Champion: Gautam BanerjeeChampion: Gautam Banerjeegbanerje@hotmail.com

480-231-3082480-231-3082

Vijay Krishna Ashram Relief Trust Society

Project Name: VK Vidyapith

Site Visit SummaryAugust 3, 2006

RecapRecap

Last year, Anita Chawla made presenation Last year, Anita Chawla made presenation to Asha Project group on June 5. I request to Asha Project group on June 5. I request all to refer to that presentation which is all to refer to that presentation which is available at AshaAZ projects site.available at AshaAZ projects site.

I have provided below few slides from that I have provided below few slides from that presentation for a quick recap by all.presentation for a quick recap by all.

Brief HistoryBrief History

Established: 1967Established: 1967Registration Number (Public Trust Registration Number (Public Trust Act):_Registered under Societies Act, XXI Act):_Registered under Societies Act, XXI of 1960, Nos/5078 of 1961-62of 1960, Nos/5078 of 1961-62FCRA# : FCRA# : 147070010.vide(11/21011/74/467)-85 III 147070010.vide(11/21011/74/467)-85 III 29.3.8529.3.85

Mission of the OrganizationMission of the Organization

To rehabilitate people in distress by giving To rehabilitate people in distress by giving them treatment, education, food, clothes, them treatment, education, food, clothes, shelter and employment in the local shelter and employment in the local activities.activities.

The Birth HistoryThe Birth History

Ashram founded by Swami Asimananda Ashram founded by Swami Asimananda SaraswatiSaraswati

Eye hospital inspired by a visit of Netaji Eye hospital inspired by a visit of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Subhash Chandra Bose

What are the different focus areas of the What are the different focus areas of the organization?organization?

Community development 10% Education 10%

Health 80%

The Main ProjectThe Main Project250-bed Netaji Eye Hospital, located in the remote rural 250-bed Netaji Eye Hospital, located in the remote rural area of West Bengal bordering Jharkhand/Bihararea of West Bengal bordering Jharkhand/BiharServes the vision related needs and primary health care Serves the vision related needs and primary health care needs for rural people in the surrounding areas of West needs for rural people in the surrounding areas of West Bengal, Bihar and JharkhandBengal, Bihar and Jharkhand24 OPD rooms24 OPD rooms6 cabins6 cabins6 general wards (separate facility for women)6 general wards (separate facility for women)2 surgery rooms2 surgery rooms24000 patients received eye-surgery in 2003-0424000 patients received eye-surgery in 2003-0475% patients receive absolutely ‘free’ care75% patients receive absolutely ‘free’ care100 out-reach camps per year to treat 20000 in the field100 out-reach camps per year to treat 20000 in the field

Are there any other organizations working in the area Are there any other organizations working in the area providing any one or all of the services provided by the providing any one or all of the services provided by the

visited organization?visited organization?

NO

Family BackgroundsFamily Backgrounds

Approximately 1000 families live in the Approximately 1000 families live in the surrounding areas.surrounding areas.Parents work as daily wage labors, Parents work as daily wage labors, agricultural workers, eye-hospital agricultural workers, eye-hospital employees, rickshaw puller, etc.employees, rickshaw puller, etc.No government school in the vicinityNo government school in the vicinity

Short Term GoalShort Term Goal

The short term goal is to construct a new building to accommodate all the students under one roof for classes which now take place in scattered manner within the main Ashram.

Long Term GoalsLong Term Goals

To provide both formal secondary level education as well as to provide vocational education related to the need of the Ashram and the attached hospital to the students from surrounding villages along with mid-day meal for all students, full meal for residential students and study materials.

DetailsDetails

Project location: P.O. Ramchandrapur Dist.: Project location: P.O. Ramchandrapur Dist.: Purulia, PIN 723 144 (rural).Purulia, PIN 723 144 (rural).# day students : 430# day students : 430# residential students: 82# residential students: 82# class rooms: 4 # class rooms: 4 some classes are held in the open. some classes are held in the open. There is a student residence with There is a student residence with bedroom/kitchen/dining facilities and a library for bedroom/kitchen/dining facilities and a library for shared use of books and other reading materials shared use of books and other reading materials by the students.by the students.

Training MethodologiesTraining Methodologies

Follow the standard government approved Follow the standard government approved syllabus for classes upto Xth standard for syllabus for classes upto Xth standard for formal secondary level educationformal secondary level education

Provide extra curricular training to satisfy Provide extra curricular training to satisfy the various non-clinical and para-clinical the various non-clinical and para-clinical requirements of the eye-hospital.requirements of the eye-hospital.

Bottom Line – How Much?Bottom Line – How Much?

Proposed: 3 years @ $5000/yearProposed: 3 years @ $5000/year

Estimated cost of the building construction: Estimated cost of the building construction: Rs. 5,54,400 or @Rs. 42 = $1, it will be US Rs. 5,54,400 or @Rs. 42 = $1, it will be US $13,200 [to be completed in three phases]$13,200 [to be completed in three phases]

Estimated cost of basic educational materials Estimated cost of basic educational materials such as books, etc. and meals for 3 years: such as books, etc. and meals for 3 years: Rs. 75,600 or US $1,800Rs. 75,600 or US $1,800

And………How to Fund?And………How to Fund?

