Attendees: Murali, Ashwini, Sanjeev, Santhosh, Ankur, Pankaj, Arvind, Gaurav, Anita


1) Teacher Training Video

Watched a teacher training video from the learning network of a resource person teaching some methods to explain prime, odd and even numbers. We picked up the videos from Anita Balasubramanian, who works with the learning network initiative.

2) Prajnalaya Presentation

Area around project has tea gardens. Vegetables also grow there. That's where the organic fertilizer can be used. They are hoping the organic fertilizer initiative will help them extend the school.

Went through proposal and Q&A.


* Q: Can we start with a smaller number and gradually increase the number of tanks.

* Q: How many kgs of compost will come from a tank?

* Q: What % of the profit will be used towards the school?

* Q: Is this school going to reach out to underprivileged children in the community or will only kids who can afford the education go there?

Q: Check with Biju about the number of students being different in both reports.

Q: Is the school recognized by the govt?

Yes, ie, they can appear for class X exams. Discussion on what is recognition followed.

Q: To find out about how the govt recognition works.

Q: Tuition is from Rs. 60-180 pm. Is this because they charge based on the financial situation of the family or based on grade/class/standard?

Q: What are the fees used for?

A: The total expense for last year was Rs. 2,50,000/-. This seems low for tuition, hostel expenses etc. The hostel expenses are not included in the budget. Can we get the details of the working finances of the group? We would like to find out the different components. The expenses for books is not included.

Q: There are 3 new classrooms but request for 6 pairs. Find out why?

A: Uses of cow dung: It is used for cleaning. The rest is usually discarded. So in that sense, they can find some waste cow dung that they can use for their organic fertilizer. The group is well known in the area and people might give it away (like shramdaan). The compost gets ready in 45 days.

They are planning to have 10 tanks. Since they are trying this out for the first time, do they need to start out with 10 tanks?

Q: What is the timeline for the project

A: Short term is to earn some money, whereas in the long term is to show sustainability.


3)Announcements:

We supported Tsunami Cuddalore project. Someone fundraised for her grandparents' wedding anniversary about $300. Siddamma mentioned this can be used towards supporting a teacher in South Pichavaram. The donor is comfortable as long as money goes to this place. She has been informed that it might be used for this purpose.

We need to go over a review of all our projects. We need a new projects coordinator and stewards for some projects for which the stewards are leaving.

Will discuss some new projects. We have received some new proposals. Sanjeev is working to get these proposals into shape and will post it to the group so volunteers can pick up what interests them.