Annual Report 1998-1999

Annual Report 1998-1999

`   Whether or not expanded educational opportunities will translate into meaningful development - for an      individual or for society - depends ultimately on whether people actually learn as a result of those opportunities. The focus of basic education must, therefore, be on actual learning acquisition and  outcomes, rather than exclusively upon enrollment, continued participation in organised programmes and  completion of certification requirements.'                                                   World Declaration on Education for All, Article 4   `Education not only makes democracy possible; it also makes it essential. Education not only brings into existence a population with an understanding of the public tasks; it also creates their demand to be heard.'  J. K. Galbraithin  The Good Society: the Humane Agenda (1996)

Preface It is almost a decade since the World Conference on Education for All took place at Jomtien, Thailand, in March 1990 convened by the major UN agencies and the World Bank and attended by 155 governments. The conference endeavored to bring up the community's commitment to basic education as a fundamental human right which, according to this conference, was 'a common and universal human responsibility.' And the six goals identified were the expansion of early childhood care and development, universal access to and completion of primary education by the year 2000, a reduction of adult literacy rates to one half of the 1990s levels by 2000 with an emphasis on female literacy, improved learning achievement, based on the attainment of defined levels of performance and expansion of basic education and training for adults and youths, improved dissemination of knowledge, skills, and values required for sustainable development. After this conference we had the World Summit for Children (1990), the World Summit for Social Development (1995) and the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995). All these summits and conferences emphasised and re-emphasised the same objectives of Jomtien World Conference, though we all know that we made very little progress towards achieving these objectives. And when it is the case of India the situation is far worse than the other developing countries. According to the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry's latest annual report, 38.23% of boys and 41.34% of girls leave the school system before reaching the class V stage and by the time the fortunates who survive the primary stage and reach Class VIII, more than half (54.14%) of them drop out. Among these children who drop out 50.70% are boys and 58.61% girls. Less than a third of the primary stage survivors are able to clear secondary school. That's because 67.65% of the boys and 72.67% of the girls leave the school system. On the other hand according to the official data, the number of children enrolled in primary schools were respectively 10.16, 10.54, 10.82, 10.90, 10.98, and 11.04 crore during the years 1991-92, 92-93, 93-94, 94-95, 95-96 and 1996-97. Thus we find the enrollment in primary schools during this 6 years increased by only a meagre 88 lakh, that is, at an average rate of only about 15 lakh per year. Now we all know that we are adding at least about 1.5 crore additional children every year to our population. Thus the reality is that only about 10% of the additional children are getting enrolled in primary schools and the rest 1.35 crore are left to grow up with out any formal education. So, it is clear that the contribution of formal school education in raising our literacy rate is negative. Indeed our formal literacy rate is declining every year by about 1.4%. This is the status of  education and we are in the same boat as far as other social sectors of development like health, skill development etc. are concerned.  We continue to experience the same as last year. In the above scenario what Deepalaya is doing may be a drop in the ocean but we have always been hopeful that even a little change will have it's ripple effect. Looking at the results, it will be legitimate to say that the change is taking place in the right direction. At present we are taking care of 22000 children and their families from 54 slum clusters of Delhi. Education being the priority area in Deepalaya, we are also initiating mutually exclusive possibilities towards better options for our beneficiaries. Efforts are on to develop a non conventional, value based, mass approach to qualitative learning of basic skills in a conducive environment using natural resources and talents leading to self - reliance. The aim of Deepalaya today is to establish an Alternate Learning System, the application of which being technologically competitive offers opportunities to sustain and continuously enrich the life of the beneficiaries - in the case of Deepalaya - the poorest of the poor as we have no other interest.

Why we need a school in Deepalaya Target Population Deepalaya School The Proposal Need for the Endowment / Corpus Fund  Budget Beneficiaries Tax Benefit to donors  Appeal  How to contribute for Deepalaya children : For foreign donors including NRIs: Directly remit to Deepalaya SB.A/c.No.5853 Federal Bank Ltd. Connaught Circus, New Delhi - 110 001, India by bank transfer. (When you make direct transfer please intimate us so that we can follow-up). OR Sent crossed draft/cheque drawn in favour of Deepalaya SB A/c. No.5853, Federal Bank Ltd., Connaught Circus, New Delhi to Deepalaya, Plot No.46,Janakpuri Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 058, India. For Indian donors : Directly remit to Deepalaya SB A/c.No.7308 Federal Bank Ltd. Connaught Circus, New Delhi - 110001 by bank transfer. (please inform us when you transfer money to this account for follow-up and confirmation). OR Send crossed draft/cheque/pay order drawn in favour of Deepalaya SB A/c.No.7308 Federal Bank Ltd. Connaught Circus, New Delhi - 110001 to Deepalaya, Plot No.46, Janakpuri Institutional Area, New Delhi-110058. In all these cases please inform Deepalaya by E mail at info@deepalaya.org   or write to Deepalaya, Plot No.46, Janakpuri Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 058.

