Mid-Term-Social Audit of CSR Activities

About Centre for Excellence in CSR (CECSR), TISS

The Centre for Excellence in CSR (CECSR) at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) focusses on various programmes designed on the basis of multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary perspectives. The Centre is carrying out domain specific activities under major divisions viz. Research and Development, Learning, Training and Development Practice.

The Centre also provides diverse services to public and private sector companies such as assisting companies in formulating CSR Policies, in creating CSR programmes and action plans for implementation and undertaking various research studies.

Project Team

Project Leader: Dr. S. Siva Raju Professor and Chairperson, Centre for Excellence in CSR Project Mentor: rohan sarma Head, Learning, Training and Development (LTD) Practice,

Field Research Kaushik Datta Program Manager, Team: Centre for Excellence in CSR Aritra Moulick Program Officer, Centre for Excellence in CSR Report Design: Dwiya Saha Program Manager, Learning, Training and Develop- ment (LTD) Practice,

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations 4 List of Figures 5 Executive Summary 6 Chapter-1 : Introduction 10 Chapter-2: Projects Considered for Assessment (2018 -19) 13 Chapter-3 : Conclusion and Recommendations 33 Annexures: Research Study Tools 34

List of Abbreviations

AVBA Adhyatma Vidyapith Brahmacharya Ashrama CSR Corporate Social Responsibility CWSN Children With Special Needs ENT Ear Nose Throat FGD Focussed Group Discussion FY First Year ICU Intensive Care Unit IHBP Institute for the Handicapped and Backward People KII Key Informant Interviews MOU Memorandum of Understanding NIMH National Institute of Mental Health NRVY National Rail Vikas Yojana ODF Open Defecation Free OT Operation Theatre PPP Public Private Partnership RVNL Rail Vikas Nigam Limited SBA Swacch Bharat Abhiyan SBM Swacch Bharat Mission SPV Special Purpose Vehicle TISS Tata Institute of Social Sciences USAID United States Agency for International Development

List of Figures

Figure 1 Special Class at IHBP 13 Figure 2 Special classes with learning aids 16 Figure 3 Hearing impaired students who gave 10th state-board exams 16 in March 2018 Figure 4 Ongoing English Classes 20 Figure 5 54 year old computer trainee 21 Figure 6 180 Bed Hospital under Construction in Vrindavan 24 Figure 7 Pediatric Care Ward under construction 25

Figure 8 New AVBA Hostel under construction 27 Figure 9 Newly Constructed Toilet Block at Belur Math 29 Figure 10 Newly constructed toilet blocks at Keshavdham 30 Figure 11 Newly constructed toilet blocks at AVBA, Lucknow 30

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Centre for Excellence in CSR (the erstwhile National CSR Hub) at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences seeks to be a knowledge partner to corporations by guiding them towards designing strategies and programmes to fulfil their corporate social responsibility obligations and adoption of responsible business practices.

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, was created in 2003 under the National Rail Vikas Yojana (NRVY) to implement capacity augmenting railway projects, viz., gauge conversion, newline, doubling or third line through budgetary and non-budgetary resources to remove bottlenecks on the Indian Railways network and to facilitate port connectivity and multimodal corridors to the hinterland.

As part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RVNL and TISS, TISS is mandated to provide applied knowledge CSR advisory services to RVNL for the execution of its CSR activities through research evaluations of RVNL’s CSR project and capacity building of RVNL’s CSR teams. This report is submitted as a deliverable against the above stated terms of reference. The report is presented as an “Assessment of CSR Activities of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (2018 - 2019)” by TISS.

Naora village, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Project Background:

Status Project Geographical (at the time Assessment Sl. No Beneficiaries Description Location of field Objectives research) Inclusive educa- To assess the im- tion project at pact of IHBP’s pro- Institute for the District Kolkata, 100 differently ject of providing 1. Ongoing Handicapped West Bengal abled students special education and Backward to differently- People abled children Educational and health support To assess the ho- District South 24 to villages Underprivileged listic development 2. Parganas, West Ongoing around Rama- children of first generation Bengal krishna Ashram learners Math, Naora 180 bedded hospital facilities at Hospital Infra- Ramakrishna District Vrindavan, Women and Under structure and 3. Mission Uttar Pradesh Children Construction Quality of Care Sevashrama and Treatment Hospital Hostel facilities Hostel Infrastruc- at Adhyatma ture, Amenities Vidyapith Brah- District Sitapur, 48 underprivi- Under and Facilities and 4. macharya Ash- Uttar Pradesh leged students Construction Rationale for ram at election of Naimisharanya Beneficiaries District Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Construction, To assess the toi- District Sitapur, Construction Maintenance let facilities creat- Uttar Pradesh General completed 5. and Renovation ed – access, use population and ready for of Toilets and impact on District Howrah use public health and District South 24 Parganas, West Bengal

It needs to be clearly understood that there needs to be a differentiator in assessment terminology

between the two categories of projects that were assessed –

1) projects under construction and

2) projects completed and ready for use by beneficiaries.

With respect to the second category of projects that were assessed – education projects in West Bengal and toilets constructed in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, assessment was conducted against stated objectives of the project and through interactions with multiple stakeholders concerning the particular project.

Research Methodology:

A Mid - Term Evaluation research is undertaken for projects that are usually ongoing with an objective for doing mid – course corrections with regard to the project objectives. Through the above projects, RVNL intends to produce an intended result. Through this research report, TISS has tried to analyze the impact of the above projects on addressing the social problem, for projects that are ongoing. In the case of infrastructural projects that were under construction at the time of field research, assessment of impact was not possible, but a mid- term evaluation to check for alignment of present activity with original stated objectives was undertaken.

Research Methods Employed In This Study:

Key Informant Interviews (KII): KIIs are ‘loosely structured conversations with people who have specialised knowledge about the topic you wish to understand. It helps in exploring an issue in depth. (USAID, 1996) Focussed Group Discussions (FGD): FGD is an exploratory tool where a moderator conducts a discussion between small groups of six to ten people structured around a set of pre-determined questions. (Kothari, 2004) Observation – In this study, observation guides and checklists were used to note down important observations related to availability/unavailability of amenities, equipment as well as to note down dynamics of interactions among various stakeholders.

