|
Chennai Balwadis Improvement
Asha Chennai Proposal New Project- Year 2005
5th March 2005
It has been recognized that children learn fastest, and most of what they learn in social and emotional well being, is in the first five years of their lives. These years also play a very crucial role in how children learn to use their senses to investigate, explore and organize information in their minds and learn how to talk cogently- narrate and describe.
The Balwadi programme in India is an outcome of the recognition of the need to expose children from the economically less privileged sections of society and give them a good start in life.
There is a balwadi in almost every village in Tamilnadu and also quite a number of them in the cities. The Balwadis in Tamilnadu also have a noon meal scheme. There is also sattu mavu provided for nutritious laddu snack for the 2-4 year olds..
Most of these Balwadis lack basic facilities like electricity and water. There are no toilets. They typically use wood for fuel with a bad chimney causing smoke to enter the building. There are often other infrastructural problems like leaking roof. Further they lack playing materials, plates/tumblers for eating, mats for lying down etc. These would be required to improve the hygiene and the environment of the place.
Furter these Balwadis now have become places where children eat and keep quiet. There is no material for children to explore and learn. There is not much to stimulate the child. Not much teacher guidance is available because the balwadi teacher is constantly filling out information and delivering it to the nearest government Department office. Children learn to be passive or complain about others. The teacher is wastes valuable time just getting children to be quiet while she should be facilitating childrens activity.
Volunteers of Asha Chennai have undertaken a study of several Balwadis in the Mylapore, Mandaveli and Besant Nagar areas. Most of the above mentioned problems are seen in all these Balwadis. The details of this study is provided in a separate document. We hope to take up these Balwadis in one of the following two categories,
- Cause some basic improvements to the infrastructure so that the Balwadi can function more effectively. Remain involved through occasional visits by volunteers to ensure Balwadi is continuing to function properly.
- Make this into a model Balwadi in lines with the Urur Kuppam Balwadi. In addition to the above we will provide more infrastructure support. We will also undertake some construction. We will also continue working with the Balwadi to ensure high quality of education. Post an Asha teacher/intern to work on a daily basis with the
Balwadi.
Note the reason we are not taking all the Balwadis in the second category is due to lack of volunteer time to implement this as well as lack of funds.
In three years, Asha Chennai would study the impact of the improvements. The government departments in charge of this scheme are happy about this study and have allowed Asha to go ahead with this project. A letter allowing the improvements has been obtained from this department of social welfare. The people at the ground level (the teachers and helpers at the Balwadi as well as the people of these communities) welcome our involvement.
We are hopeful that in the positive climate Asha Chennai will be able to bring about desired changes and help the village to discover the benefits of a quality education. See below the details of the project.
The Dec 26th 2004 Tsunami has affected the attendence of children at many ICDS Balwadis along the cost of Chennai. Several factors are responsible for this. While factors like relocation of the people by the government is not something we can do anything about, there are factors we can address. Fear of Tsunami on the part of both the children and the parents is an important factor. Improvements to the environment provided at the Balwadi can help alleviate this fear. Note the Balwadis we have taken up in Nochinagar and Nochikuppam (numbers 1063 1068) are in areas that are affected by the Tsunami.
Basic Infrastructure/Material Improvements
| Balwadi
details |
Infrastructure
Improvements needed (with cost) |
Materials
needed (with cost) |
Total
Costs |
|
1058
At
Prof. Sanjeevi St.
25
children.
|
New Latrine -- 8500
Repainting of walls with
scribble area 2000
Carpentry work -- 2000
Water supply (with bore
pump) sewerage 2000
Fixes to leaking roof
1750
Electrical fittings and
cupboards 2500
Misc. charges 1250
|
Plates and tumblers -- 1000
Playing/Learning materials
-- 2000
Mats -- 2000
|
25000 |
|
1056
As
Nattan St. off of Rakkiappa Mudali St.
25
Children.
|
New Latrine -- 8500
Repainting of walls with
scribble area 2000
Carpentry work -- 2000
Water supply (with bore
pump) sewerage 2000
Fixes to leaking roof/wall
2000
Electrical fittings and
cupboards 2500
Misc. charges 1000
|
Plates and tumblers -- 1000
Playing/Learning materials
-- 2000
Mats -- 2000
|
25000 |
|
1052,
53 and 70.
Two
Balwadis inside Corp. Middle School at Mundagakkani Ammal Kovil St.
