Site Visit Report: Wayanad Girijana Seva Trust

Date : May 28th 2014

By Jayaprakash Nair ()

We (Me and my family) visited the Wayanad Girijana Seva Trust on May 28th 2014 and met Baburaj and Rajeevan who are the founders of this trust. Since schools hadn’t reopened yet we did not get the opportunity to meet the kids. However, we got a good tour around the facility. Pictures of the classrooms building , the hostel /dormitory area and the student dining area are attached. Also attached is a picture of the new boys hostel which is currently being built. The description below will give a basic understanding about the Trust and its objective.

Wayanad Girijana Seva Trust a charitable Institution registered in 2002 with the prime and ultimate objective of educating and re-enrolling the School Drop-Outs amongst the children from the impoverished tribal communities in Wayanad district of Kerala State. As the first step towards achieving this objective the trust started a Residential Tribal Vidyalaya in 2002 and later accredited with National Institute of Open Schooling, HRD Ministry, Govt. of India.

The organization is registered under the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA) of India as of August 09, 2006 and is authorized to receive foreign contributions.

School Background:

Poverty and geographical barriers that created circumstances which did not give priority to education was the main reason for school drop-outs in tribal communities. In societies chronically plagued by mass deprivation and starvation, education becomes the first casualty. Residential scholastic education thus becomes imperative.

The children residents at this school hail from different sects of tribal groups living in different colonies across Wayanad district in the midst of thick forest, which lies 30-60 km away from the school’s location. Most of these colonies are situated at hillock areas and one could reach there only by travelling kilometers on foot. Even to send their children to a Lower Primary school they have to travel minimum 5 km by foot. This results in parent’s reluctance to educate their children.

Most parents are heavy drunkards and in the habit of chewing tobaccos & pan masala etc. When the parents go to work in day time the children wander without attention avoiding schools. Geographic isolation of tribal hamlets in forest tracts adds to the problem.

The school conducts awareness classes every now and then which parents attend enthusiastically and adhere to the advice provided. This reflects in the increase of school enrollments especially for girls. We recently heard from the school that the 4th batch of 30 students who had appeared for secondary level exam(Class 10th ) with NIOS in April – May 2014 have come out with 100% success. This also encourages parents to send their children to this residential school.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT DATA

There are 254(117 boys & 137 girls) children studying currently. Most of these children hail from the primitive group of Paniya & Kattunaika tribes.

CLASS / BOYS / GIRLS / TOTAL
I / 8 / 1 / 9
II / 7 / 6 / 13
III / 8 / 10 / 18
IV / 8 / 12 / 20
V / 16 / 12 / 28
VI / 18 / 19 / 37
VII / 11 / 19 / 30
VIII / 11 / 20 / 31
IX / 19 / 23 / 42
X / 11 / 15 / 26
TOTAL / 117 / 137 / 254

As per our request, the trust have identified 10 students who can benefit with Asha for Education sponsorship. Below given are the details of the 10 children provided by the school.