Sampling:

Purposive sampling was used for this study. It is a sampling method which involves the selection of particular units of the population as per the judgement of the researcher. (Kothari, 2004)

Limitations of the Study:

For projects listed above that were ‘under construction’ at the time of the field research visit, conducting an assessment was too preliminary and hence only limited data was collected – through key informant interviews with the representatives of the Ramakrishna Mission, who are directly involved in overseeing the construction activities of the hospital at Vrindavan and the hostel caretaker in Naimis- haranya, Lucknow. Due to the ‘under construction’ nature of the projects being assessed, there were no beneficiaries available at the time of assessment. With regard to the toilet construction projects, key informant interviews of only the toilet caretakers at Vrindavan, Belur and Naimisharanya respectively have been conducted, as the beneficiaries had returned home due to winter and summer vacations during the time of the field visits.

Data Collection and Research Methods:

In – depth interviews, focus group discussions and observation were the qualitative data collection methods that were employed for projects that were assessed for the purpose of this study.

Conclusion:

After a field research based assessment of RVNL’s CSR projects across the locations of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, it is recommended that:

a) Moving ahead, it is recommended that RVNL adopt a Results Based Management (RBM) approach in its CSR programmes which is critical to planning, monitoring and evaluation and for im- proving programme delivery and achieving programme goals.

b) It is recommended that a more robust selection process be devised for selection of projects and locations with a strong rationale of the particular project for CSR support.

c) It is recommended that in its CSR Reporting, RVNL focus beyond numbers of beneficiaries and numbers of infrastructural facilities constructed/sanctioned. In other words, based on the field research assessment, it is recommended that moving ahead, RVNL focus on ‘outcomes’ and not necessarily be satisfied with the achievement of ‘outputs’ in its CSR programmes.

Chapter I

Introduction:

This report was commissioned by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) to the Centre for Excellence in CSR at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, as part of an MoU for assessment of the former’s CSR projects for the year 2018-19. The projects reviewed have been undertaken by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) in accord- ance with their CSR policy laid out in 2014. A robust and comprehensive CSR policy is a mandated re- quirement laid out in the Companies (CSR policy) Rules, 2014 conferred under the Companies Act, 2013. This report is presented as an “Assessment of CSR Activities of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (2018 - 2019)” by TISS.

Project Background:

Status Project Geographical (at the time Assessment Sl. No Beneficiaries Description Location of field Objectives research) To assess the im- Inclusive educa- pact of IHBP’s tion project at In- District Kolkata, 100 differently project of provid- 1. stitute for the West Bengal abled students Ongoing ing special educa- Handicapped and tion to differently- Backward People abled children Educational and To assess the ho- health support to District South 24 Underprivileged listic development 2. villages around Parganas, West Ongoing children of first generation Ramakrishna Ash- Bengal learners ram Math, Naora 180 bedded hospital facilities at Hospital Infra- District Vrindavan, Ramakrishna Mis- Women and Under structure and 3. Uttar Pradesh sion Children Construction Quality of Care

Sevashrama and Treatment Hospital Hostel Infrastruc- Hostel facilities at ture, Amenities Adhyatma Vidyap- District Sitapur, 48 underprivi- Under and Facilities and 4. ith Brahmacharya Uttar Pradesh leged students Construction Rationale for Se- Ashram at lection of Naimisharanya Beneficiaries

Status Project Geographical (at the time Assessment Sl. No Beneficiaries Description Location of field Objectives research) District Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Construction, To assess the toi- District Sitapur, Construction Maintenance let facilities creat- Uttar Pradesh General popula- completed 5. and Renovation ed – access, use tion and ready for of Toilets and impact on District Howrah use public health and District South 24 Parganas, West Bengal

It needs to be clearly understood that there needs to be a differentiator in assessment terminology between the two categories of projects that were assessed – 1) projects under construction and 2) projects completed and ready for use by beneficiaries.

For projects that are under construction, assessment is not possible, since it is too preliminary. Instead, a mid – term assessment was undertaken to assess alignment between the current stage of activity (at the time of field research) and that of the proposed objectives of the project. With respect to the second category of projects that were assessed – education projects in West Bengal and toilets constructed in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, assessment was conducted against stated objectives of the project and through interactions with multiple stakeholders concerning the particular project.

Research Methodology:

The scope of the assessment study took into consideration the current status of CSR projects, the facilities provided under the projects, stakeholder feedback and issues in the implementation of the projects. The research methodology section is broadly divided into sections on research design, research tools and the sampling methods used in the study.

Research Design:

The study adopted a Qualitative Research Design where the data collection methods used were Inter- views (In-Depth), Discussions (Focus Group) and Observation.

Research methods employed in this study:

Key Informant Interviews (KII): KIIs are ‘loosely structured conversations with people who have specialised knowledge about the topic

you wish to understand. It helps in exploring an issue in depth.’ (USAID, 1996) 1 Focussed Group Discussions (FGD): FGD is an exploratory tool where a moderator conducts a discussion between small groups of six to ten people structured around a set of pre-determined questions. (Kothari, 2004)2 Observation: In this study, observation guides and checklists were used to note down important observations related to availability/unavailability of amenities, equipments as well as to note down dynamics of interactions among various stakeholders.

Sampling:

Purposive sampling was used for this study. It is a sampling method which involves the selection of particular units of the population as per the judgement of the researcher. (Kothari, 2004)

Ethical Considerations:

All ethical considerations were taken into account during the study. Prior to interview, informed consent was taken from all research participants. The respondents/research participants were informed about purpose of the study. They were also told that the data or information collected from them will be confidential and be used for the purpose of research only. All the conversations were in the local lan- guages - Hindi and Bengali, for Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal respectively. Respondents were also given a choice to respond or not respond to the questions asked.

Limitations:

For projects listed above that were ‘under construction’ at the time of the field research visit, conducting an assessment was too preliminary and hence only limited data was collected – through key informant interviews with the representatives of the Ramakrishna Mission, who are directly involved in overseeing the construction activities of the hospital at Vrindavan and the hostel caretaker in Naimisharanya, Lucknow. Due to the ‘under construction’ nature of the projects being assessed, there were no beneficiaries available at the time of assessment. With regard to the toilet construction projects, key informant interviews of only the toilet caretakers at Belur and Naimisharanya respectively have been conducted, as the beneficiaries had returned home due to winter and summer vacations during the time of the field visits. ______1 Conducting Key Informant Interviews, Performance Monitoring and Evaluation USAID Center for Development Information and Evaluation, 1996, Number 2 , https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs PNABS541.pdf 2C. R. Kothari, Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, 2004 ISBN (13) : 978-81-224-2488-1

Chapter II

Projects Considered for Assessment (2018 -19)

Project I: Education and development of 100 differently abled underprivileged children Implementing Agency: Institute for Handicapped & Backward People (IHBP) Location: Kolkata district and South 24 Parganas Districts of West Bengal

Project Background:

The Institute for the Handicapped and Backward People (IHBP) is the brainchild of Dr. M.A. Hasan Sa- hani, founder and director. Mr. Sahani established IHBP as a registered society in the year 2000. Mr. Sahani and all members of his family (including father, mother, brothers and sisters) are disabled. This inspired him to establish this organization with the passion to help the disabled people through education, training, rehabilitation and serve the disabled and disadvantaged people of his native area. The mission of the organization is to bring about positive change among the disabled people through a range of activities/services to enhance their skills and knowledge which helps to make them self- reliant.

