1. Mathru Project Proposal 2009-10
Pravin Shankar

2. Outline History New School Building Achievements in 2008 Future Plans
Budget Proposal

3. Mathru School for the Blind: Timeline
2000
School started with first grade
Rented premises and “kutcha” sheds.
Goal: Add one grade per year. Be a 10 Grade High School by 2010
2002
Subsidised Civic Amenities Plot allotted By local government
Appeals made for funds and services to local donors & individuals
2003 
Appeal and plans sent to Asha CNJ for funds to construct a 10 room school
2004 
Asha CNJ issues first grant for school construction ($17,000)
Appeal made for local funds to construct dorms, kitchen, dining   room.  community and computer center.
2005
Construction started.. Started 5th grade
Second Asha CNJ grant and WAH grant made ($18,000, $10,000)
2006
Construction completed. School moved to new premises.
School named The Asha School in appreciation.
ESlate successfully designed, built and tried out in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon Institute
2007
Strated 7th grade
Application made to Central Government for grant to run school. When approved Grant will pay 70% of expenses. 
Asha resources
Time: 3 years, Money: $35,000, SiteVisits: 6+, resident volunteer for several months..

4. Building Construction (Site Visit – Pravin – Dec 2005)

5. “Asha” School (Site Visit – Pravin – May 2007)

6. More Pictures of the School Building

7. More Pictures of the School Building

8. Reception

9. Inside…

10. Inside…

11. Classrooms…

12. Classrooms…

13. Classrooms…

14. Playarea…

15. Playarea…

16. Braille Snakes & Ladders…

17. Library

18. Library

19. Computer Lab

20. Computer Lab

21. Computer Lab

22. Computer Lab

23. Kitchen & Dining Area

24. Kitchen & Dining Area

25. Kitchen & Dining Area

26. Dormitory

27. Dormitory

28. Achievements in 2008 ESlate - CMU Braille Printer – IFlex
Recording Studio
Vocational Training Center

29. Braille
Easy to read
but…

30. How Braille is Written

31. How Braille is Written

32. Braille Easy to read but… Difficult to Write
Written in reverse, from right to left
Children need to learn mirror images of all letters
Delayed feedback
Paper needs to be removed
Longer time taken to identify mistakes

33. ESlate

34. ESlate Digital Stylus – Interfaced to Computer Text2Speech
Speak Sentences to the student
Student writes letters on stylus
Provides immediate audio feedback
Lessons and Exercises
Video Demo:

35. ESlate – Current Status
Was presented at the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, December 2007 in Bangalore. (Sponsored by Microsoft, IEEE, ACM, IDRC)
Mathru staff and students were invited to give a special demonstration of the Braille Tutor at the conference
Field trial of ESlate2 at Mathru – May to Aug 2008
Partnership with
Carnegie Mellon Technology Consulting in the Global Community program
Microsoft Research India (MSRI)

36. Braille Printer Donated by IFlex Solutions, Bangalore
Being used to print all textbooks and reading material
Future plan:
Have a library of books which will be made available to any visually challenged person in the area as a borrowing library
Cost of a Braille blank: Rs 1.30

37. Braille Printer

38. Braille Printer

39. Vocational Training Center
Planned to become operational in Summer 2008
Vocational training with residence for 20 students by Teachers (volunteers)
5 of the 20 will be Mathru personnel/students.
5 will be physically disabled and the remaining 10 will be selected from the visually challenged general populace
The 20 will be selected by a qualified group of selectors.
Subjects will be Screen Printing, Knitting, Book Binding, Plumbing and Electrics
Mathru is already talking to potential employers
Students will also be able to be self-employed
Besides training in these fields, the students will have daily classes in Marketing, finance, computer skills, accounting

40. Budget Proposal –
Needs money for annual Administrative Expenses
For the year 2009/2010 they need Rs. 4,00,000 (between USD 8,000 and 8,500).
Breakup of Budget*
Educational Expenses
Hostel Expenses
Administrative Expenses
* Detailed Breakup available in Proposal – Question 43

41. Questions?

42. Recording Studio
Donated by Ashraya, NJ ( - Different from Ashraya Project of Asha CNJ!)
A Mathru teacher has been trained to operate it
Produce material that will be later made available to other visually challenged persons and institutions