Asha Austin Meeting Minutes (December 6, 2009)

Attendees: Ganesh, Jairam, Rama, Murali, Gaurav

1. Gramin Shiksha Kendra - Murali

• Project page
• Murali gave an overview of the project
• Asha has supported teacher salaries, teaching and learning material (TLM) over the last four years
• GSK started with 40 children with 3 teachers. Most of the teachers came from Bodh and Digantar
• The schools were set up as model schools to let the community know what was possible with schools, as parents had become cynical about schooling
• There is no attendance at school but children come to school on their own. Children sometimes even come to school on holidays
• Children also create a daily newspaper - Uday Patrika
• A new creative journal (Morange) published monthly started this year
• 3 editions so far, Morange is edited by Prabhat, a locally well known poet. The children of GSK have been singing his songs for 6 years now and it is nice to have him work part-time (15d/mo) with the children.
• In Chakmak, the magazine by Eklavya, 8 poems and stories by Uday's children are being published in the Nov issue. Chakmak is reputed to be one of the best children's magazines in the country.
• Room to Read has sanctioned 2 libraries for the schools, 1000 books each.
• GSK has signed a new MoU with Aravali for research into a new livelihood program in the area and see how education will fit into it. A new team is being assembled for this effort.
• The new school at Faria is doing well, team leader Ranjeeta seems to be very committed and motivated.
• Ranjeeta and Veni (another new teacher) are attending a writer's workshop in Delhi organized by Room to Read.
• A real estate company in Sawai Madhopur has donated 4 acres of land for GSK to use for a new Uday school.
• Bodal construction is complete (pictures)
• The local Income Tax commissioner is trying to generate 4-5 lakh rupees for 2-3 teacher salaries and library books.
• Zankhana, Vibha's India monitor, is visiting GSK on Dec 14/15.
• The Dorabji Tata Trust proposal evaluation is on hold as they await the fallout of the RTE bill. SDTT proposal is very important to us as needs are going to increase and it will be difficult for asha and vibha to support the complete amount.
• Disbursals so far: 4.4k (Austin), 21k (SV), 6.3k (Vibha). WAH: ~10k (7k now, 3k in Mar).
• Asha Austin to disburse remaining money (including WAH shortfall) for second disbursal
• Ask Maneesh/Zankhana for Chakmak magazine that Gaurav can bring back from India later this month. (Murali)