IHBP is recognized as a permanent Junior High School w.e.f. 01.01.2015 vide Government of West Bengal School Education OM No. 787-SE/S/3S-95/15 dated 26.08.2015 and name of the school has been recorded as “BEHALA VIVEKANANDA INSTITUTION (HIGH SCHOOL)”. The Institution has further been upgraded as a High School by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education without any kind of financial assistance Figure 1: Special classes at IHBP from Government of West Bengal.

The Institute for Handicapped and Backward People has adopted a zero rejection policy. This means that no child having special needs is deprived of the right to education. Under ‘Special and Integrated Education for Disabled Children’, special attention is to be given to the education of CWSN (Children With Special Needs) with the objective of integrating the differently abled with the general community at all levels . 13

Project Rationale:

As per Census 2011, in India, out of the 121 Cr population, about 2.68 Cr persons are ‘disabled’ which is 2.21% of the total population, 29% of which are under the age of 19. While 61% of the disabled children aged 5-19 years were found to be attending educational institution, 54% of the disabled children with multiple disabilities never attended educational institutions. Also, 50% of the children with mental illness never attended educational institution.5 Parents of disabled children have more difficult choices, as they also have the burden of medical treatment, among others. As per estimates shared by the Director of the IHBP, in West Bengal, there are more than 30 lakh disabled people who are Hearing Impaired, Mentally Challenged, Visually Impaired, or affected with Cerebral Palsy. IHBP has been set up to combat illiteracy among the disabled in urban and rural villages of South 24 Par- ganas, West Bengal. RVNL chose this project because it is within RVNL’s ongoing project site of the construction of new Joka-BBD Bagh Metro Rail in West Bengal. The project is located in an Aspirational Dis- trict and also aligns with RVNL’s CSR focus of education and health. The beneficiaries of this project are differently abled children of underprivileged and backward sections of the society. This project is also aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of universal primary education.

Project Objectives:

The objectives of this project are stated as follows: 1. To provide schooling and education to 100 under-privileged differently abled children. 2. To provide needs based support to differently abled children- hearing impaired, mentally challenged and those affected with cerebral palsy. 3. To provide cost effective education and also provide free meals, clothes, uniforms, books, medicines, speech and occupational therapy and artificial equipments for development of differently abled children in the society.

Observations and Findings:

This project is being run continuously for seven years (2012-2019) by IHBP. Project monitoring is being done by Tier-II Kolkata PIU RVNL CSR Committee. One hundred under-privileged differently abled children having three types of disabilities namely, 41 ______5 Disabled Persons in India: A Statistical Profile 2016, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, GoI, http:// mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/Disabled_persons_in_India_2016.pdf

hearing impaired children (18 boys and 21 girls), 45 mentally challenged children (30 boys and 15 girls) and 14 children with cerebral palsy (06 boys and 08 girls) are covered as beneficiaries of this project. Education and development of these children are being done under the close supervision of well qualified and trained teachers with student to teacher ratio of 10:1 for hearing impaired, 6:1 for mentally challenged, 3:1 for cerebral palsy. Children are provided with school uniforms, books, notebooks, educational kits, medical aid, nutritious and quality meals. From the feedback obtained from parents through the FGD conducted with them, it was found that parents are overall satisfied with the progress of their children and claimed that their children have immensely benefitted from this project through an overall improvement in education, awareness and comprehension.

Data Collection Methods:

Primary data was collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews and each of the interviews was audio recorded with prior informed consent of the respondents. The researcher also maintained a reflexive journal for aiding in data analysis. Focus group discussions were conducted with the parents of the beneficiaries at IHBP, 8 parents were chosen from among all the parents, who have been associated with IHBP for more than five years.

Process and System Evaluation: Position No. Of Staff Employed There are a total of 21 staff members en- Special Education teachers 10 gaged in this project. To ensure sustainability Occupational therapist 1 of management of the organisation and Speech Therapist 1 Physical instructor 1 movement towards succession planning of Doctor (part-time) 1 the organisation, Dr.Hasan Sahani informed Accountant cum office clerk 1 that he is in the process of training two staff Ayah/Attendant 3 members in various aspects of administra- Peon 1 tion and management , so that they can Sweeper 1 Total 21 take over after Dr. Hasan’s retirement. Table 1 : No. of staff employees at IHBP under RVNL CSR initiative

According to Dr.Hasan, IHBP focusses on the academic learning of the beneficiaries. Each beneficiary at the time of admission is assessed on generic skills, employment aptitude and professional behaviour. It is done with the help of a tool developed by A.T. Thressia Kutty called ‘NIMH Vocational Assessment and Programming System for Persons with Mental Retardation’. Using this as a reference, the organisation has further developed a tool in the local Bengali language to track the progress of each beneficiary, every

quarter. Components of the tool relate to performance of everyday activities and understanding of various alphabets and numericals. Thus, this tool is easy to use and is filled in by the assessor from the organisation at the time of admission of the beneficiary which helps them categorise the child in different academic classes, as per aptitude and absorptive capacity. After the primary assessment, the beneficiary’s progress is tracked through the same tool and care is taken to ensure that the progress is well document- ed. Therefore, each beneficiary has a separate file attributed to him/her which has all the records, maintained both by teachers as well as other staff of the organisation. This is the process of monitoring that is followed in this particular project.

Every classroom has a separate teacher who develops personalised curriculum based on individual need of each child. There is also a separate classroom for the hearing impaired students equipped with microphones and hearing aids are provided to all beneficiaries to encourage academic learning. During the Figure 2: Special classes with learning aids. in-depth interview, Dr. Hasan spoke of the recent efforts of the organisation in trying to procure accreditation for conducting class 11th and 12th examinations for some of the students.

During the course of the field research, it was found that educational aids such as television, microphones, educational toys etc. were being used by the teachers of

IHBP for effective learning. Figure 3: The 12 hearing impaired students who have given 10th state board exams in March 2018.