Personal contribution by Dr. Gautam Banerjee Personal contribution by Dr. Gautam Banerjee and Dr. Arundhati Banerjee - $1000/year for 3 and Dr. Arundhati Banerjee - $1000/year for 3 years years

Asha AZ - $2000/year for 3 years(sent the first Asha AZ - $2000/year for 3 years(sent the first installment last year) and installment last year) and

AID-Columbus - $2000/year for 3 years AID-Columbus - $2000/year for 3 years (proposed). AID has sent their first installment in (proposed). AID has sent their first installment in early 2006.early 2006.

SustainableSustainable

The proposed fund in this project will be The proposed fund in this project will be utilized to achieve the goal of the project utilized to achieve the goal of the project beyond which the recurring cost can be beyond which the recurring cost can be taken care of by its regular sources of taken care of by its regular sources of funding. funding.

Site Visit Report – Aug 2006Site Visit Report – Aug 2006

Visited on August 3 morning, after visiting Visited on August 3 morning, after visiting Matrichaya project at Ranchi the previous day. Matrichaya project at Ranchi the previous day. Although a bit hectic after traveling by train over Although a bit hectic after traveling by train over night and changing three times, it was always night and changing three times, it was always refreshing to see the energy of Mr. Nandadulal refreshing to see the energy of Mr. Nandadulal Chakrabarty in managing the eye hospital and Chakrabarty in managing the eye hospital and the schools even after going through a severe the schools even after going through a severe cancer surgery last year. Any ordinary mortal will cancer surgery last year. Any ordinary mortal will perhaps rest in bed while he is still at command! perhaps rest in bed while he is still at command! It was also refreshing to see all the kids in It was also refreshing to see all the kids in classrooms, even if they were cramped.classrooms, even if they were cramped.

Site Visit Report - contdSite Visit Report - contd

After I freshened up myself in the guest After I freshened up myself in the guest room of the hospital, I visited the current room of the hospital, I visited the current classrooms and met with some teachers classrooms and met with some teachers and students (photos attached). and students (photos attached).

I also discussed the progress of the I also discussed the progress of the project Asha and AID have started to fund, project Asha and AID have started to fund, with Mr. Chakrabarty and his staff.with Mr. Chakrabarty and his staff.

Visit to the new building siteVisit to the new building site

After that, Mr. Chakrabarty accompanied After that, Mr. Chakrabarty accompanied me, helped by his staff, to the adjacent site me, helped by his staff, to the adjacent site where new building is being constructed where new building is being constructed from funds donated by various from funds donated by various organizations, including Asha and AID. organizations, including Asha and AID. This being a major project, it is heartening This being a major project, it is heartening to see the leveraging of $$/INR by all to see the leveraging of $$/INR by all donors collectively. I have attached some donors collectively. I have attached some photographs in this presentation. Video photographs in this presentation. Video clips will be uploaded on Asha site soon.clips will be uploaded on Asha site soon.

New Construction – contd.New Construction – contd.

Mr. Chakrabarty has conveyed his Mr. Chakrabarty has conveyed his gratitude to all volunteers and donors of gratitude to all volunteers and donors of Asha and AID for the generosity.Asha and AID for the generosity.

He is very enthusiastic to complete this He is very enthusiastic to complete this project in time (given his own health and project in time (given his own health and the responsibility to run the huge eye the responsibility to run the huge eye hospital). hospital).

My AssessmentMy Assessment

I am very confident that this project is I am very confident that this project is worth funding, the commitment being only worth funding, the commitment being only for 3 years which means 2 more years to for 3 years which means 2 more years to go. Unlike some projects which never go. Unlike some projects which never takes off, here, the construction is actually takes off, here, the construction is actually going on, with funds from all donors in going on, with funds from all donors in place (each contingent on others to place (each contingent on others to continue).continue).

My Continued PledgeMy Continued Pledge

As in the previous years, I’ll give Mukund As in the previous years, I’ll give Mukund our contribution of $1000 this month.our contribution of $1000 this month.

I request Asha AZ and AID Columbus I request Asha AZ and AID Columbus teams to discuss this project in respective teams to discuss this project in respective group meetings and continue to approve group meetings and continue to approve the requested fund for this year and next the requested fund for this year and next year (I do plan to visit again next year and year (I do plan to visit again next year and provide a report).provide a report).

Contact in IndiaContact in India

Nandadulal ChakrabartyNandadulal Chakrabarty(for Netaji Eye Hospital – Ramchandrapur)(for Netaji Eye Hospital – Ramchandrapur)H2/103, Sarsuna Satellite TownshipH2/103, Sarsuna Satellite TownshipSakuntala Park, Sakuntala Park, Kolkata – 700 061 Kolkata – 700 061 West BengalWest BengalTel: 91-33-2455-1174Tel: 91-33-2455-1174Fax: 91-33-2452-5037Fax: 91-33-2452-5037Email: Email: audio_cine@vsnl.net (c/o K. Saha) (c/o K. Saha)

Liason in USALiason in USA

Dr. Gautam BanerjeeDr. Gautam Banerjee1560 West Kent Drive1560 West Kent Drive Chandler, AZ 85224.Chandler, AZ 85224.

480-231-3082480-231-3082gbanerje@hotmail.com

Mr. Nandadulal Chakrabarty Mr. Nandadulal Chakrabarty (@ center on the new construction site)(@ center on the new construction site)

The Roof is being CompletedThe Roof is being Completed