CHETANAA


ANNUAL REPORT 1999-2000

Dear Members

I am pleased to accord a hearty welcome to you all at the 10th Annual General body meeting of Chetanaa.

Established in 1990 Chetanaa has behind her a saga of success and we feel elated when we look at the steady progress, the organization has been making.

Having made a humble beginning with just 20 children in 1990-1991 in classes I & II, Chetanaa has today 160 children in classes Nursery to IX. All these children come from very poor families. Besides giving formal education we teach them the importance of sanitation, cleanliness, morality and good manners. We celebrate National Festivals like Independence Day, Republic Day and Children's Day so that the Children feel one with the Nation. Educational Trips are arranged from time to time to broaden Children’s outlook. Over the past ten years a remarkable change is visible in the personalities of these children.

I would like to enumerate some of the activities during the year:
In April 1999, books were distributed among children at a cost of Rs 15642/-.
Five students were admitted to class IX - four girls and one boy in Govt Schools. The boy, however, dropped out of School despite our best efforts to persuade him to continue his education.

Independence day was celebrated by organising a function in which children sang patriotic songs and Mrs Usha Kaushik hoisted the National Flag.
Chacha Nehru`s Birthday was also celebrated on Nov .14,1999 and 65 children were given sweaters worth Rs.10745/- on this occasion.

Republic Day was celebrated with full enthusiasm despite the inclement weather and intermittent rain. Games, Quiz Contest and poetry recitation competition were organized for the children. All most all the children participated in these competitions. They also presented a Cultural Program. Mr.Balbir Bakshi, Principal, Vikram Public School, Kharar (Dist Ropar) was the Chief Guest on the occasion. He was deeply impressed by the performance of the children. He gave away prizes to the winners of various competitions. A regular contributor of Chetanaa Mr. Bakshi donated Rs 5000/- on the occasion. Ladoos were distributed among children.

As a regular feature of Chetanaa, senior children were this time taken on a trip to Patiala on Nov.28, 1999, where they saw Sheesh Mahal, Zoo, Kali Mandir and Gurudwara Sahib.
The small children of Nursery, I & II classes were taken to the Mini Zoo at Pipli on March 18, 2000. Children had lot of fun.

March 26,2000 was a red letter day in the life of Chetanaa Children, as they were invited by the All India Radio Station, Kurukshetra to participate in a Bal Kavi Sammelan.As many as ten children presented their poems. The program was later relayed by AIR on March 31,2000.

Annual Prize Distribution Function was held on March 31,2000 for the children of classes I to Vas the result of other classes was yet to be declared, and all those who had secured first, second or third position in their classes were given prizes for their achievements. Shobha who stood First in class V in all the school of Kurukshetra was given a special prize. Dr. D.M.Puri presided over the function & Dr. Uma Puri gave away the prizes. The whole programme of Prize Distribution was video taped and was relayed by the local cable channel on April 3,2000.
Prize Distribution Function, for students of classes VI, VII, & IX was held on April 5,2000. Ladoos were also distributed. The result of class VIII will be declared some time in June.

The pass percentage of different classes is as follows:
Class I 77.8%; Class II 72.2%; Class III 80.77% ; Class IV 75%;
Class V 100 %; Class VI 80%; Class VII 100%; Class IX 75 %

Names of the position holders are:

Name of the Student Class Position
Seema I I(in section)
Manisha II I(-do)
Madhu II II(-do)
Praveen II III(in all sections)
Harichand III I(-do-)
Kapil IV I(-do)
Shobha V I(In all schools of Kurukshetra)
Karamveer V I(in section)
Shivkali V I(-do-)
Kokila V III(-do-)
Mahavir VI II(in all sections)
Priti VI I(in section)
Poonam VI II(in section)
Shiv Ratan VII II(in all sections)
Lakshmi VII I(in section)

It is a matter of great pleasure that Mr. Balbir Bakshi, Principal, Vikram Public School, Khrar, (Ropar) has invited the position holders of different classes to Khrar to attend a small function on May 20,2000 organized in his school to honor these children.

20 Children were given polio drops and 20 were vaccinated for hepatitis B.

Our efforts for the construction of approach road to the building of CHETANAA finally met with success. The construction of the road is in progress. CHETANAA has spent Rs. 2000/- for this and remaining expenses are being borne by the village authorities.

We plan to provide school uniform to all the children in the coming session. We also plan to employ better qualified teacher, especially for teaching Science and Mathematics to senior classes (i.e VIII,IX & X ). Some children have shown interest in Music. We are also looking for a teacher who can teach music once or twice a week.

We are also planning to enroll some of our children who dropped out of the school in the middle of the session with the National Open School. For this we have to associate with some other local school and we are working out the plan.

We wish to provide technical skills by way of vocational training in the fields of sewing, shorthand, typing, pickle making, soap making to Chetanaa children and their mothers. We have contacted Dr. (Mrs.) Indu Paliwal, President, Managing Director, Mahila Jagrity Mandal (Regd.) Women Vocational Training Center Gohana in this connection.

Election

A meeting of CHETANAA was held on March 14,2000, to elect the new office bearers. It was resolved that Dr. Sharda Kumari will continue as President, Mrs. Daya Tuteja as Vice President , Dr. Indra Handa as Secretary .Mrs. Varsha Razdan was elected as Treasurer.

Donations and Subscriptions
During the financial year 1999-2000, Rs.1,06,335/- were received as donations. Total expenditure was Rs.63,933/65. .

The success of Chetanaa is reflected in the people's enthusiasm to support our efforts. I am proud to say that more and more philanthropists are coming forward to sponsor bright and deserving students. Now we have sponsorship of 12 children. We are thankful to Er. Sachin Gupta, Er. Ashish Taneja Mrs. Sushma Arora , Dr. Jyotsna , Dr. Dinesh Batra, Dr. Ruchir Puri, for sponsoring the education of some of CHETANAA children. We express a deep sense of gratitude towards Dr. Dinesh Batra and Dr. Jayshree Janardhen, co ordinator ASHA, Seatle for taking keen interest in the activities of CHETANAA and for continued financial support for CHETANAA Project. ASHA is also a social organization run by NRI's in U.S.A. It works for education of poor children in India. We are happy to inform that Mr. Vikram Bhatnagar , a volunteer of ASHA will also be looking after the CHETANAA Project.
We express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr. Roshan Lal Mittal, D.M., Haryana Agro. Fort & Chemical Industries, Sirsa, for maintaining the accounts of CHETANAA and extending full co-operation at all times. We also thank Mr. Rakesh Dhull, Charte red Accountant, for auditing the accounts of CHETANAA. Our heartfelt thanks are for all those who have donated either in cash or kind, directly or indirectly towards CHETANAA. We assure our donors that each penny of their donation is being rightly utilized.

Chetanaa has today made a niche in people’s hearts and it has become a people's program. Years of persuasion have made the parents of these children realize that school education is the foundation of a good future for their child. We hope our sincere efforts will definitely fill our children's life with light and hope.


 

[CHETANAA  Project Main Page]

Asha-Seattle Home