With regard to monitoring the progress of the beneficiaries, daily updates of the progress and activities are given to the parents by the teachers when the parents come to pick up their wards. In case the student is absent from school for more than two days, regular follow-ups and house visits are conducted by IHBP staff. During the FGD conducted with the teaching staff, it came to the fore that the entire staff meets Dr. Hasan every Thursday to discuss the various issues during the week and to chalk out the plan for the coming week. This system of feedback and once a week meeting, according to the teachers, was helpful. 16

Daily Activities at IHBP:

Although during the field research visit, the research team was able to observe some of the activities that are constitutive of the project, during the course of the in-depth interviews conducted with the director and FGDs conducted with parents, teachers and other staff members, following were some of the other findings that emerged:

The project focusses on training the beneficiaries in everyday routine activities. The differently abled children find it difficult to carry out activities such as using the toilet, eating, bathing, sitting still. The staff at the organisation pays special attention to the children to train them in these routine activities in order to make them self-reliant to the maximum extent possible and their progress is tracked and mon- itored. Milestones such as using a spoon without any help, holding a pencil or sitting in one place for 20 minutes may seem routine for us, but are important milestones for these adolescents. While the research team observed this, one of the parents interviewed, acknowledged the efforts put in by the staff and acknowledged the ‘marked improvement’ in her ward. When asked about the behavioural change in her ward post his joining IHBP, the parent said that her child after joining the institute would bring water for his father when asked, put his plate for washing independently and had become less violent.

Mid - day meal is provided to all the students in the form of what Mr. Hasan referred to as ‘Tiffin’ where lunch is provided to 100 beneficiaries at the organisation. The food is prepared on the premises and distributed among the students. While parents were satisfied with the quality of food being served to their wards, they repeatedly expressed concerns that the tiffin allowance per child was insufficient. Accord- ing to the parents, due to inflation, the prices of various commodities had increased such as chicken, eggs and rice. This had led to decrease in frequency of chicken dishes which according to the parents was among the favourite of the beneficiaries. According to the staff, the ‘tiffin’ provided at IHBP is a ‘pull-factor’ for the parents to regularly send their wards to school as they are not able to provide nutritional food at home owing to their economic situation.

In addition to the regular curricular activities of teaching and learning, IHBP also imparts training in computer usage, sewing and jewellery making as vocational training to the beneficiaries as per their competency and interest. It is to be mentioned that at the time of the field research visit, the computer training and sewing activities were suspended as there were not enough beneficiaries.

Major Concerns:

During the FGDs and KIIs with stakeholders, the following issues and concerns were brought to the fore:

 Inadequate travel allowance, long travel time and disabled-unfriendly transportation system:

First, travel allowance fixed at Rs. 100/- per day by RVNL was deemed extremely low. One parent had to travel 2 hours, one way, changing three modes of transport to get to the centre. Her average expenditure was Rs. 100/- - Rs. 150/-, per day, as reported by her. Therefore, approximately Rs.7000/- is spent by parents in travel expenses alone in transporting their children from home to the centre and back. Another parent, who shifted from Bihar to Kolkata only to be able to send their ward to IHBP reported a travel time of an hour to reach the centre. For this parent, her average monthly expenditure on travel was Rs. 5000/-. The parents also narrated apathy and lack of disabled friendly transportation systems in Kolkata which made transportation and travel of their children to and from the IHBO centre a harrowing experience.

 Inadequate medical allowance: Second, the medical allowance set at Rs. 10/- per child per day, according to the stakeholders, is also very less. The medicine bills alone amount to an average of Rs. 5000/- per month, as reported by the parents. According to them, Dr.Hasan (the head of IHBP) tries to manage the homoeopathic medicines as much as possible from his personal expenses, but the cost of allopathic medicines is expensive and does not get covered in the medical allowance budget. Therefore, there was an appeal from parents to increase the medical allowance that RVNL provides per student per month.

 Low salaries of professional staff:

During the interview with the head of IHBP Dr.Hasan, he stated that the salaries of the teaching and administrative staff are rather low. To address this, it is recommended that administrative costs (expenses on salaries and other daily administrative expenses) be budgeted adequately into programmatic expenses when IHBP submits a fresh budget for 2019 – 2020 to RVNL and this escalation in budget may be duly considered by RVNL keeping in mind both annual inflation as well as the fact that the human resources being deployed in this particular project on ‘inclusive education’ relates to specially skilled educators, who are professionally trained to handle differently abled students.

Project II: Educational support to underprivileged children in backward districts Implementing Agency: Ramakrishna Mission Location: Naora village, District South 24 Parganas , West Bengal

Project Background:

The Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) is a globally renowned humanitarian organization engaged in various forms of humanitarian, social service activities for more than a century. The organization was founded by Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886), chief disciple of Swami Vivekananda. While the Ramakrishna Mission is headquartered in Belur, West Bengal, the CSR initiative by RVNL is being carried out by partnering with RKM, Naora. Village Naora is about 40 kms from Kolkata and the Ramakrishna Math at Naora was established a decade back. Naora lies in Gram Panchayat Bodra, Bhanagar-I block of district 24 South Parga- nas. The operational areas of RKM, Naora are blocks Bhanagar-I, Bhanagar-II and Canning – II.

Observations and Findings:

At the time of field research visit to RKM, Naora, the following range of activities were seen to be carried out: - free coaching centre, early childhood education centre, mobile medical unit, welfare work, religious activities, vocational training unit, adult education centre, dispensary, cultural centre and rural development work. It is to be noted that while all the larger activities are taken up by the RKM, Naora through various charitable donations and funders, under RVNL’s CSR funds the following projects are being implemented – 1) computer education, 2) spoken English classes 3) physical education activities and 4) health dispensary4.

EDUCATION

Under the RVNL’s CSR initiative at Ramakrishna Math, Naora, there are three components of the educational projects, viz 1) Coaching centres 2) Spoken English classes and 3) Computer training.

1) Coaching Centres: The coaching centre classes are carried out six days a week in villages Naora, Behulabari, Mulchatki and Ishwaripur at the RKM centres. Subjects taught at these centres include Eng- lish, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Whereas, spoken English and computer training classes are only conducted at the Naora centre.

______

4 Information from: http://belurmath.org/centres/display_centre.php?centre_id=NOR

The research study was carried out in the villages of Naora, Behulabari and Gangacheri (not officially listed as a coaching centre as it is a new establishment). Through KIIs and FGDs, it was found that coaching centres with cheap tuition fee in the 20 km radius of the villages are unavailable whereas there are private tutors available in the village charging upto 300 rupees per month as tuition fee. In this kind of a scenario, the free coaching centres under RVNL’s CSR is definitely a needs based intervention. The parents of the beneficiaries were especially happy about the quality of academic training at the centre as they stated personalized attention is given to each child’s growth as compared to school and private tuitions. The parents further shared that the children are enthusiastic to learn even though some of them have to wake up as early as 7 in the morning to attend the classes. During the course of FGDs with the beneficiary children, they shared the difference in pedagogy in these coaching classes as compared to their school classrooms. One such example cited was that the strength of a class in the 8th standard in school is 60, whereas the maximum strength in the coaching centre is 20. In other words, the comparatively more favourable student – teacher ratio in these coaching centres ensures personalized attention to each student’s learning. Students are also encouraged to learn through doing instead of mere rote learning.

