Honorable Boston chapter members,

Greetings to all of you, on behalf of coordinators of Natpurwa project.

Everyday, the primary education section of the NatpurwaSchool has an attendance of 130 to 150 children out of 270. The names of almost all children in the village have been listed in the school. The village children, who go to study higher classes,attend either the private school or the government educational institutions under SikaroriSchool. There are about 60 children who leave to attend private school after they complete class five.

It has been difficult for 2 or 3 teachers to teach 270 children. The children in class 1 and 2 are collectively taught the entire learning activities. And among those, teachers identify the children who are able to learn quickly. Also the interest of children, who are weak at learning, is further enhanced by using play medium. Children studying 3rd, 4th and 5th classes are divided according to the class they study. In each class, children are given homework and are taught in the next class.

Durgesh Ji mostly teaches children in classes 1 and 2. There are 122 girls and 148 boys in the school. Shailesh Ji teaches children in 3, 4 classes, and when time permits he teaches to children in 1 and 2 classes also. Shaliesh and Jabir (Shiksha Mitr) have divided the subjects and teaching hours. For example, while Shailesh teaches Mathematics in class 3, Jabir teaches History in class 5 children, and then after Shailesh moves to teach Hindi to class 5 children while Jabir moves to teach Science. Children also take part in sharing this responsibility – brighter students of higher classes would be asked to take Hindi or English dictation in idle classes. This way all classes are being managed.

Durgesh Ji / Shailesh Ji / Jabir
Teaches ABCD, 1-2-3, Hindi language alphabet to children in classes 1 and 2. / Teaches classes 3, 4, (5) - 3 chapters in Hindi, 2 chapters in Mathematics, 2 chapters in Science, General Knowledge, 2 chapters in English, Sports. (One week's subjects schedule). / Teaches classes 4,5 -
2 chapters in English,
2 chapters in Mathematics,
2 chapters in English reader, English grammar, and does other school related work.

Mostly classes 1 and 2 are taught by Durgesh Ji and classes 3, 4, 5 are taught by Shaliesh Ji. Durgesh Ji teaches Hindi alphabet, English alphabet, counting, etc. Shailesh teaches Hindi, Maths, Science, English, General knowledge to class 3, and teaches Hindi, Science, Maths, Ethical learning, (hamaara parivesh), etc to class 5. Jabir bhai teaches Hindi, Science, General knowledge, Ethicallearning, Maths, English to class 5.

Shirish Bhai, in your question # 3, it is mentioned to determine exams that would be conducted in the next 6 months. To provide information in this regard – At primary class level, verbal tests are conducted every 15 days, written tests are conducted every month, and tests conducted for whatever that has been taught for every 3 months. Based on subjects being taught and teachers’ efforts, we are expecting good results in the tests. When tests are conducted, results are 70% of the children have been good. And the children whose test results are not good are not let disappointed, rather they are encouraged and we put effort to bring them on par with others.

It has been easy for Shailesh or other teachers to determine who among the children are learning fast and who have not been learning fast even though being intelligent. While conducting tests, teachers get to understand who among students are bright at learning. Help to teach children in lower classes is taken from those students who are studying higher classes, who learn fast and who fare well in the tests.

3. Shailesh Ji and Durgesh Ji have interest in teacher’s training. They have taken part in Rajiv Thambe’s ‘Shikshak Parishikshak Shibir’ in Maharashtra, and would like to take training in future too. When asked, Shailiesh ji mentioned that from time to time, teacher training plans are necessary because they get to know many new methods of teaching, which can be applied in the school.

Students of class five get enrolled into private schools for higher classes. NatpurwaSchool and its teachers’ efforts havebrought good enough benefit to all of village children. Children, who never thought of going to school, today go on to higher schools in a more respectful way.

2. Srinivas Rohitas -Srinivas teaches in Sikarori primary school, there are a total of 222 children; 115 boys and 107 girls. His teaching in the school has made the school administration possible in right manner. For any matters such as (Hindi word - vaajeepha) or MDM, his leaving has quite impact on the students. His role is significant in this school.

Chadralekha –Chadralekha ji has been striving to bring together women in the village and the nearby areas. She has help relieved a woman who was abused by a person named Dabang in Kheda village, and also helped her in getting back an amount of Rs5000, which was forcibly taken from her by a person named Triloki.

Rambabu, Chandralekha, Neelkamal, Guddu.

The role of the four people mentioned above is quite significant here. Every month, from 23rd to 5th of the following month, these four watch out the movement of grains at Vikas Gandh godowns. The duties on the block is as – Neelkamal in Sandali, Chandralekha and Rambabu in Bharavan, Neelkamal in Behandar, Guddu in Kothavaan. The black market business that was going on through ration dealers has been now restricted there. Initially, when ration dealers go to collect grains from godowns, the people used to end up handing over the ration grain to business. Now it does not happen that way. Now when grains are being moved from all the four godowns, there will be Neelkamal, Guddu, Rambabu and others present to watch out the activities. Some ration dealers do not distribute grains even after taking ration grains from godowns. An action has been taken on those and the ration grains have been distributed. The villages who have Panchayat rule – 15 gram panchayats in Vikhas Khand, 23 gram panchayats in Behandar, 19 gram panchayats in Kothavaan, 27 gram panchayats in Bharavan, ration has been distributed through them. RTI was filed on all the ration dealers under these gram panchayats, and were asked to provide information about – when, to who, and how much ration have they distributed ?. They were caught and made to distribute ration, and SDM has fined them for Rs1000.

Neelkamal’s and Guddu’s work is unlimited. Not only in nearby areas, but also in Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnav districts. Whether it is a ration problem or a development issue, or an NREGA issue, or women’s atrocities, or Dalit’s troubles, or to learn about using authority to obtain informationor any help related to social activity, these people have been actively working. To set right the Anganwadi centers in the entire district, learning is being carried out currently. For example, one of gram panchayat’s head had taken away labourers’ effort worth 6 lakh, and when this was questioned and protested by activists and labourers, the head ordered for ‘lathi charge’ on them, during which many were injured, and a complaint was filed on many including Neelkamal, Rambabu, Guddu, Sandeep and others.

Honorable Boston chapter coordinators, till today we have been working and only working. We had less attention towards reporting. Our special activists here have been fighting against many types of corruption, atrocities, injustice in the society. Our activists do not follow any written action or thoughts, and do not intend to gain any benefit or fame. So it has been a difficult to track and list down daily activities. But from now on, you will receive a daily report of the special activists from May 1, 2009. If there is anything still needed, you can enquire about our work through any of your trusted party. Natpurwa project members apologize to all Boston chapter coordinators, for not being able to provide daily reports. From here on further, daily reports will be provided. We did not meet your expectation in providing reports, but we are exceeding your expectations at doing the work.

Your well wishers,

Srinivas, Rohitas, Shailesh, Durgesh, Rambabu, Chandralekha, Neelkamal, Guddu.