32 million children in India are not in school. Fundamental right of these children are denied. Out of 1.44 million children in Delhi slums only 0.3 million have access to education. Of those enrolled atleast 30% drop-out before they reach    standard II. This situation calls for profound and significant intervention.  A charity registered under Societies Act, existing for the last 20 years, working in 62 slums, reaching out to over 22,000 children, their families and communities with an integrated approach to emancipation of poor through empowerment, capacity building and social transformation and special areas of Street and Working children, Disabled children and girl child education. Deepalaya has established a school, the only school being established of its kind in India, an NGO Public School in which quality education is to offered to this vulnerable section of society at affordable cost. Deepalaya launched this project in 1996.  Target Population  Migrants from Bimaru states ( Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh) living in the slums. Specifically this particular Deepalaya School Project will benefit children from 15 slum pockets of South Delhi ( Kalkaji, Okhla Industrial area and Khirkee) having a population of over 102,000, of which around 38000 are children. Precisely 4000 children from the above will benefit directly.  Top Deepalaya School  The estimated cost is Rs 48 million, including cost of land. The building is completed. So far a sum of Rs 40 million has been invested. The contributors include corporates namely H.D.F.C, Eicher Good Earth, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Trust, Volkart Foundation and a large number of individuals.   This school has become operative effective the July year 1999. The recognition of the school is applied for and awaited.  The Proposal  As the school became operational, the matter of recurring cost to run the school has become of grave consequence. With the application of Education Act and Rule provisions for recognition, the norms of paying Govt. rate of salaries has became compulsory. Top Need for the Endowment / Corpus Fund  The children from the slums cannot afford to pay fees to match the salary prescribed by the education act and rule which is three times what we pay. Hence it is proposed to create an endowment / corpus fund, investment of which in appropriate, Govt. permitted portfolios, would bring in regular income for meeting the recurring cost of the school.   The average cost of education which includes facilities like tuition, books, uniform, health care, transport, study tour, latent talent development, skill training and administration is estimated to cost Rs 4000 per year per student. This will amount to Rs 10,240,000/- as recurring cost per year.  Budget  Out of Rs 4000 per student, each student will pay Rs 800 per year as we follow the policy “nothing is for free”. The balance of Rs 3200/- is to be raised through endowment income. It is calculated that this Rs 3200/- can be raised by investing Rs 25000/- earning an average income of Rs 13% per annum i.e. Rs 3250/-.  Top Beneficiaries  Hence each child would need an endowment of Rs 25000/- and for 2560 students, who will study in Deepalaya School in two shifts will require a sum of Rs 64 million as endowment / corpus fund. Similar facilities will be extended to another 1500 children, who will be linked to National Open School, thereby bringing up the beneficiaries to 4060 at any point of time.  Tax Benefit to donors  Govt. of India, Revenue Dept. has approved Deepalaya proposal to raise an endowment / corpus fund of Rs 64 million by a gazette notification, as approved by a National Committee. The donors are eligible to claim 100% tax rebate under Section 35AC of the IT Act.  Appeal  We appeal for generous donation of Rs 2,500,000/- to educate 100 children and multiples thereof to raise a sum of Rs 64 million which will educate (2560 + 1500) 4060 children to perpetuity.  How do you donate ? Top

1999  brings us to the culmination of the second decade in the life of Deepalaya. One would look back with nostalgia the past twenty years of ups and downs, upheavals and tranquility. Although the beginning was humble, it was really dynamism with which we sailed the twenty years making Deepalaya, a NGO of considerable credibility. We have been celebrating this during  the past one year. 1998 saw the establishment of the long cherished Deepalaya (NGO) Public School,  a landmark in its history.  The progress achieved during 1998 in constructing the Human Resource Centre as Head Quarters and Training Centre is also worthwhile. Foundation stone laying for the transit home at Gusbethi was another event worth mentioning. An exchange between the children of Deepalaya and that of Holland, England and America making the event really international was another milestone in its history.

This year also brought us close to the proximity of other international organisations like Path Finders, Project Concern International etc. The initiative from Greater Noida Development Authority, UNICEF and NIUA to associate with them in education and related areas offered us the necessary fillip as a NGO. 