Figure 4: Ongoing English Class at one of the Coaching Centres supported by RVNL’s CSR

However, some challenges were also observed. Due to lack of physical infrastructure and available space, it was observed during the study that multiple classes were being taught in the same room albeit through different teachers. The classes were merely separated only with curtain acting as partitions. This problem was a serious detriment in the teaching – learning process as there was overlap of instruc- tions and lack of the ability of student’s to focus on the particular class.

Across the four coaching centres that are supported by RVNL’s CSR, there are 419 total beneficiaries with 231 girls and 188 boys. The trend of girls outnumbering the boys in enrolment is a welcome sign. Progress of all the beneficiaries is tracked yearly to gauge the cognitive progress of the students in the school exams. Periodic internal assessments are also carried out to further track the progress of the

beneficiaries. In village Gangacheri, about 20 kms from RKM (Naora), 94 students enrolled in classes from 5th to 9th are taught by local boys studying in 1st year of graduation degree. This practice is com- mendable as it not only instils a sense of responsibility in young adults, it also makes them become role models in society. The classes are carried out in a makeshift thatched room in the compound of a tem- ple. Apart from the coaching classes, uniforms, notebooks and tiffin of biscuits, fruits and eggs (except in village Gangacheri) are also distributed to all the beneficiaries.

2) Spoken English classes: Spoken English is the second component of the educational activities whose centre is in village Naora. During research investigation, it was found that the beneficiaries of the spoken English classes were mostly students studying in colleges in Kolkata and many of them had faced difficul- ties and bullying in their respective colleges due to their English language disability. During the course of the FGD conducted with some of these students, they were of the opinion that the English language was a ‘gateway’ to communicating with the world and that having command over the English language also makes it easier to understand the subjects being taught in their colleges.

The spoken English classes are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays. Further, there are 6 batches divided on the basis of proficiency such as Pre-Beginners course, Beginners course, Intermediate course, Sen- ior course, Advance course and Higher course. Total 111 beneficiaries are enrolled in the spoken English course. Through KIIs, it was discovered that before RKM (Naora), no one else had conducted such classes in the area and the students had to pay rupees 500 to rupees 600 per month for classes in Kolkata whereas the course is free of cost at RKM and the cost of which is eventually borne by RVNL as part of its CSR. With regards to project monitoring, periodic assessments are carried out by RKM (Naora) to track the progress of the beneficiaries in order to promote them from one proficiency level to another.

3) Computer Training Centre: The computer training centre at Naora provides basic computer courses (6 batches) and diploma courses (3 batches). The computer centre imparts both theoretical and practical knowledge on computers. The age group of beneficiaries of the computer classes is 18 years to 54 years. In other words, through this project, RVNL is not only targeting young learners, but is also aiming at adult computer literacy. Dur- ing the field research visit, it was learnt that, as part of the basic course, the basics of computer hardware, MS Office and other tools are taught whereas the diploma course teaches advanced courses in various photo editing tools and advanced tools in MS office. Figure 5: 54-year-old computer trainee 21

As on the date of field research visit, there were 59 beneficiaries enrolled in the basic course and 36 beneficiaries enrolled in the diploma course respectively.

4) Physical Education: Focus on physical education is a part of the basic ideology of the RKM as the institution believes in a holistic development of children. Keeping in line with this ideology, physical education activities are carried out in four centres of RKM (Naora) namely, Naora, Behulabari, Mulchutki and Ishwaripur villages. As per our observation, it was seen that the beneficiaries were trained regularly in yoga, kabaddi, kho-kho, PT and Parade, bratachari, net ball, hand ball, athletics and cricket. A total of 405 beneficiaries are enrolled in the four centres with 195 girls and 210 boys. A caste composition of the beneficiaries is given in the table below:

Scheduled Scheduled Other Backward General Castes Tribes Classes Total 38 156 191 20 Beneficiaries

Table 2.Caste composition of beneficiaries

From the above table, it may be inferred that:

Girls being beneficiaries of physical education programme and sports is a welcome trend towards gender equality – specifically equality of opportunities. The number of girls enrolled (195) in the activity is almost at par with the number of boys enrolled (210). The beneficiaries of most of the activities of RKM (Naora) and eventually that of RVNL’s CSR projects belong to the marginalized SC and ST communities. Therefore, the target group for RVNL’s CSR activities is targeted and in line with its CSR Policy and objectives.

During the FGDs, the beneficiaries claimed that earlier they used to play with marbles or roam around the village, but since the enrolment into the physical activities, the discipline of sports has entered their personal lives as well which helps them focus on studies. The beneficiaries themselves were able to relate to their lifestyle changes that have occurred after joining the physical education classes. For example, one of them said that his enrolment and engagement in the physical education classes has helped in boosting his confidence and self-worth as he excels in football in school. Apart from physical training, all the beneficiaries are provided with supper which consists of rice/puffed rice, a curry, eggs twice a week and chicken once a week. Therefore, the physical education activities have multiple benefits – it not only promotes fitness and good health, but has also helped in building focus and self - esteem of the beneficiaries. In addition to these, it also provides nutritional supplements daily to the students and eas- es a little load of their parents towards hunger.

Health Services

With the support of RVNL, RKM (Naora) has established a dispensary which provides allopathic and homoeopathic medicines. The dispensary also provides basic dental, ENT, orthopaedic and eye care services. Apart from these, basic pathological tests are also conducted at the dispensary. Allopathic medicines are provided on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday while the homoeopathic medicines are provided on Tuesday and Saturday. Pathological tests are conducted only on Sunday which causes a hindrance in treatment of severe illness as the patient has to wait for one week to get the results. There is an X-Ray facility available at village Rajendrapur, established by RKM. According to the beneficiaries, the dispensary at Naora is effective for mild to moderate illnesses only. In the cases of acute illness, they have to go to the government hospital in Kolkata city. Even though all the doctors are males, the female beneficiaries share their sensitive information with the female attendant present at the dispensary. During the course of the interview with the general doctor, he reported that the common illness in the area was malnutrition among women and children, orthopaedic issues and dental problems.

Project III : 180 bedded hospital facilities for treatment of female and child patients at Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Hospital Implementing Agency: Ramakrishna Mission Location: Vrindavan district, Uttar Pradesh

RVNL, as part of its CSR initiative, has funded the construction of a 180 bed hospital for the treatment of women and children, at Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Hospital, Vrindavan. The dearth of medical facilities and inadequate public health infrastructure in Vrindavan is the rationale for RVNL sup- porting this project as part of its CSR commitment. On the basis of secondary review of literature and primary data collection, there seems to be a rise in communicable and non - communicable diseases in Uttar Pradesh3 due to widespread substance abuse, open defecation, improper solid and liquid waste management, low literacy rate, poor access to health care services and a lack of awareness on health schemes. The daily wage labourers, tribal popu- lations, farmers and other groups of vulnerable people living in the backward areas of the state have poor access to institutional healthcare due to inferior roads and irregularity of transportation facilities which gradually makes them turn towards traditional healing methods defining their health-seeking behavior. However, traditional healing or home based care does not address the etiology of diseases and ailments, leading to increase in mortality and morbidity within the community. RVNL through its CSR initiatives, by partnering with Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama is attempting to address these issues in an effective manner leading to minimization of health inequity among the rural communities.

Figure 6: 180 Bed Hospital under Construction in Vrindavan ______

3https://scroll.in/article/835732/poor-sanitation-and-unsafe-water-are-killing-children-in-india ; Uttar Pradesh: Disease Burden Profile, 1990 to 2016, http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/Uttar_Pradesh_- _Disease_Burden_Profile%5B1%5D.pdf 24

With the construction of 180 bedded hospital, RVNL is supplementing the welfare efforts of the government in providing quality and affordable healthcare infrastructure and services to rural communities.

Important Disclaimer:

At the time of the field research visit, the hospital facility with 180 beds was under construction. How- ever, the observations and findings were based on in-depth interviews with the Head of Ramakrishna Mission, Vrindavan who is in charge of the hospital project. The analysis and observations were therefore limited to the project planning stage

Project Ojectives: a) To promote improved health and safety in operations b) To provide highly customizable healthcare solutions c) To promote sustainability as the hospital shall commit to energy effi- cient, environmentally friendly opera- Fig.7: Pediatric Care Ward under construction tionsmerely since implementation had only partially begun and an assessment of impact or results was not possible and too preliminary for assessment in the year 2018 -19. It is to be kept in mind that the Ramakrishna Hospital Sevashrama exists from 1908 and the assessment of the entire hospital was not under the scope of this study. The scope of this particular assessment was only the construction of 180 beds within the hospital, which at the time of assessment, was under construction.

Implementing Agency (RKMS) Perspectives and Activities:

A) Infrastructure and Maintenance: It appears that, once completed, the facilities provided at Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama (RKMS), Vrindavan shall not only be state of the art with all modern equipment and facilities, it will also be affordable at exceedingly subsided rates to lower the health inequity in Uttar Pradesh. As per the doctor in charge from the Ramakrishna Mission, the Modular Operation Theatre (to be constructed with support from RVNL CSR) is likely to be extremely convenient for the staff, doctors and patients as the temperature of the Intensive Care Units and other rooms can be regulated accordingly at any point of time.

B) Preventive and Curative Approach: During the interviews, the doctors in Ramakrishna Mission Se- vashrama (RKMS), Vrindavan seemed to be conscious that the neighboring communities lack awareness on preventive methods of communicable, water borne, vector borne and non-communicable diseases. To address this, the doctors educate patients about preventive measures against non-communicable diseases like Type 1 diabetes which is quite prevalent among adolescents and teenagers in this region.

C) High Rates of Substance Abuse, Malnutrition, Maternal Mortality, Infant Mortality, Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases: In the hospital, majority of the cases were related to tuberculosis, cancer, neo-natal sepsis, diarrhea, typhoid, malaria, dengue, encephalitis, heart and respiratory ailments. RKMS Vrindavan continues to provide laparoscopic surgeries, open hysterectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which are very expensive, to people at very subsidized or for free, depending on the socio- economic profile of the patients.

D) Provision for Mobile Medical Unit: A mobile medical unit operates from Ramakrishna Mission Se- vashrama, Vrindavan, from Monday to Saturday, reaching the peripheries of Vrindavan addressing primary health care needs and creating awareness about preventing vector and water borne diseases.

Analysis:

Therefore, given the institutional credibility and long reputation of service of the Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Vrindavan towards marginalized and poor people, RVNL partnering with the institution towards providing a 180 bedded hospital is a step in the right direction. However, an assessment of the 180 bedded hospital can only be undertaken once the construction is complete and the facility is opened for access and use by the public. At the time of assessment, it was seen that the progress of the construction was on in full swing and that the proposed planning and vision set out for this project was in line with that of both RVNL’s CSR Policy as well as those of local community needs.

Project IV: Boy’s hostel facilities at Adhyatma Vidyapith Brahmacharya Ashram (AVBA) Implementing Agency: Ramakrishna Mission Location: Naimisharanya, Sitarampur district , Uttar Pradesh

As part of RVNL's CSR activities, a modern Hostel known as ‘AVBA Hostel’ for one hundred and sixty students, equipped with modern facilities, is being constructed at Naimisharanya, district Sitapur (U.P). The two storeyed residential education facility is being set up to benefit about forty-eight students each year belonging to lower strata of the society.

Project Objectives: a) To provide accommodation to 48 students of the Adhyatma Vidyapith Brahmacharya Ashram (AVBA) b) To provide a holistic environment that will ensure social and academic growth. c) To reduce the current accommodation crisis at the AVBA Figure 8: New AVBA Hostel under construction School.

Observation and Findings:

At the time of research field visit, there were sixteen rooms that were constructed to accommodate forty-eight students. All the rooms are well furnished with amenities such as wooden cot, mattress with pillows, inverters, bed-spreads, cupboards, chairs, table with lamp for study purpose and wall hangers. Each floor consists of six toilets and bathrooms to serve twenty to twenty four boys. The hostel also boasts of an RO (Reverse Osmosis) water treatment plant which will provide 24x7 clean water for drinking and cleaning purposes. A reading room with newspaper and books is also available. The hostel is connected with communication facilities such as a landline telephone.

During the interview with the hostel caretaker, he said that a designated person will be kept in charge of the maintenance of this new hostel and a warden will be kept to keep a firm watch on the students and their daily activities. At the time of the field research visit, the facilities in the hostel were found to be functional and operational.

Project V: Construction, Maintenance and Renovation of Toilets Implementing Agency: Ramakrishna Mission Location: Vrindavan and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh, Howrah and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal

Project Background: The Swacch Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) or Swacchh Bharat Mission (SBM) is a nationwide campaign in India for the period 2014 – 2019, to accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus on sanitation and hygiene. This nationwide programme, in mission mode, aims to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2nd October 2019 as well as seeks to promote effective Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) and general hygiene practices.

