WAH 2002 PROJECT TEMPLATE
1. Name of the organization: Adhikar
2. Date of Establishment: 1991
3. Please give the following if available:
a. Registration Number (Public Trust Act): 3615/191/BBSR/1991-92
b. Tax Exemption Certificate Number: Not Available (N/A)
c. Exemption Valid Dates: N/A
d. FCRA Number: 105020119
4. How the organization was created and what are the type of activities it provides:
Adhikar was created by the effort of a few social activists in Orissa. They were primarily people who worked with CYSD (Center for Youth and Social Development), who wanted to do something greater to empower people in becoming self-reliant. In 1993, Adhikar began working in some slums in Bhubaneswar where there was a very high level of migration. In order to empower the women in the slums, Adhikar initiated self-help groups (SHGs) to meet weekly to save money as well as discuss social problems. These SHGs focus not just on economic empowerment, but also social empowerment. The other activities that Adhikar carries out includes education in the tribal areas of eastern Orissa, human rights and legal awareness camps, cyclone and flood relief work, training of social activists etc. A lot of the activities came with the need to increase awareness of the rights of economically backward and tribal people. All activities and all resources utilized and developed by Adhikar are community-owned, allowing Adhikar to withdraw from a project once it reaches a level of sustainability.
5. Names and Backgrounds of the directors of the organization:
a) Mr. Mohammad Amin: is the founder and chief executive of Adhikar. About 17 years ago Mr. Amin lead a group of students to protect the rights of slum dwellers around Bhubneswar. Later, this group would evolve into Adhikar.
b) Mr. P.K. Jena: is a Lawyer and was part of the student team that worked for the slum development.
c) Mr. M. K. Bhanjadeo: is the Secretary for Adhikar, and also works as the coordinator of the Micro Finance Program.
d) Mr. R.K. Sarangi: is an eminent cooperator of Orissa and has served in senior position in ANAND, Gujarat.
e) Mr. Mayadhar Rath: is a social activist and is working in a senior position in the Integrated Development program.
All these individuals are the members of Executive Body (EB) and can be treated as the Board of directors. The EB is the decision making body.
The others active in the organization include Manmath Bhanjdeo (from CYSD), Malaya (in charge of the human rights and legal awareness camps), Dhula Naik (Treasurer), Damyanti and Nogen (Coordinators), Pratap (NFE Instructor), Govindo and Lingaraj (accountants).
6. Name, Address, Phone & email of the contact person in USA:
Anjali Shridhar (Affiliation: Association for India’s Development – This organization has been funding the Micro Finance aspect of Adhikar since 1999)
Tel: 240-601-5190
Email:
7. Name, Address, Phone & email of the contact person in India:
Mohammad Amin
Tel: (91) 0674-471051
Email:
8. Number of administrative and field staff:
· Administrative Staff: 4
i) Project Officer
ii) Assistant Project Officer
iii) Accounts Clerk
iv) Administrative Assistant
· Teachers: 15 (One in each NFE center)
9. A brief description of the long-term objectives of the organization:
Adhikar’s long-term objective or mission is to provide access to Credit, access to Rights and access to Natural Resources. Thus ensuring economic and political empowerment of the marginalized and deprived communities is rural and urban area of Orissa.
Objectives for NFE Centers:
· To promote universal enrollment and retention of children of 6-14 years age group in the operational area.
· To help improve the quality of education through relevance of curriculum, diversity in learning activities and innovative methodologies and materials.
· To create a learning climate by involving local community, parents and formal school-teachers.
· To cater to the learning needs of the girls, children from SC, ST and economically weaker sections of society.
Overall objectives of Adhikar:
· Prepare a band of active and effective village cadres and women Self Help Group (SHG) leaders for working out better development policy.
· To facilitate better access of the down-trodden to formal financial sector as well as government machinery.
· To ensure timely and hassle-free justice for the poor people living in rural and urban areas.
· To create ample scope for the poor, especially women, in the Micro Finance sector by developing an alternative banking model.
· Fact-finding and documentation on socio-economic status of the vulnerable sections of the society.
10. Details of the organizations annual budget (include an annual report if possible):
Annual Report 2000-2001 (see Annex 1)
Financial Report 2000-2001 (see Annex 2)
11. Previous Funding Sources, if any:
Currently: No funding for NFE centers. However, a request for funding has been sent to Association for India’s Development (AID), Maryland Chapter. Asha-DC is in communication with AID to ensure there is communication about any decisions made by either organization.
