Here is a compilation of the list of questions (raised by Khaleel, myself and other members in the meeting) and the corresponding answers from Kaingkarya regarding the Thirusoolam transit school project. I had suggested to them to break the project proposal into two portions, one solely pertaining to continuing support for the transit school project and the other to the rest-of-the comprehensive education program project. The portion of the budget for the transit school project is...($1=Rs.47) Transit school teacher salary - Rs. 2300 x 12 = Rs. 27,600 (~$ 590) Attender salary - Rs. 500 x 12 = Rs. 6,000 (~$ 130) Rent for the premises - Rs. 2500 x 12 = Rs. 30,000 (~$ 640) ---------- Total = Rs. 63,600 (~$ 1360) ---------- - Jai, Dec 3, 2001 (jai@ece.cornell.edu). Questions/Answers on the progress report: ( January 2001-December 2001) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Q1) Funding details: (i) The progress report mentions that Rs. 10,000 was generated by Kaingkarya. How were these funds generated? (ii) What are the duties of the social worker funded by HOPE foundation? (salary of Rs. 3000/month) In the earlier project proposal for the transit school, handed over to us, there was no mention of a social worker. In what way is the social worker associated with the transit school? A1) (i) The generation of funds to a tune of Rs.10,000/- donation from public donations collected through Hundi boxes kept in selected shops. (ii) Social worker was entrusted with the job of identifying defaulters, dropouts and child workers in the community for transit school admission and also to work for the women self-help group. Partial services were used for Thrisoolam community project. The preliminary work for interacting with the people, studying the community was done before launching the project of Transit school The proposal tabled to you was exclusively on starting up Transit school and not of community work. Therefore it was felt that there was least justification to insist social worker and consequentially not asked for in our earlier proposal. Q2) There is a list of 35 children who have attended the transit school. During my site visit in early January, there were about 25 students who were attending the school. (i) Did the rest of the students join the transit school after January 2001? (ii) How many of these students have been admitted to the local Govt/panchayat/other schools? (iii) How many are currently attending the transit school? (iv) How many of the students who joined the govt/panchayat/local schools have dropped out? If any, why? (v) How many of the students in the transit school (and not still enrolled in govt schools) have dropped out during this year? If so, why? A2) (i) Yes. Since the area is depending mainly on the quarry work, part of people stay on the area only when there is a quarry work So the extra students were admitted in the transit school after January for preparing them to go to school. (ii) 30 students were admitted in Panchayat school of Thrisoolam, Meenambakkam, Pallavaram and Jammen Pallavaram. (iii) Currently 30 students are attending the transit school. (iv) One girl dropped out due to the poor economic conditions and she is forced to work. (v) Not applicable. Q3) Among the children who have been wnrolled in the govt/panchayat schools after attending the transit school, would it be possible to provide details of progress of individual students, i.e. in terms of (i) regularity to school (ii) progress in class (iii) performance in studies and (iv) reaction from parents (whether both parents are satisfied with child going to school and whether they see this as economically straining!!!) A3) In case of regularity to school 28 students are regular. Out of 29 students , 19 students are performing well and progressing. As Kaingkarya is mobilizing funds for uniforms and educational materials for the studentswho have been admitted, parents do not find it an economic strain. Q4) Among the students who attend the transit school, (i) Do you have an income profile (and means of likelihood) of the parents that can be provided to us? This will help us evaluate the socio-economic group of the beneficiaries. (ii) How many of the children's parents are part of the self-help groups organized by Kaingkarya in this area? A4) (i) The parents of the children who are admitted in the present academic year are quarry workers whose income range from Rs.20 to Rs.100 per day. Their income is not steady (ii) One of the students mother belong to SHG COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMME --------------------------------- Q1) The current proposal mentions Rs. 2500/month for rent of the premises. Is this the rent for the transit school premises alone? If so, does this imply a move to a new location. If not, what all does this rent cover? Please provide a break-up for the transit school premise rent and the A1) As we have to vacate the current premises, before the end of this year due to the termination of contract and the landlord is unwilling to extend the contract we are seriously looking out for a new house with a rent of Rs.2500/- per month . This house will include besides transit school, tailoring class, SHG meetings and parents meetings. Q2) How many students are (and expected to be) benefited by the transit school project alone during the year 2003? Since this spans half of the academic year 2001-2002 and half of 2002-2003, please provided expected numbers for each half and total numbers. A2) Estimated students to be benefited during 2001-02 are thirty and for the year 2002-03 are thirty. The total beneficiaries will be 90 which includes right from of Asha project. Q3) Is there an urgency for the funding of the transit school portion of the proposal? If yes, let us know how soon you would like a decision and I'll try my best to arrange for a second round of discussion. A3) Yes. Before the end of 2001.