According to the Swacch Bharat Mission – Rural CSR Guidelines, nearly 600 million Indians practice open defecation, which is proven to adversely impact health, including childhood stunting, as well as affect the dignity and security of women. The lack of adequate sanitation in rural areas and, the practice of open defecation, is a major developmental issue in India. Addressing this development issue, is not just about construction of toilets, but is much more complex and nuanced, involving cultural and behavioral shifts, coupled with the challenge of achieving scale.6

As per the SBM- Rural CSR Guidelines, the scale of SBM is enormous and hence the resources of the corporate sector is required to achieve the vision of Swacch Bharat. In order to contribute towards this national level programme, RVNL’s CSR for 2018 -19 focussed on three aspects - Construction, Maintenance and Renovation of Toilets.

With regard to this particular project of RVNL’s support to the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan national programme, the assessment involved assessing the newly constructed toilets at the following locations: a) Keshav Dham, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh b) Adhyatma Vidyapith Brahmacharya Ashrama at Naimisharanya, Uttar Pradesh c) Belur Math University at Belur and Narendrapur in West Bengal

Objectives of the SWACCH BHARAT ABHIYAN PROGRAMME:

1. To eradicate the system of open defecation in India. 2. To convert the insanitary toilets into pour flush toilets. ______6https://swachhbharatmission.gov.in/SBMCMS/corporate-social-responsibility-guidelines.htm

3. To make people aware of healthy sanitation practices by bringing behavioural changes in people. 4. To link people with the programmes of sanitation and public health in order to generate public awareness. 5. To build up the urban local bodies strong in order to design, execute and operate all systems related to cleanliness.

Since toilet construction is only one aspect of the SBA, and RVNL’s CSR is focused only on the construction, maintenance and renovation of toilets, the scope of assessment was restricted to issues of a) accessibility of toilets b) usage of toilets by beneficiaries (who in this case were a mix of both general public and targeted groups) and c) impact on public health (which was too preliminary at the time of field research). Under this CSR project, toilet blocks with modern facilities and amenities have been provided at Keshav- Dham (Vrindavan), Belur Math University (Belur) and Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission as part of RVNL’s CSR initiatives.

At Belur Math University (Belur) and Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission, West Bengal : At the time of assessment, it was found that water was available in the toilet blocks. For maintenance of toilets, there is a designated person. Students residing at KeshavDham, Belur Math University and Narendrapur Ramkrishna Mission can easily access and use these toilet blocks. Figure 9: Newly Constructed Toilet Blocks at Belur Math Previously, before RVNL’s intervention, due to lack infrastructure on the campuses, students had to stand in long queues waiting for their turn to come, losing out valuable time as a result. While the toilets have definitely addressed accessibility and usage related issues, determining behavioral change among students with respect to improvement in cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene practices, was too preliminary at the time of assessment.

At Adhyatma Vidyapith Brahmacharya Ashrama (AVBA), Uttar Pradesh:

RVNL has constructed 2 toilet infrastructures at AVBA at Naimisharanya under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). The objective for implementing this project is to ensure that the AVBA Ashrama has functioning and well maintained water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities. Water, sanitation and hygiene

(WASH) in schools refers to a combination of infrastructural and human development components that 29

are necessary to produce a healthy school environment. The infrastructural components in the WASH programme include uninterrupted water supply, handwash, toilet and soap facilities in the school compound for use by children and teachers. On the other hand, the human development components pertain to the activities that promote hygienic conditions within the school and the practices of children that help to prevent water wastage and prevention of diseases. The provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in a school not only promotes a healthy school environment, it also protects children from illness. Children who are healthy and well-nourished can fully participate in school activities and get the most from education.

Figure 10: Newly Constructed Toilet Blocks at Keshavdham Figure 11: Newly Constructed Toilet Blocks at AVBA, Lucknow

Observations and Findings:

Disclaimer: At the outset, it is important to mention that since the assessment of toilets was done by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, which is a premier social sciences university in Asia, the scope ofas- sessing the toilets was restricted to the social parameters only. The technical/engineering aspect of toilet construction, materials used etc are beyond both the mandate of as well as the expertise of a social science institute. Therefore, the observations and findings of this research study pertain only to aspects related to:

1. Accessibility of the toilets 2. Usage of the toilets 3. Impact of the toilet on health and health seeking behaviour of users

With reference to the above, the major observations and findings from the field research visit are presented below:

a) Infrastructure and Maintenance: The toilets constructed by RVNL CSR, under the Swachh Bharat Mission, are fully functional and are characterized by modern accessories fitted in urinals, bathing space and lavatories. Photovoltaic Solar panels have been installed on top of each of the toilets to ensure sustainable and clean energy. Regarding maintenance, a designated person oversees the toilets through rotating work shifts and cleaning is carried out five to six times in a day. b) Accessibility of Toilets: While all the toilets are open throughout the day and night within the campus and hence are certainly accessible, there is no specific provision made (either in terms of toilet design or facilities) for them being accessible to People With Disabilities (PWDs). c) Beneficiary Awareness About Toilet Usage: It was evident from the FGDs conducted with the students in Vrindavan, Belur Math University, Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission and AVBA Naimis- haranya respectively, that they are all aware of the consequences of open defecation. The toilet at AVBA Naimisharanya seems to have immensely benefitted the students residing in the hostel. The students (some of who were available as most had gone home for the vacations at the time of field research visit) claimed that earlier they used to defecate in the open, sometimes in the jun- gles nearby, leading to increase in communicable and water borne diseases. d) Clean and Functional Toilets: All the toilet blocks visited by the TISS team had functional and clean toilets. As per the caretaker, cleaning materials like broom and disinfectants are regularly used to ensure hygiene.

Key Informant Interviews (KII):

1) With the toilet caretaker at Belur Math University, Belur, West Bengal:

(Translated from Bengali to English as per audio recording of interview)

“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has stressed on the importance of cleanliness and sanitation in all parts of the country. He appealed to the masses to keep their surroundings clean. He explained to the population of India that cleanliness paves the path for good health and development and has made us all believe that clean India is road to a successful nation. With the construction of new toilets here, the students have developed a sense of awareness on issues related to open defecation. The students have access to these toilets 24x7 and these toilets are equipped with modern equipment such as geysers which run on LPG cylinders so that there is access to hot water during winter months. The bathrooms also have state of art accessories fitted in urinals, lavatories and bathing spaces. The toilets built by RVNL under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have certainly improved the lives of the students.”

