Asha Meeting

March 31 2007

Gaurav’s place @ 2:00 PM

 

Attendees: Arvind Rao, Rajiv, Ganesh, Pankaj, Gaurav, Santosh, Vinod, Bharath, Arun, Ashwini, Itisha, Mohit

 

1. Prasanna Jyothi discussion - (http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=137)

Brief review of 2006-07 budget was done. Santosh presented copy of last years (2005-06 budget and expenses) and next year’s (2006-07) estimated expenses. Detailed review of the project will be held in a later meeting. The budget is also uploaded on the project website. Please send any questions about project to Santosh for further review. The review will be for disbursal for the next 6 months

 

2. Shrishti special discussion - (http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=602)

 

- Vinod got reply from Shrishti for questions from previous meeting about the occupational therapy unit.

Answers: (full answers attached at the end of the minutes)

i)                    Building cost breakdown – still no detailed information from them

ii)                   How many kids per session for the therapy session? Ans : depending on therapy , either 1 or 4 kids.

iii)                 What is the extra cost Shristi incurs as opposed to what they are doing right now (they go another unit called APD for physical disability training) – not clear because opening a new unit in their campus gives them more flexibility in coming up with the training details that go in to the occupational therapy sessions

iv)                 Rs 500 per child for 20 children – this is nutritional supplement cost for 20 additional kids (these are not Shristi kids, these are school dropouts) from surrounding places from lower economical background. These extra 20 kids are not part of Shristi and come only for vocational training from nearby places.

v)                  Program coordinator : Trained and specialized multi-purpose . Works directly with children

vi)                 Technical director responsibilities :

vii)               They need more program coordinators for other therapy units (atleast 4 more) but they do not have funds for the

 

Questions:

Do they have someone in mind for Technical director? It looks like this position needs someone with specific and specialized experience.

 

Vote: Does Asha austin approve the recurring and non-recurring expenses proposal from Shristi for the occupational therapy unit?

Yes -12 No - 0 Abstain - 0

 

There was a discussion on ways to cover the amount (~  Rs 6.92 lakhs fixed cost and Rs 4.85 laks recurring cost )

 

Asha Austin will support the non-recurring expenses (Rs 6.92 lakhs)

Yes - 12 No - 0 Abstain - 0

 

 For the recurring expense, Arvind will contact other chapters (especially Asha SV)

 

3. Odanadi Seva Samasthe - (http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=129)

Vinod does not have any updates on Odanadi. It will be discussed in later meeting.

 

4. Marathon wrap-up discussion

 

Wrap-up for this year’s program: Look at how much we spent, how much we raised – what is our fundraising efficiency? Deadline for figuring this out is April 8 2007

 

Survey for this year’s marathon (25 questions) will be sent out by Ganesh by April 5 2007

 

Need to follow up with runners on how much they expect as matching donations. Deadline for this task is two weeks from now - April 15 2007. Ganesh,  Itisha , Vinod, Santosh and Gaurav will follow up with runners about how much they expect as matching donations

 

Santosh is going to talk in Hill country running group about Asha. He is going to request the group to be Rogue coaches, so that Rogue can offer lower money for Asha runners.

 

T-shirt ordering - when do we do this?  Itisha will coordinate ordering of T-shirts.

 

Thanks to Rogue - meet them personally by third week of April and also send thanks by e-mail to all Rogue coaches

 

We need 2-3 people coordinating the admin aspect, 2-3 people for coordinating with Rogue (following with people affected by injuries) and 2-3 people coordinating with fundraising aspect of the marathon.

 

Mohit and Ganesh will be in charge of coordinating the Marathon for the next year - 2008

 

Answers to queries from Shristi regarding the OT project:

 

1. What is the building costs breakdown?
Ans:   The building costs include the foundation of the room, the walls, roof, flooring, windows, doors, painting material, and labour costs.

2. How many kids per session for therapy session?
Ans:    Daily 20/30 minutes per therapy session daily i.e. PT, OT, ST, PSy. MSW.

3. What is the difference in the cost of the new building compared to continuing to have therapists come in from outside and having the kids go to APD?

Ans:   There is will not be a  comparison of costs at Shristi if we are sending the children to APD.  Then, it will be clear that the children are employed by APD and not working at Shristi.

Our goal in starting the above unit at Shristi is to be able to cater to individuals with orthopedic challenges.  The project will benefit especially the people in the rural areas who are in need of these types of appliances by any special needs individual within the vicinity of Magadi and Bangalore South as otherwise they will need to travel minimum 60/75 kms to and fro to procure the appliances.  We also aim at employing school drop outs from the community for this program.

4. What kind of supplements children will get (the additional 20 kids)?
Ans:   The children working in this unit will still be coming from below poverty economic strata and therefore will need a balanced nutritional supplement for them to have good health.  They will be provided the regular wholesome nutritional supplement of breakfast, lunch and tea costing Rs.500/- per child

5. What is the experience of the Program Director and Technical director? What is the difference in the job description of the two? Hours of work? Does their salary include any potential travel costs? Basically, we would like to know in detail what each of these jobs
entail, and how they are distinct.

Ans:   The Program Coordinator is a trained specialized multipurpose rehabilitation technician in directly working with the children in manufacturing appliances and fittings for the physiotherapy and ortho units.  The salary paid to him will not include travel costs.  Travel costs will be extra.
HOURS OF WORK ARE MINIMUM EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

Ans:  The Technical Director is the Brain and backbone  for  all Technical Guidance from planning, implementation, infrastructure designing,  and Quality check of the production unit.  The Technical Director plays a very vital role in the success of planning of all Community Based Rehabilitation Programs (CBR) for persons with different disabilities. Will work in conducting training programs for school drop outs.  Networking with Orthopedic surgeons, neuro-surgeons, Hospitals, etc. etc.  Travel costs are not included in the salary.
HOURS OF WORK NOT LIMITED TO EVEN MORE THAN 13 HOURS A DAY.

6. How many other program coordinators do you have (for other therapy units)?
Ans:   Presently we have two program coordinators and we will have one more for the new Project.  We need to have at least 4 more Program coordinators, but are unable as we do not have the funding for the same.

What is the hierarchy in those other units (as in, is there a technical Director there as well)?
Ans:   Program Coordinators work directly with the team and report directly to the Technical Directors.