Asha Meeting

4/22/2007

Venue: Gaurav's place
Attendees: Gaurav, Santhosh, Murali, Vinod, Arvind V, Sharanya, Sais, Ganesh, Arvind R, Savitha

1. Gramin Shiksha Kendra (http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=603) - Quarterly update by Murali

- One of the questions asked was about their FCRA Status, and the status is that they have applied for permanent FCRA as their total 3 year total has exceeded Rs. 6 lakhs.
- Murali mentioned that they have plans to start Urban school in city which will be self-funded. They are going to use the same teaching methods as before.
- They have introduced carpentry and pottery. Consultants come down to teach this in the school.No permananent teacher.
- Last Year , they started second school.....under the tree.
- Questions were asked about the current school building. We need to find out why the building structure has so low windows,what about ventilation?
- There was some discussion about the daily newspaper articles written by the school children. Newspapers are archived every week.
- Update for second school. They have identified the land, waiting to be approved by teshaldhar. Building of the new building will be a shramdhan ( voluntary labour)
- Total strength:
First School :160
Second School : 75

- Talked about some of the advantages of this alternative school. Going to local government schools didnot help the local village. So they want to teach something that they can practice (say farming in scientific way). Another example was to find out the history of the canal in the village and write a report based on that, so children have a
good knowledge about their community.

- The children are involved every Saturday with Community service event like clean up of village
- Question was asked about the eldest school child. Answer: Primary high is the oldest student.
- We then discussed about the next year budget:
Talked briefly about the role of Academic coordinator and his salary : Rs. 19712 (Rs. 17,000). He lives in the city.
- Accounts and Support person's salary: Rs. 4200 , Rs ( 3600 last year)
Why increase in salary by 20%
What are his tasks?

- We then deliberated on the disadvantages of not providing a proper salary to these teachers, which is losing the teacher as they are in good demand.
- Decided to get a breakdown of costs per school and discuss the budget again as we can then better account for the changes from last year's budget.
- The school will also have a 45 day workshop (16 hrs a day) for govt. teachers in summer holidays. Signed a MOU with Rajasthan Government.

2. Project Freedom (http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=591) - background by Santhosh

- School for children of rescued bonded laborers.
- Santhosh started off with giving a background of Sidamma/Bharathi Trust and her efforts involved in freeing bonded laborers.
- Asha Toledo : Offered to contribute for the construction of the school. Thats the only portion they are completely invloved with.
- Santhosh to clarify some of the confusion regarding the contribution from Asha Toledo. This center stays in palavakkam.
- About 400 children will be the initial children strength. The children will be finally be sent to govt. schools, balwadi, Education Gurantee schemes.
- Santhosh to get an update from Sanjeev who has been in touch with Siddamma and ASHA Toledo about the extent Toledo will support this project.