2) With the toilet caretaker at AVBA hostel, Naimishariya, Uttar Pradesh: (Translated from Hindi to English as per audio recording of interview)

“There were no toilets here before. Students used to defecate in the open with flies and mosquitoes in- festing the place. The same flies and mosquitos would then come and sit on the food we were cooking for the children. But now with a toilet in place, it is a lot more comfortable for the students and they do not go to the jungle anymore. The students are extremely grateful to RVNL for this initiative”

Chapter III

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

After a field research based assessment of RVNL’s CSR projects across the locations of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, it is recommended that:

With regard to pointed recommendations for two projects that were assessed, RVNL may like to factor the following:

Annexures : Research Study Tools

Annexure 1:

Project 1: Inclusive Education

Tool: FGD guide

Status at the time of field research visit: Ongoing

Research Participants: Primary caregivers/parents of students at IHBP with disabilities

1. Family Background

2. Type of disability of child:

3. Knowledge about IHBP:

4. Services provided at IHBP:

5. Quality of infrastructure and whether it is disabled friendly.

6. Cost of the services.

7. Frequency of monitoring ward’s progress with the teachers and vice versa.

8. Staff behavior towards students and parents both.

9. Additional support provided by IHBP (Probe: counseling/training sessions/ group therapy/ coping mechanisms/parenting skills/ additional skills)

10. Aspects of transformation in your ward post joining the IHBP programme.

11. (Probe: social interaction/ behavior/academic/mood etc)

12. Challenges at IHBP and addressal.

13. Views on curriculum, pedagogy adopted by IHBP.

Annexure 2:

Project 1: Inclusive Education

Tool: Interview Guide

Status at the time of field research visit: Ongoing

Research Participant: Founder and Director, IHBP

1. Please give us a background of the IHBP and its evolution into the present.

2. What is the eligibility criterion of selecting the students? What are the grounds of rejection?

3. What is the eligibility criterion to select the teachers?

4. What are the services provided to the beneficiaries and their families?

5. What are some of the major challenges faced while providing these services?

6. Is there a mechanism to build capacities of families of the students? How are the families involved?

7. What are the measures taken to provide a safe and healthy environment for the students?

8. How do you map the individual needs of the children? How is it ensured that they are met?

9. What is the mode of assessment to gauge the growth and development of the students?

10. Is there any provision for imparting vocational skills to the students?

11. What is the cost per student in your programme budget? Do you feel this is sufficient?

12. What are the efforts made to mainstream the students?

13. What are the specific areas where IHBP needs improvement? How can this particular programme that is supported by RVNL be improved?

Annexure 3:

Project 1: Inclusive Education

Tool: Interview Guide

Status at the time of field research visit: Ongoing

Research Participants: Teachers/ Trainer (Special Educators) (4)

1. Please give details: Name, educational qualification, total teaching experience, number of years associated with this project.

2. What do you teach? Tell us a little bit about the teaching aids used and teaching process adopted by you.

3. How do you think this project is helping the all - round development of the students?

4. What are the parameters on which the students are assessed?

5. Is there a mechanism to involve the families of the students? How often do you meet the parents?

6. As a teacher, what are the major challenges you face? What steps would you propose to overcome them?

Annexure 4:

Project 2: Educational and health support to underprivileged children in South 24 Parganas (West Bengal)

Tool: Interview Guide

Status at the time of field research visit: Ongoing

Research Participant: The Monk in Charge, Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) (Naora)

1. Please describe the main challenges in the village? 2. What are the main challenges with respect to education and health? 3. What are the services provided by this project? How are they different from the services already available?

• Education: 1. What are the main services provided in this project under education? 2. What is the cost/fee of these services? 3. What is the profile of the students in the project? 4. What is the level of involvement of the families of the beneficiaries in the project? 5. Is there an institutional feedback mechanism available for beneficiaries to record their feedback?

• Health Services: 1. What are the main services provided in this project under health? 2. What is the cost/fee of these services? 3. With respect to preventive health, have there been any awareness camps in this gram panchayat? 6. Can you please tell us what are the most common ailments and illnesses reported in this village? 7. What are the services provided by the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU)? 8. What is the frequency of the MMU in each village? Do you think this is sufficient? 9. Can you please explain to us the Standard Operating Procedure followed by RKM (Naora) for the MMU and the functioning of the MMU?

Annexure 5:

Project 3: 180 bedded hospital facilities at Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Vrindavan

Tool: Interview Guide

Status at the time of field research visit: Under construction

Research Participant: The Doctor in Charge, Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama

1. What is the need for adding 180 beds to this hospital? Is this need backed by evidence and cases? 2. How will maintenance of this new facility be done? 3. Is the treatment provided in the hospital free or is it subsidized for the poor? 4. On what basis will these new beds be allocated vis-vis general category patients and poor patients? 5. What are the measures planned with respect to ensuring continuous functionality, reli- ability and safety of the medical equipment throughout its life span?

6. What changes have been brought about in this hospital as a result of RVNL partnering

with it?

Annexure 6:

Project 4: Hostel facilities at Adhyatma Vidyapith Brahmacharya Ashram (AVBA) at Naimis- haranya, District Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh

Tool: Semi – Structured Interview Guide

Status at the time of field research visit: Under construction

Research Participant: Hostel Caretaker

1. What are the proposed facilities and amenities that this hostel will have? 2. What is the total hostel capacity? 3. Where do the students who will be joining the hostel stay presently? 4. What is the approximate distance they have to travel to attend classes? 5. Are you satisfied with the hostel’s facilities? Yes/No 6. Whatever has been constructed thus far, are those facilities functioning well? Yes/No 7. Are the planned facilities enough for all students? Yes/No 8. As on date, what are the facilities that are non-functional? 9. Any fee paid during the admission? Yes/No. If yes? How Much? 10. Does the hostel have dormitory or individual rooms? If Rooms, how many students per room? 11. What is the scope of your work in this hostel?

Annexure 7:

Project 5: Newly constructed toilets at Belur Math, RKM Narendrapur, ABVA Naimisharanya and Keshavdham, Vrindavan

Tool: Interview Schedule

Status at the time of field research visit: Construction completed and ready for use

Research Participant: Toilet caretaker in each of the locations

1. When was the toilet constructed? 2. Were the students part of some training/orientation/awareness programme prior to the construction of toilet? 3. What is the source of water for use in the toilet? Is this source of water supply uninterrupted? 4. Do the students wash hands after using toilet? 5. How regularly is the toilet cleaned? 6. Who is responsible for the maintenance of the toilets? 7. What has been the biggest advantage of constructing the toilet? 8. Any suggestions for improvement of the toilets?