUDGET (Rs) 7,14, ,50, ,12, (1,70,000 for 1000 mosquito nets) 14,37, (Includes transportation and other equipment) 3,43, ,67, (Exposure visit + Shishu Mela)

Education coordinator: Manages the 36 teachers and 1300 children Project coordinator: Coordinates with government offices (local and central) Interacts with the local population Organizers: Manage all the centers and make periodic visits. six staff volunteer coordinate our 11 school regularly. Manage everything, arrange bi- monthly meeting with all teacher staff and office staff. ANIMATOR: Survey field, get info to make plans. Originally project specific. But the animator mentioned in the budget will work on educational projects and will also act as a coordinator.

Administrative expenses: Administrative expenses: Total : 5,43,982.00

MISC: 1. There are 17 workers and they have 1 scooty & 4 bicycles. So in the interest of work 4 bicycles have been proposed. 2. Because of bad roads, they need to regularly repair the vehicles and bicycles also need repair. So Rs /- is proposed. This will be spent as and when required. 3. New Furniture budget: One Steel Almirah = 8000/- Two office table = 6000/- Two chair = 3000/- One office rack = 3000/-

Budget conclusions: $ for 11 schools with total of ~1300 children $92 per child per year Budget proposal - for was Rs. 22,50, (800 students). (~$70per child per year) - for was Rs. 34,00,000 (1100 students) (~77per child per year) Number of students has now increased to ~1300. The budget for Training program (longer training programs), Medical care, has increased. Shishu Mela and Exposure visits are more elaborate now. Last site visit was in Jan2008, and all the schools were not visited. Detailed Site visit is required.