The impact  of 20 years need be seen in the qualitative  change which we have brought about in the lives of children, their parents and communities. It is to be seen to believe that students who have been associated with Deepalaya for 10 to  12 years have really graduated themselves beyond the slums. For economic reasons if they are still living in the slums or slum like conditions, their thought process has changed. The cultural change and social reformation have brought them at par with counter parts among the rich who are learning with them in the schools / colleges. We could see families reformulating their priorities and reassigning their budgets in favour of children. In fact, the demand for quality education is something which we have achieved as we look back to the initial time when we had to virtually pull out children from homes to come to our justifys right in the slums. 

The special needs children who are on the street, who are in child labour, who are disabled and the practice of positive discrimination towards the girl child have become diversified priority areas in Deepalaya today.

Our concern for the deteriorating environment, exploding population, spreading of HIV / AIDS has brought us close to very many networks and we also involve in the pursuit of advocacy and policy intervention.

While concluding this note, Deepalaya would ever be grateful to those poor who have involved with us, those donors and friends who supported us and all those who have made this possible. We look forward to the next twenty years to travel many more miles and overcome many more hurdles.
 

 

The purpose here is to create opportunities for education of weaker sections with special emphasis on the girl  child and women so that it becomes an instrument to fight the specific injustices and prevailing inequalities. Deepalaya's strategy on education aims "To enable the child look beyond slums" through enhancement of their inherent but otherwise unexplored qualities. Emancipation of women towards development and liberation through participation, training and resource management, assuming that all these will lead to creating an awareness, and bring in a change of attitude, skill and competitive ability. Deepalaya believes that education is to develop the potential of each person; as the individual can only develop society, education should take place in every sphere; so theory should not be separated from practice and learning from doing; education is not a process of getting a qualification, rather a process of learning about living in order to transform it; the purpose of education is liberation.
 The most important and delightful achievement of this year in education sector has been the inauguration of Deepalaya School, Kalkaji Ext. This has been a long cherished dream for every member of the Deepalaya family. When we laid the first brick in 1998 we did not know where from the resources would come to complete the project, but we believed in God and his blessings have been continuous. Today, an imposing building is a proof of the fact that 'Believe in something with honesty and sincerity - everything comes true' The other highlight of this year has been construction of a new educational centre at V.P Singh Colony, celebration of International Literacy Day, reaching out to 22,000 children through educational activities, reaching out to more than 300 children through working children unit of South Delhi Projects, Abhinaya with visiting Dutch children and children of American and British Schools, Delhi, celebration of Khel utsav (sports festival) etc.
 

Pre schools and Remedial Education Centres are used as an effective medium to increase enrollment and check drop out rate.
Non Formal Education Centres are meant for the children who are long time drop outs or who have never been to schools. 60% of these children are enrolled in different formal schools every year. On the other hand Adult Education Centreshelp the parents of the children to increase their level of awareness in the matters affecting their day to day life.
Accredition of National Open School has helped the children who are unable to attend any formal school. In all these cases Sponsorship has played the most important role to support the needy.

Visit By Dutch Children FCE and ICCO, two Holland based international funding agencies have been supporting Deepalaya for   long.  Last year children from Deepalaya visited Holland under a cultural exchange programme and this year the same was repeated by a group of 20 children who were chosen from 20 Dutch schools. We organised Abhinaya '99 with these children and children of American and British Schools.    One of the visiting student Martijn writes:    JUST A BOY. MY FRIEND    "Today I went to the night shelter for street & working children of Deepalaya. The children work at New Delhi Railway Station. In the night shelter they are familiarised, they get food and education. There I met Ashwnik. He is 14 and is in the centre since one year. He strives to learn hard and earns his money by carrying luggage as a coolie. He wants to be a scooter repair man. If you ask him about this, his face gets glitter with enthusiasm. Later, when we said good-bye, he asks me to become friends. I got the  impression that this meeting was very important for him. Although we live in different worlds, I feel real friendship. But how to become friends after one conversation? Still, I say ‘yes'. Far away, but yet so close! I give him a little string (arm band) as a token of our friendship and I know I will remember him."

