MinutesJun-17-2007

Attendees: Sangita, Barnali, Jayanth, Karthik, Anuj, Anjali, Aditi, Urmila, Shezad, Nandini, Anand, Ann, Bala

Arpan Society (Bhopal) Project Stewards: Anjali/Aditi

Anjali’s aunt who runs the project in India was present at the meeting to share her experience and answer questions related to the project. Approved funding for this financial year $6500.

We need to find another co-steward for this project to avoid conflict of interest and have another site visit done by an asha volunteer in the near future.

Sahyog Sangati (Ahmedabad) Project Steward: Sangita

Below is the response from Robert to the questions raised in the last meeting regarding documentation and travel expenses.

Just would like to share a bit about our work at Ahmedabad before going to your queries. Ahmedabad is miserably hot at 107.6 F and it seems this will continue for a month. However our field activities are going on uninterrupted and our field workers are continuing to work on education programmes, teachers training activities, women’s savings and credit groups, youth programmes etc. We are at present working on procurement of valid voter ID cards for 2500 people, ration cards for 640 households and the survey is on for that.

Listed below are my clarifications to your queries in that order.

We intend to carry on process documentation along with putting down best practices on a regular basis. Besides a 6 monthly report will also be prepared. As Sahyog does not have staff with the required language skill to do the entire documentation a professional will be hired. Professional charge for documentation is Rs 10,000 for a period of 6 month. Hence for a year the total cost has been calculated to Rs. 20,000. This would include charges of computer and stationery. This would also include translation of various experiences that is put down by our local teachers in the local language. The transportation expenses include travel of coordinator from Sahyog office to the project site (Vatva) which is roughly 16Kms one way. Teachers on an average would travel to 11 formal schools (these schools are not in close proximity to each other) in the area and also their travel to Sahyog office for meetings. Teachers also have to carry TV, DVD players etc to various schools for film show etc and this transportation cost is also included in this. We have taken an approximate cost for travel which is on the lower side considering the cost of petrol and local auto rickshaw fares. The staff involved in Sangati programme needs to coordinate with each other and hence be in constant touch with each other to ensure smooth functioning of the programme. The communication expenses include telephone charges for the coordinator and also the teachers. The teachers also require telephones to be in touch with the formal school authorities on appointments and fixing schedules. Telephone is also used by the field staff to be in constant touch with the central office for support.

Sangita waiting for Robert’s reply regarding the financial details as there seems to be some overlap with the money funded by Asha D.C.

Asha-16 Summary (Barnali/Bala)

Asha in general is doing very well at fund raising. However, we need to focus more on disbursing the funds. Instead of funding projects only for three years, it makes more sense to establish long term relationship and develop them into model schools to create greater impact.

Summarised the two key note talks given by Dr. Vinod Raina (http://www.ashanet.org/centralnj/conference/2007/readingmaterial.html) and Mr. E.S. Ramamurthy (www.sikshana.org). Discussion to be continued at the next meeting.