AID has been funding the Micro Finance project of Adhikar since 1999. The AID Project Coordinator, Anjali Shridhar, has worked with the organization over 2.5 years says, “As a coordinator for one of their largest projects, I have found that Adhikar has been very innovative in garnering support and resources, both people and money.” See the site visit by Anjali for details.
Previously: The NFE centers were funded by the Government of Orissa until March 31, 2001. The funding for the program was cut due to budget constraints, and the centers have been operating on donation and volunteer basis since then. In addition, the government has not paid salary commitments to the teachers since September, 2000. In spite of the lack of salary and personal expense incurred by the teachers, about 20-25 of the 50 centers are still operating. According to teacher interviews conducted by Adhikar in July 2001, there was strong enthusiasm among teachers to continue the program, and many were making significant personal sacrifice to continue teaching. The materials for most schools are provided through village donations, but are not sufficient to sustain the centers.
12. Brief Description of any previous projects the organization has undertaken:
Adhikar-run projects include:
· Non-Formal Education Centers for non-starters and school dropt-outs in tribal areas. (See attached site visit by Anjali Shridhar and Yogesh Rajkotia)
· MA Bank Project that involves establishing and promoting self-help groups and developing an overall banking structure. (Funded by AID since 1999)
· Development of Human Rights Network, or ‘Sanchaya Sakti’, amongst NGOs to campaign for the rights of people.
· Resource Center with series of publications on micro finance and human rights.
· Mobile training team for NGOs, bankers and other officials.
· Campaign for the devolution of power and strengthening the panchayati raj system.
· Experimentation in natural farming methods to eventually promote natural farming.
Adhikar is also associated with Integrated development program which includes Income Generation Program, Adult Education, Forest Protection, Lobbying and Advocacy for Tribal and Dalits, Lodging cases for the deprived community, Community Based Disaster Preparedness, Livelihood Restoration of Cyclone and Earthquake rehabilitation, organizing seminars and workshops on current topics etc. Adhikar is part of the many national and international networks meant for the rights of the people.
13. Describe location, current conditions (number of schools, population):
Location and Surroundings:
The 15 NFE centers (for which this proposal is submitted) are operating at a Gram Panchayat level and cater to 50 villages in the Chandanhandi block of Nawrangpur district. Originally there were 50 NFE centers operating in each village, however due to lack of funds the centers have been consolidated at the Gram Panchayat level.
There are other schools in this area, which include: 77 Primary schools, 5 High schools, and 46 government run hostel/schools. Of a total student-age population of 15,000 in the area, these schools meet the needs of about 50% of the potential student population.
Structural Facilities:
Most centers are located in a volunteer’s house. In a few cases buildings are dedicated for these centers. In all cases a stable facility exists for classes. Most centers operate in one-room classrooms, which are broken down into section for different standards.
None of schools have toilets, playground, library, chairs and tables, etc. Half of the centers have black boards. All centers provide some teaching aid such as books, slates etc. About 40% of the centers have electricity and the remaining 60% have lantern lighting. However, even in schools with electricity most of the times the centers are run with lantern lighting due to irregular electricity supply.
Other:
Due to lack of funds (no government payment since March 2001), currently many centers are not running regularly and some of the centers have been closed where there is insufficient parent and teacher cooperation. Hence it difficult to provide correct/exact estimates of the number of students, and the girl/boy ratio. The difficulty of obtaining exact student numbers is accentuated by lack of telephone access in these remotely located and spread-out schools.
14. What is the goal of the WAH project (describe background of the children, what changes this project aims to bring about in the current conditions)?
Demographics:
Adhikar chose to launch the NFE centers in the Chandanhandi block of Nawrangpur district, as this area is predominated by tribals and has the lowest literacy rates in the state (19% according to the 1991 census report, and 34% in 2001). Female literacy rate of 21% is lowest in the entire state. Scheduled tribes constitute 55% and Scheduled cast comprise 15% of the total population.
There are 77 primary schools, 5 high schools and 46 government-run hostel/schools operating in the area. Approximately 7,408 children, which is half of the total target populations, are enrolled in these schools.
Objectives of the NFE centers (as stated above) are:
· To promote universal enrollment and retention of children of 6-14 years age group in the operational area.
· To help improve the quality of education through relevance of curriculum, diversity in learning activities and innovative methodologies and materials.
· To create a learning climate by involving local community, parents and formal school teachers.
· To cater to the learning needs of the girls, children from SC, ST and economically weaker sections of society.