SL.NO. / NAME / PERSONAL DETAILS / DETAILS OF LIVING COLONIES
1 /
ANOOP.M / Sex Male
DOB 21.05.2003
Caste: Kattunaika
Father : Manu Coolie (heavy drunkard)
Mother: Kamala
Siblings : 1 Sister
Address
Michabhoomi Colony
Panavalli BO
Wayanad -670646
Kerala / One of the remote areas lying in this district. There is no U.P/High school in this area. Anoop lives with his parents and a sister in a thatched shed.
2 /
VISHNU.G.K / Sex Male
DOB 21.05.2003
Caste: Kattunaika
Father : Kuttamani Coollie
Mother: Sarojioni
Siblings : 1 brother and 1 Sister
Address
Mailambadi Colony
Meenangadi SO
Wayanad -673591
Kerala
/ This colony is one of the remote areas lying in this district. There is no U.P/High school in this area. Vishnu lives with his parents, one brother and sister in a thatched shed .
3 /
VIMAL KUMAR.V / Sex Male
DOB 21.05.2003
Caste: attunaika
Father : Vinodkumar -Coollie
Mother: Leela
Siblings : 1 brother and 2 Sisters
Address
Kadalikunnu Naika Colony
Vatuvanchal SO
Wayanad -673581
Kerala
/ One of the remote areas lying in this district. Vimal lives with his parents, one brother and 2 sisters in a thatched shed.
4 /
VISHNUPRIYA.R / Sex: Female
DOB 03.05.2003 Caste: Kattunaika
Father : Vinodkumar –Not physically capable to do any job Mother: Beena
Siblings : 1 brother and 2 Sisters
Address
Kariyathanpara Colony
Muttil BO
Wayanad -673122
Kerala
/ Kariyathapara colony is one of the most backward colony lying in a hilltop surrounded with dense forest. Vishnupriya lives there in a hut with her parents, one brother and 2 sisters.
5 /
KUNHULAKSHMI.M.B / Sex: Female
DOB 26.09.2003
Caste: Oorali Kurumar
Father : Babu- Casual Laborer (heavy drunkard)
Mother: Bindu
Siblings : 1 brother and 2 Sisters
Address
Murukkilady Colony
Cheeral SO
Wayanad -673579
Kerala
/
Cheeral colony is a remote one sharing its border with Nilgiris in Tamilnadu State.
There is no U.P/High school facility in this area. Kunhulakshmi lives there in a hut with parents and her 3 siblings.
6 /
KRISHNA.PRIYA.B.M / Sex: Female
DOB 26.09.2003
Caste: Oorali Kurumar
Father : Babu
Mother: Bindu
Siblings : 2 brothers
Address
Kunukkode Colony
Appapara
Thirunelli BO
Wayanad-670646
Kerala
/ This colony lays in the midst of thick forest where frequent entry of wild elephants and tigers is reported. Krishnapriya lives with her parents and 2 brothers in a muddy hut. There are no schools nearby.
7 /
SAMYUKTH RAJ / Sex Male
DOB 18..05.2001
Caste: Paniya
Kattunaika
Father : Rajan -Coollie
Mother: Sridevi-abandoned
Siblings : 1 brother and 2 Sisters
Address
Sankumoola Colony
Thirunelli BO
Wayanad-670646
Kerala
/ This colony lays in the midst thick forest where frequent entry of wild elephants and tigers is reported. This area is known to its location of a ancient temple. Krishnapriya lives with her parents and 3 siblings in a muddy hut. There are no schools nearby.
8 /
MINI.R.K / Sex: Female
DOB -05.09.2003
Caste: Kattunaika
Father : Raman (Late)
Mother: Malu
Siblings : 1 brother and 2 Sisters
Address
Ambukuthy Colony
Muttil BO
Wayanad -673122
Kerala
/ Ambukuthy colony is one of the most backward colony lying in a hilltop surrounded with dense forest. Mini lives there in a hut with her mother, one brother and 2 sisters
9 /
VISHNU.M.S / Sex Male
DOB 26.07.2003
Caste:OOrali Kurumar
Father : Suresh (heavy drunkard -Coollie
Mother: Bindhu
Siblings : 1 brother and 2 Sisters
Address
Murukkilady Colony
Cheeral SO
Wayanad -673579
Kerala
/ Cheeral colony is a remote one sharing its border with Nilgiris in Tamilnadu State.
There is no U.P/High school facility in this area. Vishnu lives there in a hut with parents and his 3 siblings.
10 /
SARANYA.B. / Sex: Female
DOB -07.06.2003
Caste: Kattunaika
Father : Baburaj bedridden
Mother: Rugmini
Siblings : 1 brother and 2 Sisters
Address
Ambukuthy Colony
Muttil BO
Wayanad -673122
Kerala
/ Ambukuthy colony is one of the most backward colony lying in a hilltop surrounded with dense forest. Saranya lives there in a hut with her mother, one brother and 2 sisters

ESTIMATED COST TOWARDS LIVING & STUDYING FOR A CHILD ONE YEAR-BREAK-UP

No. / DESCRIPTI ON / AMOUNT IN
1 / 3 Time meals / 8000
2 / Study materials / 1800
3 / Stitched uniforms 3 sets / 1200
4 / Casual wears 3 sets / 900
5 / Under garments 3 sets / 300
6 / Foot wears 2 pairs / 300
7 / Toiletories (soaps for bathing & washing) oils / 1500
TOTAL / 14000

NOTE: Thus for the above 10 beneficiary students total of 140000/-(14000 x 10) is minimum required. Medicare of these chilren is being looked into by the Govt medical hospital located nearby but whenever a specialisesd consultation or treatmetnt is advised they have to go to private hospitals which needs additional funds.

Pictures of Main School Buildings.

Contributions from Cognizant Technologies .

Kitchen and Dining Hall- Sponsored by a UK based charitable organization.

Existing and new(under construction) hostel building

Workshop and back side of the Building