Bharat Calling An initiative of Shri Ramesh Prakash Samajik Sansthan Speaking on behalf of rural students who could not access admission to prestigious universities due to poor socio- economic condition Annual Report 2011-12 1 Targeting Vision No one in the society is “8 out of 10 students in higher denied right to higher education from India are education due to poor socio– from Urban rich income economic condition background”- M.L Sisodiya Journal of Higher Education 2004 82% of students studies in govt. schools in India- NUEPA Delhi Mission Targeting To create a platform for easy “86% of drop out at 10th transition to higher education standard from targeted in all rural government Hoshangabad district of schools for students of rural M.P”- Census 2001 areas “Agar ek baccha bhi select hota hai to badi khushi ki baat hogi.”- A teacher in 2009 2 Table of contents Contents Page No. Executive Summary 5 The Journey 6 Project Activities 8 Rapport building with Tribal Welfare Department 9 Alumni Reunion and extra classes 10 Awareness Sessions 11 Contact in Distance mode 12 Final enrolment for summer Camp 13 Preparation for summer camp 14 Summer Camp 16 Final Selections 20 Future Plans 21 Expenses 23 Board of governance 26 Supporters 27 Core team 27 Advisory board 27 Appendix- 1 28 List of selected and final admission taken students 12th std List of selected and final admission taken students 10th std. List of selected but not admission taken students 10th std. List of selected but not admission taken students 12th std Other students, participated but non-selected 10th and 12th Appendix-2 35 Targeted colleges Appendix 3 36 Camp centres Appendix 4 37 Summer fellowship Appendix 5 38 Declaration Appendix 6 39 Free structure 3 Some Responses* Ms. Nupur Damde 12th standard (82%) student of Biology hails from a manual labour family and secured 100th state rank in Bachelor of Pharmacy entrance in her category says- “If I would have not attended the summer camp, I would have ended doing daily chores and finally leaving studies”. Mr. Shivkumar 10th standard student hails from a small village Jhunkar of Kesla block. He shared- “I never knew about the opportunities th right after 10 standard, like polytechnic. Just after three years I can continue with my family responsibilities” Ms. Sushma Pare- Lecturer of kesla village says- “I still remember how we started with Zero and now have reached to every school of the block. I am really amazed at the student‟s potential.” Ms. Ratnmala- Mother of a tribal girl shares- “All I wanted to do with my girl after 10th was getting her married. However, she is doing great in polytechnic, she has even taken me to towns and we have travelled places. I am amazed at the increase in confidence of my girl.” After a smile she adds- “Marriage, no- no she is going to become engineer and she will become role model for other girls now”. Ms. Anita first ever girl from community studying in final year of B.Com (Honors) from central univ. Sagar who was unsure about continuing education after 12th standard wants to complete her PhD. 4 Executive Summary Bharat Calling is an initiative of Shri Ramesh Prakash Samajik Sansthan based in Pathrota village of Hoshangabad district of M.P. It was started as a part of internship program in 2009 by TISS M.A in Social Entrepreneurship course students (2009-11). It was started with assessing the situation of tribal block (Kesla M.P) students in higher education (82% drop out till 10th 2001 census), moved to information providing than to support in form filling, coaching during summers and then to final linkages to respective universities. Started with 1 school and 0 role models, the organization has spread to 27 schools with more than 100 role models in higher education, since it started working in 2009. It is spread into following segments for a year- Official permissions from the government departments, principals to conduct awareness sessions in targeted govt. school. This year it was complete kesla block and 27 schools. Conducted during August to September months in a year. Awareness sessions in schools (students personal data is collected for further communication), supported with 45 minute motivational talk, posters, games and an Higher education friend appointed by the organization. (140 visits this year) Conducted during September to November months in a year. Follow up of students, revisit in schools, and calling up students over phone and posting letters (140 field visits and 3000 phone calls this time). It is aimed at motivating students to attend summer camp during April and May and prepare for various entrance examinations. (14 centre this year 2 residential). Conducted during November to January month in a year. Preparation for summer camps, finalizing the list of interested students from the area, allocation of centres and taking permissions from respective schools for rooms and hostels (25 meetings with govt. official this year). Selecting teachers for coaching during summer camp, mix of local teachers and students volunteers across country. (Total of 20 volunteers this year, out of which 7 students of TISS volunteered for the program). Conducted during February to March in a year. Summer Camp classes begin, simultaneously students start applying for various entrance examinations, and it is conducted during April to May. It is also accompanied with extracurricular activities motivational talks and parents and individual counselling. This year we had 14 centres for summer camp. Results are out and students are guided for admissions and final admissions take place. It is happened during July to August. Annual report and final data is out. This year there has been 122 selections from targeted 173 students. The historic results have further motivated govt. To spread the initiative further in other blocks and thus we have got permission for this. This year initiative will move to complete district and will touch 8 blocks of the Hoshangabad and Betul district. The organization has garnered support from various organizations this year to name a few is DBS-TISS Fellowship. 5 The Journey Organization started functioning in 2009; however it got registered as society only in 2011. The inception of the organization goes back to the internship programme of the students of Social Entrepreneurship from the Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai (2009-11 batch). With a small survey to assess the situation of higher education enrolment in Kesla tribal block of Hoshangabad district M.P. Which showed, drop out of 82% at 10th std. fortunate students continuing higher education enrolled to only local „B‟ grade colleges Thus, started with information providing program it moved to providing complete support to rural students to make its access to prestigious universities form rural area, that includes form filling, information, guidance, coaching in summer camp and follow up. We can summarize the support was- Just like an informed parent would support his/her child higher educational dreams.. 1st Phase 2009 2nd Phase 2009-10 3rd Phase 2010-11 Awareness of career options for Increasing representation of In its 3rd phase, the programme humanities stream after 12th underprivileged children from 2 Govt. restricted its area of work Tribal block Higher Secondary Schools of of Kesla in the Hoshangabad district Small Pilot to assess the need and Hoshangabad district of M.P (which is of M.P consisting 5 government future feasibility of the program among the poorest parts of India) in the higher secondary schools having 90% country's prestigious universities. BPL, ST, SC & OBC students. The survey showed no students getting into NAAC accreted colleges Supported by 3 month summer camp in The programme also included class th of India. Even those who were the school itself. With its unique and 10 students for Pre Polytechnic Test fortunate enough to continue their interactive approach in this phase of (PPT). education were enrolled in local intervention, the program helped in In spite of the limited engagement grade „C‟ college. dramatically improving the number of with the students (due to course students applying and getting selected in commitments) and lack of proper 68% of students showed interest for various prestigious universities of India. funding, the programme succeeded in studying further from the area Total 37 students from the 25 inner most helping around 50 students in getting villages of three districts were selected. selected at various universities and Polytechnic colleges. Awarded as Best Social Venture by Rotary Club Pune and Innolab TISS Awarded Plustrust fellowship, lifetime Mumbai NSEF Fellowship and represented India in G.S.V.C at ISB Hyderabad 6 2011-12 Collaboration with tribal welfare department, 173 students from 148 villages participated permission of conducting program in all 27 via 14 summer camps schools of the block 118 selections in top most universities of India in subjects refer to appendix 1 for Undertook a defunct govt. scheme meant for details coaching students for entrance examinations in summers Awarded Prerana, IDBI-TISS and DBS-TISS Fellowship Statistics Major Heads 2010 2011 2012 No. of govt. High Schools 2 5 27 No. of govt. Higher Secondary and high 3 5 11 schools No. of blocks 1 1 1 No. of govt. Students targeted 1000 1500 4500 Summer Camp centers 1 2 14 No. of students in summer camp prepared 35 63 173 and appeared for various entrance examinations No. of students selected 22 50 63+48 No. of students took final admission in 10 14 45 prestigious universities No. of villages benefited 30 50 148 7 Project Activities Meetings and proposal to Tribal Welfare Department This year has also seen a historic moment of government support for the project, thus implementing the project in whole block.