Section 1. About the NGO Proposing the Project s1

Section 1. About the NGO proposing the project:

A. Name and address of the organization: Gohaldanga Ramkrishna Sarada Vivekananda Sevakendra (GRSVS) P.O. Gohaldanga, Dist. West Medinipur, Pin: 721232, West Bengal, India [Since 2010 April GRSVS has been Affiliated with: Ramkrishna Vivekananda Mission (RKVM ; www.rkvm.org ), 7 Riverside Road, Barrackpur, 24-Paraganas(N), Pin: 700120, West Bengal, India]

B. Names and Backgrounds of Coordinators (Directors ): [RKVM has over 30 Units at different parts of India and outside of India. The General Secretary of RKVM is Swami Nityananda Maharaj. GRSVS is an affiliated Unit of RKVM and has its own 9-members Trust Body with Swami Nityananda Maharaj as the Secretary of the Trust Body. Two members of this Trust Body will act as Joint Coordinators for the ASHA- Stanford Project for the Junior High School (JHS) Program in GRSVS.]

1. Backgrounds of Coordinators of ASHA Project at GRSVS: a. Swami Nityarupananda: Assistant Secretary of RKVM and Coordinator of Junior High School Program for the RKVM for the last 10 years. Total Student in all 25 Units in 2011: (including GRSVS): over 7000; Total numbers of : ORPHANS, DISABLED, and Below Poverty Line: 1467. Educational qualification: B.A. ( Eng. Hons.); Member of the Trust Board of RKVM affiliated GRSVS. As one of the Asst. Secretaries for the last 10 years of RKVM, a National Organization with Branches in 5 States of India ( West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, U.P, Chattishgarh), supervise the Programs in the Centers for Education, Vocational Training , Public Relation, Project Monitor, Special Education for Orphans, and Physically Challenged Children, and Poors. b. Dr. Bibek Ray: Professor Emeritus of University of Wyoming. With his wife, Purnima, founded GRSVS. He was previously awarded a Project from ASHA- Stanford to conduct “ Non-Academic After -School Program” for 1st to 4th grade students in the Dalit and Tribal Hamlets in villages around GRSVS Center at Gohaldanga. ( This program was discontinued after March 2010. A brief explanation of the consequences that led to the closer of this program has been given in Section 2F, below). Bibek's experience and expertise in Education and Administration areas are briefly listed in attachment #1.

C. When was the Organization Founded, etc.: GRSVS was founded in 1998. It is Registered with the State of West Bengal; Reg. Number: 871/98, Estd. 1998. FCRA Reg. No.:147040516 [Ref. MHA letter/21022/74(061)/2004-FCRA III, dt. 02/11/2004]. The Center is inside a 4 acre walled area with a lake inside, 15 separate houses /shades for different activities, a picnic area, a sport field, a picnic area, orchards, flower garden, vegetable gardens, etc. [ A Note: for related information of RKVM, please see : www.rkvm.org ]

D. What is the Mission of the Organization ( GRSVS):

To improve the Current Status of Education, Ethics, Health, and Economy of the villagers in 20 villages ( about 20,000 population) around GRSVS Center.

E. Funded Projects, etc.:

1. PAST:( to GRSVS : for Educational and Training Programs ): Organizations: ASTI ( American Service To India: www.asti1.org at Costa Mesa, CA ), VIBHA, ASHA -STANFORD. Also from several Individual Donors. 2. CURRENT ( 2010-2011): ASTI Funded Projects: a. Construction costs for a dormitory to house 20 Orphan Boys (Students in GRSVS :JHS ) b. Some costs for the maintenance of the school building, resources, and incidental costs. 3. Beneficiaries: The current students ( 70) and their families from villages ( 20) around GRSVS. Due to limited resources and relatively stringent admission test, we could not admit many, who wanted to come. 4. Goal: To prepare students from 1st grade to do good results and be involved in different co-lateral activities to be a good Human Being. 5. Funding Amount: From ASTI: About 10 lacs for the dormitory and 1 lac for the maintenance of the school building, partial need for resource materials, and Misc. costs. [ASTI funds only for Education and Health Care related activities, preferably towards buildings etc.]

F. Number of Employees:

In 2011 in the JHS: Total: 8 (one Teacher-in Charge, five teachers, one part time teacher, and a part time janitor. [GRSVS has another Eight full time Employees.]

G. Summary of Financial Statement:

I do not have it with me in the USA.

[ A Note: GRSVS's account was kept and audited and reported to appropriate agencies by a Reputed Charted Accounting Farm at Kolkata between 2000 and 2010 March. From 2010 April, it is being handled by the accounting office of RKVM- Barrackpur.]

H. Declaration:

No religious bias or political affiliation in RKVM and GRSVS, and individuals connected in these organizations believe strongly the universal philosophy of Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekananda, that God lives in every being, so serve the poor and the needy.

SECTION 2: About the proposed project: A. Title:

Developing a Superior Junior High School Program at GRSVS, in coordination and cooperation with the Education System at RKVM -Barrackpur, to benefit the disadvantaged and poor village students to become academically successful and good Human Being.

B. Location:

Gohaldanga Ramkrishna Sarada Vivekananda Sevakendra ; Village: Gohaldanga; Dist. West Medinipur, Pin: 721232; West Bengal, India). Gohaldanga is about 160 Km ( 100 miles West of Kolkata ): for Ariel Map and Coordinates: [ Click in Google: Gohaldanga Sevakendra and view aerial map showing the Sevakendra Area: Coordinates: 22o 45' 18” N by 87o 38' 31”]

C. Contact Persons:

1. Dr. Bibek Ray : Email: [email protected]; Address: In India: P.O. Gohaldanga; Dist. W. Medinipur; Pin: 721232, W. Bengal, India. Mobile: 98 30 71 92 81. In the USA: P.O. Box 28310, Oakdale, MN 55128; Ph: 651 330 8963. 2. Swami Nitayrupananda: Ramkrishna Vivekananda Mission; 7 Riverside Road, Barrackpur; Dist. North 24 Paraganas; W. Bengal; Pin. 700120; India. Ph: 94 3398 4783; Email: [email protected].

D. Who is the Project directed towards: GRSVS has been working, since 2000, in 20 villages ( with about 20,000 population) in several development programs. The villagers recognize the benefit and have been cooperating with GRSVS activities. For the JHS Program: Since 2010, the direct beneficiaries are the students along with their family members. In the future, as more classes are added, more students and their families will be benefited. This program will also generate awareness about the need for a better education of the children among the other villagers in the area.

E. Describe the Current Situation: 1. Local Community: Broadly the villagers in these agricultural communities can be divided into two groups: land holding farmers and landless labors. There is no industry. The farmers economy revolves around two cash crops: Rice Paddy and Potatoes. In the absence of price control regulation, the farmers buy the materials needed for agriculture, in high price and sale what they produce at a low price. So the villagers are living in a state of perpetual negative economy and there are cases of suicides when there is a crop failure. The labors, mostly working in the agricultural field, get work for about 200 days in a year; so they are under constant poverty. Many are in “below poverty level” category of the Government. These gloomy situations have created several sociological problems: namely, Among Adult: increase in family violence, drinking, and abuse of children, and Among

3 Young boys and girls: dropout from school, run away from home to work as under age labor and/or get involved in anti-social activities in the cities. 2. Target Beneficiaries: We have students who can be broadly divided in to two groups:Children, both boys and girls, of the villagers ( farmers and labor classes; irrespective of social status and castes), and Orphan boys. So the beneficiaries of this program are those children and their parents.

F. Existing Status of the Proposed Project:

The proposed project, an off-shoot of a one year ASHA -Stanford funded project : “After School Program of Dalit and Tribal Children in classes 1 to 4”, was initiated in 2009 academic year as a Primary School ; in 2010 academic year it has been up-graded to Junior High School. Some relevant information for this change is stated below. ASHA- Stanford awarded, around 2008, a one year grant to GRSVS to develop an after school program for the children in grades 1 to 4 in the Dalit and Tribal Hamlets in villages around the Center in Gohaldanga. The Mission of that project was to reduce school drop out rate among the children in these communities and to motivate them to go for higher education. The plan was to reverse their fear to fun in education, through many collateral programs. But, soon we realized that suitable teachers to motivate the children are absolutely unavailable in the villages and the standard of education in the village Primary Schools are very low; many students completing 4th grade, were unable to read, write, do simple math, etc. Although, we succeeded in reducing the dropout rate and motivated 4th graders to get admission in 5th grade in the near by High School, we realized that with their poor academic background, their chance to complete even High School will be low, unless they get good private tutors, that would cost very high. So, we decided to start a model primary school in the Center, with the Mission to prepare and motivate students from the early years so that they will succeed in higher education. We submitted a project in 2010 to ASHA- Stanford, informing the changes and requesting funds for the Primary School Program. In March of 2010, GRSVS was affiliated with RKVM- Barrackpur, with a new Trust Body. When we realized that RKVM runs a very successful school education program ( Junior and Senior High, and Higher Secondary Schools, and colleges for both boys and girls), we requested the Trust Body to extend the Primary Program to Junior High School Program under their affiliation and direction. Under RKVM School System, a Junior High School was initiated in 2011 academic year we with 1st to 5th grades, and with a plan to add one grade each year up to 8th grade. Following completion 8th grades, the students can get admission in 9th grade in one of the High School run by RKVM.

1. Infrastructures: The classes are held in the Central Building ( Vivekananda Vidyayatan), that has 8 class rooms to hold 25 to 30 students, resource rooms, Computer room, Science Lab room, etc. It has also a large auditorium ( to hold 350 people and a large stage. Also the Center has a play ground inside the walled area ( about 4 acres). In addition to academic programs, the students learn co-lateral program, such as, computer, music, dance, yoga, sports etc. For academic programs, the syllabus, books ,and other things are used as per regulation of RKVM School system.

4 2. Existing staff ( in JHS): Current:2010 -2011 : Six full time ( one is Teacher-in-Charge) and one part time teachers, and one part time janitor. [ The program need part time accountant and Librarian: indicated in Budget and Budget Explanation in Sec. 3] 3. Students: 2010-2011: Total 71 in Grades: 1 -5; Teachers: 5 Full time, 1 Teacher-in-Charge, and one Part-time ( Ratio: T:S < 1:14 ) 4. Govt. Affiliation: Affiliated with RKVM School Program, that has been accredited by the State Govt. Education Department for many years.

5. Teaching Methodology: As adapted by the highly successful program of RKVM School System. Some New Methods will be Introduced if this Project is funded (Proposed Training of Teachers by Expertise in Child Education to upgrade the teaching method will help further).

G. Project Plan:

1. Short Term Goals(Mission): To establish a Junior High School with Excellent Academic and Co-lateral Programs to prepare students ( boys and girls) from the surrounding villages, so that they can successfully compete to get admission in better Institutions of Higher Studies in West Bengal State. For this, we need: Good Infrastructures, Competitive Academic and Co-lateral Programs, and Motivated and Efficient Teachers. We have excellent infrastructures; our program is excellent (as it has been developed by experienced teachers and school administrators of RKVM); we have a few good teachers, and trying to recruit a few efficient and motivated teachers ( which is relatively hard, as very few in Math., Sci., and Eng. areas likes to come to villages, unless salaries are high ). 2. Long Term Goals (Vision): (a): Up-grade the Junior High School to a High School; and (b): Prepare the students that they become successful in their life, and when they grow up,become good citizens and human being and help toward creating a good village society.

H. Time Schedule for Short Term Goal:

The Junior High School ( with Grades 1 to 8) will be completed by 2014. In 2011 it has up to 5th grade; by adding one more grade each year, it will have 8th grade in 2014. We have to recruit a few motivated and excellent teachers, specially to teach Mathematics, Science, and English. [ A Note: The education systems in West Bengal, during the last 35 years, have been completely destroyed. Politically, it has been used as a party machine to gain control over masses, specially in the villages. With the current changes in political system, it is expected that the Education System will have a chance to improve in the near future. This will help our cause].

5 SECTION 3: Funding Details: A. Amount Requested: ( Shown in Budget Table below ): 1. For 6 months in 2011: in one installment: :July to December: Rs 1, 32,000 /- ( =$ 3, 300; with $1 = Rs. 40) 2. For 12 Months in 2012: in 2 installments: :January to June: Rs. 2, 70, 000 /- ( =$ 6, 750 ) . and :July to December: Rs. 2, 68, 000 /- ( =$ 6, 700 ). 3. Total: for 2011: $ 3, 300; and : for 2012: $ 13, 450. B. Divide over time Period: and; C: List by Category: Listed in the Budget Table below, and the Budget Explanations, that follow the Budget Table:

BUDGET:( in time-period and in category; in 1000 rupees for Items/ for the Period ): ______

Items (numbers) 2011 2012 2012 last 6 mo 1st 6 mo last 6 mo 1.Salary: a:Teachers: :(2): 72 :(3): 108 :(3): 108 b.:Co-lateral Teachers: :(1): 15 :(2): 30 :(2): 30 c.:Part Time Support Personnel : (Accountant, Librarian, Tiffin Mang.; Janitor):(=1.5) : 21 :( =2): 30 :(=2): 30

2. Educational Supplies: a.: Resource Room : 1 12 3 b.: Students: 0 0 0

3. Students' Nutritious Tiffin: 0 :( 100): 57 :( 100): 57

4. Students Activities: :competition; graduation ceremonies; educational; sports; trip; health check up: 15 6 30

5. Teachers' Training: 0 12 0

6. Parent's get-together: 0 5 0

7. Miscellaneous: electricity cost; travel; etc. 8 10 10

Sub-Totals (Rs.): 132 K 270 K 268 K ______6 BUDGET EXPLANATIONS: 1.Salary: a. Teachers:

In 2011, there are 5 full-time teachers and a Coordinator ( Teacher -in -Charge). i The resident Coordinator is to see that the program runs smoothly. He manages the school supplies, prepares class roaster, arranges days for quizzes and examinations, sets meetings with the parents, holds teachers meetings, takes care of students discipline, etc. Also takes a few classes. His salary of Rs. 5,000/ month is now paid, and will be paid in 2012 by the RKVM- Barrackpur. ii. Three of the teachers teach subjects in ARTS area, except English. They are from the localities and all have B.A. Degree. Their salary is Rs. 4000 for each / month; it is now being paid by a sponsor, who has consented to pay this for 2012. iii. The two other teachers, now teaching English, Mathematics, and both Physical and Natural Sciences; they are from out side and live inside the Campus and gets meals in the Center's Kitchen, by paying Rs. 1000/ month. Their salary/ month is Rs. 6,000/- of which they, each, pay Rs. 1,000/- for Food. We have at present funds to pay them up to June, 2012. vi. From 2011, July to December: We need salary for these two teachers. The costs, put in the Budget , will be: Rs. 72,000/- ( 6 months x 2 teachers x Rs. 6000/- month). v. In 2012: We need a total of THREE teachers ( one each for teaching English, Mathematics, and Sciences) as there will be 6 grades ( 1st to 6th ) and the Math. Teacher ( B. S. in Science) can not be able to teach effectively both Math. And Sci. So we need one teacher with Math. Major and one with Science Major for effectively teaching Math. and Sci.. Their Salary for the First 6 month will be: Rs. 108,000/- ( 6 months x 3 teachers x Rs. 6,000/month ), and Second 6 months will be: Rs. 108,000/- b. Co-Lateral Teachers: To teach non-academic, co-lateral classes ( half a day; every day). At present , there is one part-time teacher. In 2012, we need two part timer teachers, as other co- lateral programs will be started. i. 2011: One: To teach: Dance, Music, and Gymnastic; Salary: Rs. 2,500/- month; :Total for 6 months: Rs. 15,000/- ii. 2011: Two: One to teach: Dance, Music, and Gymnastic; Salary: Rs. 2,500/- month. : One to teach: Yoga, Computer , and Sports; Salary: Rs. 2,500/month. : Total costs: Rs. 30,000/- for first 6 months, and Rs. 30,000/- for second 6 months. c: Part Time Support Personnel: Due to non-availability of fund, at present we do not have individuals to take care, on a regular basis, of the accounting of the school expenses and maintaining the Library activities ( inventory, book loan to students, etc.). If this project is funded, both accounting and library management have to be maintained efficiently. For that 2 half time workers will be used and their salary has been included in the budget. We will start the Nutritious Tiffin in 2012; this will be managed by a part time manager, as indicated in the budget. Now there is a part time janitor, who will continue to work. 7 i. Accountant: To keep accounts of all the expenses of the funds, preferably in Spread Sheet ,on a regular basis; salary/ month: Rs. 1,000/- ii. Librarian: To keep records of all books, arrange properly, issue books to students and teachers and take return of books, maintain the resource room, etc.; salary / month: Rs. 1,500/- iii. Janitor: Cleans the class rooms and the school area and toilets; salary /month: Rs. 1,000/- iv. Tiffin Manager: Bring supplies, prepare the meals, serve the meals and manage the students during tiffin time; salary /month: Rs. 1,500/

Total fund needed: 2011: Monthly (except for Tiffin Manager): Rs. 3,500; Total in 6 months= Rs. 21,000/ 2012: Monthly( for all 4):Rs. 5, 000/;Total: first 6 months=Rs. 30,000/-; second 6 months=30,000/

2. Educational Supplies: a: For Resource cum Library Room: Main needs are for : Text Books: Copies for teachers and for the Library and Reference Books;/ Demonstration Models: Charts/Maps; Chalk / Dusters, Papers/Note Books, Pens /Pencils; Sports Supplies, Co-lateral course supplies, etc.

For 2011: As we already have bought most supplies, we need Rs. 1,000/ to buy a few Educational Demonstration Models/Charts/Maps.

For 2112: In the First half, most of the funds requested ( Rs. 12, 000/) ,will be used to buy Text Books and Reference Books, and supplies for Science Experiment Classes. In the Second half the funds are mainly for class supplies and Co-lateral class and Sport supplies. A request for Rs. 3,000/ is put in the budget. b.: For Students: Once a Year the Students need Text Books and Dress( as set by RKVM- Barrackpur School System). It costs about Rs. 500/ per students /year. Most families are able to provide that. Those who can not afford, we arrange sponsors for each students. So no Fund is needed for the students.

3. Students Nutrition: The program will be initiated from 2012 Academic Year. The Classes ( Monday to Saturday ) are conducted between 11 am and 4 pm; with tiffin recess at 1:30 pm for 30 min. At present most students eat Nutritionally deficient foods, such as: PUFFED RICE from home, or buy Junk foods from the local stores. In most families the main meals ( before coming to school and at night) consist of: rice, little dal ( lentil soup), potato curry; once in a while little fish or egg; meat: may be once in a few months; very rarely little milk ( if the family has a milking cow).

During a recent Physical Check up by the physicians in the School, almost all the students were found to be under weight and lower growth and nutritionally deficient and anemic. The students 8 have less energy and fell asleep, even in the class. All these are the signs of malnutrition that will not enable the students to achieve the potential ability they have to learn, comprehend and realize what the content is about( not just memorize, even without understanding ). So, a good teaching program needs to be supplemented with good nutrition for academic excellence.

We plan to provide a NUTRITIOUS TIFFIN ,all six days in the school during noon. It will consists of ( an example :in rotation ): Either Bread with Peanut Butter and Jelly; or Chapatis (Flat bread ) with Egg Curry or Chole ( Bean) Curry ; or Flat Rice ( CHIRA), with Milk and Juggary. ( sweet syrup). In addition, everyday the tiffin will have some Green Vegetables and Fruits to provide vitamins, minerals and special nutrients.

In 2012: with a total number of students of about 100; for 260 school days; and Rs. 4/ per Meal : The total meals cost will be around:( 100 x 260 x 4) = Rs. 104, 000/.

To it, a cost of preparation of some items ( e.g. cooking gas to make chapatis and curry ), Rs. 10,000/ will be needed.

That makes the Total need for the year, on this head = Rs. 114, 000/-; or, Rs. 57, 000/ for first 6 months, and Rs. 57,000/- for the Second 6 months.

[ A Note: At present, all the Govt. Junior High Schools provide After Noon Meal ]

4. Students Activities: For 6 months in 2011: We have budgeted Rs. 15, 000/- , to meet the expenses mainly for a One- Day Educational Trip in November/December in a chattered bus to a Historical Site ( e.g. Bishnupur in Bankura District), about 80 Km from the GRSVS Center. The students will be given snacks. And lunch. [A Note:In all such Trips, selected Parents, Teachers, and a few others from the Center, accompany the students.]

A total of Rs. 6,000/- is put in the budget for the first 6 months of 2012, to meet the expenses, such as: students' academic competitions, sports meet, and performances in music, dance etc.

For the second 6 months of 2012: A total of Rs. 30, 000/- has been requested, most of which will be spent for a Students Educational Trip to Kolkata ( most have not been there), in Chattered Buses, to visit Science City, Zoo, Museum, etc. The students can spend the night at RKVM Barrackpur Center. In addition, the cost of the graduation ceremonies is also included with the second 6 months budget.

5. Teachers Training: Rs. 12, 000/- is to meet the expenses for a week-long training of our teachers by Experts in Child Education ( fees , travel, food). The training will be organized in the GRSVS Campus in the beginning of the Academic Year of 2012 ( January).

In the early years of life, the brain is developing rapidly. The children will learn and memorize things much better if they are taught through love, affections, games, and with simulating objects, as compared to just opening a book and ask to memorize, without their any idea, what and why they are reading something in a book. 9 [ A Note:Most teachers, coming fresh from a college, are not exposed to such methods; so, they try what they remember from their own childhood experience. Most often these are limited to memorization without realization, along with mental and physical punishments, partiality to some students, etc. These are detraction and students soon develop fear for books and teachers and schools. The students have to be loved and guided properly by the efficient teachers, so that they develop a love for books, for education, and for knowing the unknown. To develop that ability, a training program of the teachers will have an important role in the academic excellence of their students for their whole life].

6. Parents' Get-Together: A successful education program has to have at least three effective component , that act in unison to open up the potentiality of a student: These are: an effective environment and infrastructures in the school, dedicated and affectionate teachers, and loving and stimulating parents. But in the villages most parents are illiterate and they do not have any idea, what academic excellence, and man making education mean. They have to be exposed to the teaching environment, so they can stimulate their children to go for good education. For this, the parents, not only come individually, time to time, in the parent-teacher-student conference, but they all should come together , meet with each other, exchange views with each other, and a parent's' get-together will provide a platform for that. Rs. 5, 000 is towards the cost of a half-a-day program in the GRSVS Campus with the parents, students, teachers, and personnel. The activities will be : Initiation Ceremony of the students; brief speeches by one coordinator to explain about the Mission and Vision of the program and the role of parents in the success of the program; speeches by a few parents indicating their aspiration for the children and their cooperation. The parents and students will then be treated with a dinner.

7. Miscellaneous: The amounts requested are as follows: 2011: Rs. 8, 000/-; 2012: first 6 months = Rs. 10, 000/ and 2012: second 6 months= Rs. 10, 000/- These amounts will be spent to meet the following costs: a. Part of the Electricity Bills ( part of the total costs): b. Travel by project coordinators and officials to RKVM -Barrackpur and GRSVS for works related to JHS program. c. Overhead Charge ( 1% of total)

D. Sources of Funds:

In 2010, when the Primary School was started, some funds came from ASTI and some from several Individual donors in the USA ( our friends and relatives). In 2011, the Junior High School budget is very tight, as we are trying to collect from the individual donors. RKVM provides some funds for the up keep of the Orphan Students.

E. Annual Budget of GRSVS:

In 2010 – 2011 Fi. Yr: Approximately: Over Rupees 22 lacs (of which about over Rupees 10 lacs for the Orphan Dormitory construction). The objectives of GRSVS are to improve the status of Education and Ethics, Health Care, and 10 Economy of the villagers in 20 villages around the Center through different programs. We apply to different organizations, including ASTI, and request individuals for funds, mostly in the USA. Some funds also come from RKVM for salaries of people working in the Center and for the residents and Orphan Boys ( mainly boarding in the Center). GRSVS does not get any Govt. Fund in India. In 2011 - 2012, the annual budget will be about : Rupees 10 to 12 lacs.

Section 4: Expected Project Impact:

A. How the Program will affect the lives of local people on Short Term & Long Term Basis in:

1. Literacy: The villagers are well aware that the Programs in the Government run local Primary Schools and the High School have failed to provide well balanced education to their children. It is reflected in high drop-out rates , right from the Primary School Grades. Those with some means, send their children to better school and/or provide good private tutors ( some students have one tutor for each subject ), but most families can not afford that and accept the when their children either dropout or fail in the state examination and are automatically eliminated for higher education. The villagers are very much interested to get their children admitted in the RKVM program and GRSVS, with the aspiration that their children will get good education to have a better future. 2. Health: GRSVS has a Weekly Clinic ( Homeopathy) and holds Medical Camps with Specialists coming from Kolkata and nearby towns. Local people get free medical check up and nominal charge for medicines in the weekly clinic. It has been very popular and we have to restrict the patients' number to 100. Students get medicine free. This year GRSVS organized two Free medical camps; one for general check up, and another by a skin specialists. All the students were checked in both the camps and many villagers also visited the physicians. Many free medicines were given ( through medical representatives). 3. Culture: GRSVS has Free programs to teach willing students: Dance, Music, Drums, Drama, Literary writings, Recitation, and Yoga. In the Center, the dance teacher and the music teacher also teaches the villagers on payment basis. The students give performances time to time and the villagers come and see those programs. 4.Employment: Through RKVM and GRSV programs a total of 21 persons have employment. 5.Cooperation/Collaboration: There exits a mutual cooperation and collaboration between the villagers and the people at GRSVS. Villagers participate and help in when their help is necessary, such as during a celebration in the Center. Also, Villagers get help from GRSVS: clothes, blankets, funds, etc. as needed. Recently GRSVS helped the villagers to form two self- help groups:(a) one by parents of students to manage transport of students from distant villages to the school in the Center; (b) the other by volunteers to arrange primary care facilities for snake bite and dog bite victims. These are managed and funded ( through revolving funds ) by the villagers; GRSVS will act as a participating member. 11 B. System to Monitor on the Impact to Beneficiaries:

The parameters to determine Impact of the Program on beneficiaries, the performance and inputs of the Students, Teachers, Parents, and communities will be used as follows: 1. Among Students: Evaluation of students performance on a regular basis; extra help to the slow in learning; challenge the students with higher performance abilities; have competition among themselves in groups and participate in competition conducted by the State; etc. Some of these are being conducted now. More will be added with time. 2. Among Teachers: Evaluation of performance and acceptability by the students ( students evaluation); evaluating teachers teaching performance and providing training by experts; etc. These will be included following funding of the program. 3. Among Parents: Inform the parents about the working plan of the program and what they will expect from the program; conduct parent -teacher conference on a regular basis to listen to the views of the parents and act as needed; if a problem arises, have a conference with a student and his/her parents to solve the matter; have teachers-coordinator meetings to determine the efficiency and the need of the program, etc. Some are in effect now and other will be added later. 4. Among the Communities: Beside parents of the students, it will be hard to evaluate impact of the program with general villagers. However, the participation of the villagers in School activities, such as cultural performances by the students, competitions, graduation ceremonies will be the indicators of local people's participation. The results of these activities will be properly recorded for the examination by the program coordinators and for reporting to the funding agency, as needed.

C. Involvement of Local Communities:

Unselfish services of RKVM for the poor and helpless people over last 25 years are recognized by the people in the West Bengal State and in India. The villagers in the surrounding villages have been exposed to the services of GRSVS for over last 10 years. Now, with the help of RKVM , many social works are being conducted at GRSVS Center, such as: providing clothing, blankets to poor and elderly, providing medical help to sick, providing boarding , lodging and education to orphans, providing financial assistance to poor and meritorious students for higher studies, etc.; in all these many villagers participate. Also during Ceremonies (such as Foundation day), the Center gets many volunteers from the villages to help in organizing different activities and feeding thousands of people. With the guidance of GRSVS, the adult villagers have recently established two self-help programs on their own costs: (a):to form a help-club to stock vaccines and serum locally, to provide primary care ( immediate vaccination) to victims of snake bite and dog bite, which are not available in the remote villages and the victims die; and (b): to form a parents club to arrange and manage the transport of students with a van from far away villages to the school at GRSVS Center. This type of cooperation among villagers of doing something by themselves for themselves, was almost unheard off in these remote villages before. We plan to guide villagers in many such collaborative activities to help one another for their own good. These activities will inspire the young boys and girls to undertake social activities in the villages. 12 D. Plans for Self-Sufficiency:

The Current Junior High School Program at GRSVS is aimed at to provide good education to boys and girls of the poor village farmers and labors and some orphan boys, where the education systems and its standards have almost been destroyed by the political system in the last 30 years. For long time, even after the independence, the villagers in West Bengal ( and probably in many villages in India) have been considered as illiterate, uncultured, sub-human population and almost forgotten ( except during the elections) by the most elected bodies and the governments administrations. As a result, the villages, far away from cities and urban towns have not proper facilities for education, health care, transport facilities, employment, that are the minimum needs to live humanly. So, anyone has little chance , leave the villages for the greener pastures in the cities and towns. Only those, who do not have any other means, stay in the villages and many consider that their lives are cursed. Under this scenario, it will not be rational to consider about the possibility to the program attain self-sufficiency. The villagers, many are below poverty level, will not be able to provide the expenses. The government run schools do not operate with the thought that they have to be self- sufficient one day. It is an obligation of the State. So, probably, it is an obligation of those , “who have”, to share some of their fortune with those “ have not”.

Our plans to make the program partially self sufficient, in future, are:

1. To build another boarding house for boarding and lodging of students from towns and get donations from the parents(we are now getting requests). 2. Apply to national and international philanthropic organizations for funding the program. 3. Contact individuals, with philanthropic mind to visit the Center and consider donation or fund a part of the program. 4. Contact State and Central Government Departments to provide funds for the program. But, before we take those approach, we first have to build a fairly strong base. Funding from ASHA- Stanford, will help in our efforts to build a strong foundation over which we will be able to have a partially self-sufficient successful program in the future.

E. Photographs:

With Brief Narrations on the activities of the Students in JHS are Provided in Attachment #2: [ Also please see the photographs that Mr. Rohon Coutinho, after his site visit in March, sent you.] 13