From : Sulagna of CINI ASHA, Calcutta.

Date : Wed, 7 Oct 1998 17:26:32 +0530

From : "ciniasha" <ciniasha@giascl01.vsnl.net.in>

To : <al.sethuraman@csun1.csun.edu>

Dear Bharat,

As informed by Dr. K Pappu I am sending you a one page write up on the need for funding for education of children living among socially disadvantaged groups in urban areas.

CINI -ASHA the urban body of Child-in -Need-Institute has been working extensively towards ensuring children living in slums and streets of Calcutta have a "Childhood". Since education is the main component of the child's development, we in CINI ASHA have concentrated on improving the quality of life of children among the disadvantaged groups in the urban society.

Among the various areas of work, we have identified Tiljala as an area wherein around 2000 children are out of schools. Tiljala is in the east fringes of Calcutta where people have migrated from various parts of the country. Parents are busy working and children are left uncared for, many of them engaged in labor, (there are ample employment opportunities), gambling and drug peddling. With the support of the community and local concerned people we have started preparatory centers for 900 children who would be placed in formal schools in March'99.

We still need to put 1100 children (who are either engaged in labor or are just spending time out of school) into the preparatory center so as to prepare them to join the formal schools in the areas

For these 1100 children support would be required in the areas of educational aids, teachers' salary and community sensitization programs which would help enrolling them into formal school.

Once all 2000 children are mainstreamed into formal schools we can proudly declare Tiljala as an area where all children are in formal schools.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes

Sulagna Roy