Difference of the NFE centers vs. Government schools:
The NFE centers are held in the evening when most students can attend. The curriculum is also different as it incorporates experiential teaching or “joyful learning” methods that students can relate to, rather than strict theory based on text. Examples include counting corn kernels, measuring milk output from cows, and learning words and alphabets in the form of traditional song/dance. These centers allow education for all students, including 13 year olds who learn with first standard students. Finally, the NFE centers do not require uniforms, and provide slates and texts.
NFE centers provide child-monitoring service to the parents as an externality. A watch is kept on the student’s intellectual development, health and hygiene, psychological issues relating to domestic problems, etc. Teachers (all of whom belong to the local area) counsel students about their problems, and the parents are kept informed about the student’s progress.
15. Beneficiaries of the project (how many children, number of males/females, age and other demographics, and other relevant details):
Please refer to Annexure III. This represents the number boys and girls that were enrolled before March 2001 (when funding stopped).
In the last 5 years about 2000 children have received education in the NFE centers. There has been a wider impact of the education activities, which includes: social development, environment, health and hygiene, and the village policy level. As children learn literature, arithmetic, science, social studies etc. there has been a behavioral change noticed in their day to day life. The parents have also been affected, as they have expressed interest in their own education. Adhikar teachers are assisting interested adults and thus far 516 people in 50 villages have acquired literacy.
According to AID, which has been funding the Micro Finance project, the positive implications of the NFE centers are being seen on other projects run by Adhikar such as, cyclone relief and rehabilitation, and rights awareness program. This is evident in the following comment made by Anjali Shridhar, who visited Adhikar projects in 1999: one of the Principals of a local middle school, who has been working with Adhikar on NFE curriculum, has also been “teaching parents about issues like rights, cyclone preparedness, education etc.” See Anjali’s site visit for details.
16. Details of the funding requirements:
a. Amount of money required: Rs. 7,94,000 or $16,371 (conversion rate: Rs. 48.5 = $1)
b. Duration for which funds are requested: 2 Years
17. Detailed breakup of the costs involved along with details of money received from other sources, if any:
No funding has been received from other sources thus far. Asha-DC and AID have received proposal for funding NFE centers. No decision has been made by either group. Both organizations are in communication to keep each other informed about any decision.
The breakup of costs for the projects is as follows:
Exchange rate $1= / 48.5Revised Budget
Admin. Exp. / unit cost (Rs) / Yr. 1(Rs) / Yr. 2(Rs) / 1 Year ($) / 2 Yr. ($) / Total (2 Yrs)
Project Officer / 5,000 / 60,000 / 60,000 / 1237.11 / 1237.11 / 2474.23
Ass. Proj. Officer / 3,000 / 36,000 / 36,000 / 742.27 / 742.27 / 1484.54
Accounts Clerk / 3,000 / 36,000 / 36,000 / 742.27 / 742.27 / 1484.54
Admin. Asst. / 3,000 / 36,000 / 36,000 / 742.27 / 742.27 / 1484.54
Fixed traveling allowance / 2,000 / 24,000 / 24,000 / 494.85 / 494.85 / 989.69
Sub Total / 192,000 / 192,000 / 3959 / 3959 / 7918
Teachers (15 centers)
Honorarium of Instructors / 500 x 15 / 75,000 / 75,000 / 1546.39 / 1546.39 / 3092.78
Lighting & Fuel / 100 x 15 x12 / 18,000 / 18,000 / 371.13 / 371.13 / 742.27
Learning Material / 100 x 250 / 25,000 / 25,000 / 515.46 / 515.46 / 1030.93
Training of instructors / 1000 x 15 / 15,000 / 15,000 / 309.28 / 309.28 / 618.56
Equipments (box, petromax, blackboard, lantern, mats, etc.) / 1000 x 15 / 15,000 / 15,000 / 309.28 / 309.28 / 618.56
Teaching & Learning materials / 1000 x 15 / 15,000 / 15,000 / 309.28 / 309.28 / 618.56
Exposure/participation in science exhibits etc. / 2000 x 15 / 30,000 / 30,000 / 618.56 / 618.56 / 1237.11
Misc. exp. / 1000 x 12 / 12,000 / 12,000 / 247.42 / 247.42 / 494.85
Sub Total / 205,000 / 205,000 / 4227 / 4227 / 8454
Total / 397,000 / 397,000 / 8186 / 8186 / 16371
18. How long will the benefit last? Please give an approximate US $/child/year estimate in the project: