Minutes of Asha Detroit Meetig, April 28, 2002

Attendees: Shubmangal, Spana, Rao, Giri, Aliveni, Sai,
Madhavan

1 WAH PROJECT REVIEW FORMAT

We will discuss the projects over two or three
meetings.  Around 10 projects need to be ranked.
Shubmangal will allot projects to each volunteer to
review and discuss at the meeting. Each project will be
discussed for 15 minutes.  Shub, Sai, and Madi are
participating in  asha-projects discussion group in
critiquing and reviewing.  All three will be
unavailable on 12th May, so the next meeting is shifted
to 19th.

2. PROJECT MONITORING

Sai outlined the need for a more efficient monitoring
process.  A suggestion to employ a person(s) 
in India for this purpose was put forth.  The person(s)
employed will be proficient at the minimum 
Hindi and English languages. A discussion was initiated
to find out the viability, benefits 
and pitfalls.

Important benefits include 
      - on-demand, first-hand snapshot of projects through
site visits
      - extended stay at a project site
      - service as documentation source and repository
      - visiting at least twice to a project per year
      - following guidelines for reporting 

Potential problems
      - finding the right person for this work
      - reduced contact of US-based project stewards and the
project coordinators in India


Viability: A list of expense items were identified. 
This operation is feasible only if there are several 
projects to be monitored and more than two chapters are
involved.  

Expenses      
      - Office equipment (computer, scanner, printer,
stationery, camera, internet, telephone)
      - Salary + medical expenses
      - Travel and lodging

Net: This is just an initial discussion on the subject.
Support and interest from other chapters 
will be investigated.

3. UTHNAU APPEAL

One of Asha-supported projects needs your help in form
of endorsing a petition.  The Uthnau project based in
West Begal is working with tribals mostly working at
stone quarrys. These tribals were expoited by the
quarry owners in various forms before Uthanu
intervened. The leader of  Uthnau is now under judicial
custody under false (and ridiculous) charges framed by
the quarry owners. Please read the full story and sign
a petition at the following website:

http://www.petitiononline.com/uthnau


4. SUMMER IN INDIA

Congratulations to Prof. Sapna Vyas, who gets to teach
a study abroad course in India in Summer 2003. The
course is about culture, learning, and identity in
India and abroad. It is a three week class and she will
be looking for inputs from our group in future.

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Next meeting is scheduled for 19th May.