1. What is the exact number of boys and girls enrolled in the school? There seems to be multiple figures. Some are given in the initial report, and some were told to me when I visited the project. So, what is there on the school roster? Exact no. of children on the school roster as on 30th Sept '2004 is 89 students - 28 boys, 65 girls. Fast fluctuation in the total strength is due to following reasons: - When the father of the children get shifted to other factory in the other area then the children leave the school. - Poverty in the area is so much that in order to make both and meet, the parents of the children take out their wards and employ them here and there to earn to make the livelihood This will change now because our school just got recognition from the government. Children from our school can now easily transfer to other schools if they move. Also, if the school gets funding from ASHA, we will spend it on essential infrastructure like boundary wall and lavatories. 2. The proposal mentions Rs 30,000 for uniforms. What is the break up of this? For one hundred children the cost of the uniform comes to Rs/- 30,000/-. The break up item wise is as follows : 1. Shirt 100/- 2. Pants 125/- 3. Shorts(niker) 50/- 4. Tie 15/- 5. Socks 10/- Total 300/- Students get one set of dresses every year. 3. Are the kids who attend the school from the same village, or also from nearby villages? There are a number of small villages around the school . As a matter fact these children are collected by our bus and dropped back after the school hours are over. We have prepared a list from the current roster and this list contains informations as to the number of total children in the school, their sex, the name of their gaurdians (Father/Mother/other relations) village and the class in which they are studying. The copy of the list is attached (ATTACH LIST) 4. Do industries (which employ the parents) donate to the bigger (other) school, which is in the industrial area? The parents usually are the lowest paid employees of those companies in the industrial area school, and we are not sure their CEO's know where those kids are studying. In the early days of the school, due to my personal connections we were recieving some donations, but that has completely stopped in recent years. Even if we think of raising funds by soliciting donations from those employers, it needs lot of infrastructure and funds. As on date there is no source of income other than our family and friends personal contributions. 5. What is the average earnings of the parents who send their kids to this school? The maximum earnings a worker earns ranges from 2,500/- to 4,000/-. No one in this area has a income exceeding 4,000/-. Then people had some suggestions: 1. Teachers, children, and staff can run a book donation/collection campaign in a nearby residential area (after advertising thru posters) to collect books from graduating students. There is hardly a campaign like this been run in our area, and we've never heard of it. It may be possible to do this, but will require lots of co-ordination, guidance and volunteer effort. 2. Can the school buses be used as commercial transport during non-school times to generate regular funds? Bus cannot be used for commercial purpose because it has a typical yellow colour which cannot be used for any other purpose than the school. Violation of the rules can result in the confiscation of bus. 3. Some state governments can fund a provate school, if there is no government school in the vicinity. Does this apply to this school, and to Haryana state government? Yes there must be a provision of giving financial assistance but we have seen if grant is taken from the Govt. then the interference of the officials of the Government department is so much that it becomes very difficult to continue the project. Moreover the amount of grant is too low to depend on them. S.L.Nagpal