35
+ 20 children.
|
Three toilets and two
bathrooms -- 20000
Repainting of walls with
scribble area 5000
Carpentry work -- 4000
Water supply (with bore
pump) and sewerage 10000
Electrical fittings and
cupboards 5000
Misc. charges 2000
|
Plates and tumblers -- 2000
Playing/Learning materials
-- 4000
Mats -- 2000
|
54000 |
|
1068,
69
Two
Balwadis in a compound. Newly build concrete roofed buildings.
50
+ 40 children.
|
Sunshades (one concrete and
15 PVC sheet structures) -- 6000
Washing area outside
building -- 2000
Repainting of walls with
scribble area 3000
Gate + Fencing of the
frontage 12000
Water supply (with bore
pump) and sewerage 10000
Electrical fittings and
cupboards 8000
Misc. charges 2000
|
Plates and tumblers -- 2000
Playing/Learning materials
-- 4000
Mats -- 2000
|
51000 |
|
1067,
73
Two
balwadis near Mandaveli market in the same compound as a old school
(facing closure).
25
chidlren.
|
One toilets and one bathroom
10000
Wall separating the Balwadis
from the school and gate -- 4000
Repainting of walls with
scribble area 3500
Carpentry work -- 3000
Water supply (with bore
pump) 2000
Electrical fittings and
cupboards 9000
Misc. charges 2500
|
Plates and tumblers -- 1000
Playing/Learning materials
-- 4000
Mats -- 1000
|
40000 |
Total Cost of Basic improvements to the above 8 Balwadis (9 areas) 1.95 Lakhs
Improve Balwadis to be Model Balwadis
| Balwadi
details |
Infrastructure
Improvements needed (with cost) |
Materials
needed (with cost) |
Teacher/Intern
salaries and misc. |
Total
Costs |
1054,
87 and 57. Two Balwadis in a compound at Ekambaram Pillai St.
50
+ 40 Children.
|
Fixing Roof and wall leaks,
floor and compound wall fixing 8000
Repainting of walls with
scribble area 5000
2 Toilets (incl. sewerage)
20000
Electric lines and
electrical fittings 6000
Carpentry work -- 4000
Water supply (with bore
pump) 12000
Cupboards 4000
Gas stove 10000
Misc. charges 6000
|
Plates and tumblers -- 2500
Playing/Learning materials
-- 5000
Mats 2500
|
Teacher/Intern salary 12
* 2500 + 5000 = 35000
Electricity -- 3000
Gas -- 7000
Maintenance 10000
Annual day Function
10000
|
150000 |
|
1065,
66, 88
Two
Balwadis at the SCB bldg in Nochikuppam opp. Lighthouse.
35
+ 35 children.
|
Fixing floor and toilets
6000
Tiling and refinishing of
toilets 20000 (optional depending on funds)
Repainting of walls with
scribble area 5000
Electric lines and
electrical fittings 8000
Carpentry work -- 6000
Water supply (with bore
pump) 14000
Cupboards 4000
Gas stove 12000
Misc. charges 6000
|
Plates and tumblers -- 2500
Playing/Learning materials
-- 5000
Mats 2500
|
Teacher/Intern salary 12
* 2500 + 5000 = 35000
Electricity -- 3000
Gas -- 7000
Maintenance 10000
Annual day Function
10000
|
160000 (Rs. 20000 optional) |
|
1063,
64
Bldg
for 64 beyond use. So combined one is very congested.
60
children
|
New building for 1064
800 Sq Ft * Rs 5 per Sq Ft = 4 Lakhs. Note this assumes tiled
finish, frame windows etc. A typical ICDS Balwadi like construction
will cost only about Rs 3 Lakhs.
Electricity facilities and
electrical fittings for 63 -- 4000
Water facilities for 63 --
2000
Fix the toilet facilities
for 63 (incl. sewerage) -- 10000
One Gas stove -- 12000
Repainting for 63 -- 2000
Cupboards etc.for 63
2000
Carpentry 2000
Fencing and gate 3000
Kitchen window provision --
2000
Misc. charges -- 6000
|
Plates and tumblers -- 2500
Playing/Learning materials
-- 5000
Mats 2500
|
Teacher/Intern salary 12
* 2500 + 5000 = 35000 (optional)
Electricity -- 3000
Gas -- 7000
Maintenance 10000
Annual day Function
10000
|
Rs 4 Lakhs + Rs 1.2 Lakhs (Rs
35K optional) |
Total Cost of converting above 5 + one new Balwadis (8 areas) into Model Balwadis Rs 8.3 Lakhs (incl. Rs 55,000 optional, Rs 4 Lakhs for the new
Balwadi). |