annual update 2015 vish viswanathan/ padmanava sen oct 20, 2015 vikasana rural center for education
DESCRIPTION
History Vikasana was started in 1977 and being run by M.C. Malathi Earlier it used to be located in Dodakallasandra off of Kanakapura road on the outskirts of Bangalore. The school used to own a two acre space there but the school decided to sell part of the land a year ago and got coaxed into selling the whole space. Now the school is located in Tataguni village 6-7 kms further away from previous place, the space is provided for free by a well-wisher. This school follows David Horsburgh’s teaching principles of learning through creative, activity based methods.TRANSCRIPT
ANNUAL UPDATE 2015
Vish Viswanathan/Padmanava Sen
Oct 20, 2015
Vikasana Rural Center for Education
Mission
• To provide holistic and quality education to children age 14 and above
from landless farmers of neighboring villages and migrated parents.
• Objectives of the school are• Free Education
• Giving holistic and quality education
• Emphasis on Self Learning
• Education for Peace
• Bring an awareness of tree planting and maintaining ecological balance
• Help students to choose the career after their education
• Being a resources center for non-formal education
• Provide a sanctuary for the children
History
• Vikasana was started in 1977 and being run by M.C. Malathi
• Earlier it used to be located in Dodakallasandra off of Kanakapura road on the outskirts of Bangalore. The school used to own a two acre space there but the school decided to sell part of the land a year ago and got coaxed into selling the whole space. Now the school is located in Tataguni village 6-7 kms further away from previous place, the space is provided for free by a well-wisher.
• This school follows David Horsburgh’s teaching principles of learning through creative, activity based methods.
Location
• Vikasana is based in the Tataguni village on the outskirts of Bangalore, Karnataka
Bangalore Karnataka
• The school has reduced enrollment from 35 children to 5 children due to government regulation which requires children under 14 to go to a regular school
• The school was asked by the Cluster Resource Person (C.R.P.) not to run the school or get permission. Therefore since 2011-2012, we have been trying to get recognition with the help of volunteers Gayathri, Sarang and Deepa at different stages. It went on from 2011 to 2015. Now Mr.Nagaraj and Aarati Krishna have entered the scene. Though I have co-operated and did whatever the volunteers asked, it has remained stagnant.
General Update
• Reasons for not getting recognition– Narasimhan says “No bribe” (good!)– Sarang and Gayathri say “Invest money” (!!!)– My junior is not willing to work under recognition– There are no young people to follow up the running around– I have to teach + travel up and down + Accounts + Management while dealing
with my own severe health issues• Given these constraints, I have sent younger students to other
schools after getting certificates from other schools and now they are all going to schools. But none of us is happy in the bargain! It’s the same old story. The children are getting a raw deal – getting beaten, not cared for, harassed by peers etc etc
General Update
What is happening today• Malathy Akka is teaching Kannada, English,
Social Science and Hindi. I am also doing the followup of the other children who are now in the other schools. My assistant teaches Maths and Science, takes homework and does after school activity from 7 to 9 am and 4:30 to 8 pm.
• A lady cooks for the children and cleans and maintains the place.
• A watchman guards the place for 24 hours.
Site visit - Observations
Visited by: Dr. Padmanava Sen (Asha Bangalore/Atlanta Volunteer and Ashawide project partner coordinator) – [email protected] Date: October 10th, 2015 Details of the visit: I have reached the Vikasana Center off Kanakpura in the morning guided by Aarti (volunteer Math teacher in the center). Then I met Malathi Akka who has been running the center for the last 38 years. She explained the current situation where they have reduced their student strength from 35 to 5 due to a Government office instruction to teach only students above 14 years. Probably due to RTE bill, 6-14 years of students are sent to formal schools instead of this alternative center where they teach different classes together.
Site Visit (contd)
• Then I spent time with the 5 students who will appear for 10th exam next year. They all study in English stadium and I was very impressed by their knowledge, ease of communication and answers in English to my questions. I asked them few math questions and the struggles they face etc in different subjects. They are first generation learners but Malathi Akka and other teachers have done a marvelous job. There are 3 boys and 2 girls. The boys mentioned they want to become Mechanical Engineer, Software Engineer & lawyer. One of the girls mentioned she wants to be a teacher. The other girl student mentioned she wants to be an Engineer and a part time RJ. They all know the path to reach their goals, which I liked a lot.
Budget Ask• Budget: Needed from October 2015 to April 2016. (7 months till
the students appear for exams) At least Rs.30,000/- per month is needed with the break up as below :
• Malathi (Teacher, running the center) Rs.8,000/- • Nagaveni (Teacher) Rs.7,000/- • Tripura Rs.6,000/- Watchman Rs.6,000/- • Maintenance Rs.3,000/- (covers Electricity, Xerox, Textbooks,
Stationery, identity cards, uniforms, trips etc) • < I believe these items are very crucial to run the center and
hereby request the stewarding chapter to release the necessary funds>
Budget 2014
Vikasana Rural Center
2 Senior Teachers Rs.8,000.00 (each)
1 Junior Teacher Rs.4,000.00
Helper and watchman Rs.8,000.00
Maintenance (stationary, books, Xerox) Rs.2000 – 3000
Total per monthRs. 30000.00 – 31000
Total per year Rs. 3,66,000
Finances
• Request from Asha Seattle for the year 2014 : INR 3,66,000• Asha Seattle sent INR 77,043 for 2013 on 4/8/2014 • Sent INR 74080 for 2012 on 4/8/2014 • Sent INR71232 in Nov 2011
This year the request is for the amount is INR 366,000.
Process Checks
Item StatusApproved Budget $3000Approval Type RecurringAmount(s) disbursed last fiscal year INR 77,043
Amount Utilized by the project last fiscal year
n/a
Last Site Visit Feb 2014Site Visit done by Shailesh VaishnaviSite visit report http://www.ashanet.org/projects-new/documents/283/
VikasanaSiteVisitFeb2014.pdf
Current Primary Steward Rohit Pagariya <[email protected]>Current Secondary Stewards None
Status of the web page updatedStatus of the yahoo databases Deprecated
Budget 2012-2013
Vikasana Rural Center
Teacher (Malathi) Rs.9,000.00
Teacher (Nagaveni) Rs.7,000.00
Teacher Rs.400.00
Helper Rs.4000.00
Maintenance Rs.2500.00
Electricity Rs.500.00
Total per monthRs. 27000.00
Total per year Rs. 324000
http://www.ashanet.org/projects-new/documents/192/Budger_2013-14.pdf
History : Budget (2011-2012)
Vikasana Rural Center
Teacher Rs.8,000.00
Teacher Rs.8,000.00
Helper Rs.5,500.00
Helper Rs.5,500.00
Food Rs.1000.00
Material Rs.1000.00
Miscellaneous Rs.500.00
Total per month Rs.22,500.00
Total per year Rs.2,70,000
History : Budget (2010-2011)
Vikasana Rural Center
Malathi Rs.8,000.00
Nagaveni Rs.5,000.00
Teacher Rs.3,000.00
Helper Rs.3,000.00
Electricity Rs.1000.00
Maintenance Rs.1000.00
Total per month Rs.21,000.00
Total per year Rs.2,52,000
Questions?