Formal Education At present Deepalaya has three formal public school type schools. Three are  Deepalaya School - Sanjay Colony, Ramditti J.R Narang Deepalaya School and Deepalaya school - Gandhi Basti. The schools are holistic complexes for education, vocational and curricular activities. Deepalaya School, Sanjay Colony, in its approach culminated towards growth and development reflected the cardinal principle that Education is a unique investment in the present for the future. New admission were made in some classes in the 98-99 session depending on the availability of seats which raised the formal school strength to 1350. However, a number of children took transfer certificate because of the unrecognised status of the school. It went a step further when the Sanjay Colony project become an integrated unit for the disabled and hostel for street and working children. The special wing for the disabled children is functional in close coordination with the formal school. The association of these children with the normal children over the years has helped them to develop a sense of belonging and enter the main stream - which the formal school is consciously striving at. The other achievements  have been participation of the children in a UNESCO test, drawing competition, summer activities on puppet making, clay work, beauty culture etc. The Ramditti J.R Narang Deepalaya School is a prime example of corporate and NGO collaboration for education and implementation of slum area development programme. The school offers a broad based, quality education, combining academic with extra curricular activities such as sports, excursions, arts and crafts and latent talent development classes. The school is English medium. The NCERT syllabus is followed in order to main stream and enhance the opportunities of the poor. At present the school has 290 children ( 167 M + 123 F) in the formal section and also takes care of 90 children (45 M + 45 F) through Remedial, Non-Formal and vocational centre of the integrated project. It has also units for working and disabled children in which 39  children (16 M + 23 F ) are participating. The community project aims to emancipate the community through various programmes of the integrated development. E.g. Education, health, socio-economic activities, etc. Special emphasis has been given to health activities through conducting workshops on reproductive health, pulse polio drive, street plays on drug abuse, regular medical checkup, special eye camps, cancer detection camp, etc. Formal Schools of Deepalaya provide English medium private school like quality education to unprivileged children from Delhi slums. Pre schools and Remedial Education Centres are used as an effective medium to increase enrollment and check drop out rate. Non Formal Education Centres are meant for the children who are long time drop outs or who have never been to schools. 60% of these children are enrolled in different formal schools every year. On the other hand Adult Education Centreshelp the parents of the children to increase their level of awareness in the matters affecting their day to day life. Accredition of National Open School has helped the children who are unable to attend any formal school. In all these cases Sponsorship has played the most important role to support the needy.

Pre School: Preschools are meant for children in the age group of 3 to 6 years. In Deepalaya we try to inculcate  certain habits so that their formal schooling becomes easier. The other implications of this activity have been facilitation of latent talents, positive environment in and outside the family, awareness among parents and community in general and joyful learning in play way methods. The most important objective here is to higher enrollment in the formal schools and decreasing drop out rate. Over the years we have experienced very visible results in both these aspects. It has been observed that if a child attends pre school the probability of not joining formal school afterwards or dropping out from formal schools becomes lesser. In other words enrollment and continuation in pre schools have ensured larger enrollment in formal schools and lesser drop outs. Maximum use of participative ways - play way methods, pictorial teaching aids, educational tours and cultural activities, are focus points of Deepalaya preschool activities. As a follow up activity the teachers take initiative to admit the children in formal schools when they complete two  years of preschooling. Formation of Mother's Groups with the mothers of the preschool children, formation of  Thrift & Credit Groups with these mothers and involving the mothers in health related activities and regular follow up through home visits have strengthened preschool as an instrument towards enhancement of overall status of education in the Deepalaya communities. We have pre-schools in both Deepalaya formal schools and integrated community projects. From the projects the children are either admitted in Deepalaya formal schools or formal schools run by MCD. The children of pre schools from Deepalaya formal schools are all admitted in the same schools by default. This year 9 pre-school children from projects have also been admitted to Deepalaya schools. On the other hand from the project pre schools 297 children, with 138 boys and 159 girls, have been admitted in different MCD schools. 

Remedial Education: Remedial education is another instrument towards enhancing formal schooling and decreasing drop out rate.   We believe that there is a gap between the government school education and public school (private) education.  The parents who can afford high fees, do send their children to public schools. For most of the parents, specially  who live in slums, can't not afford them and for them government schools are the only place. Deepalaya Remedial Education Centers try to bridge the gap in educational standards by organising quasi tuition classes and providing other facilities to the children who are going to government schools which are otherwise not available in these schools. Approaches and methods like home visits, Mother's Groupsamong others are the same as in pre schools.  The RECs are run in the integrated projects and at present we have 2248 children (1257 males and 991 females) in this activity. 
 

 

Pre schools and Remedial EducationCentres are used as an effective medium to increase enrollment and check drop out rate.
Non Formal Education Centres are meant for the children who are long time drop outs or who have never been to schools. 60% of these children are enrolled in different formal schools every year. On the other hand Adult Education Centreshelp the parents of the children to increase their level of awareness in the matters affecting their day to day life.
Accredition of National Open School has helped the children who are unable to attend any formal school. In all these cases Sponsorship has played the most important role to support the needy.

Flash Back  Annual Report 86-87     Plan International is followed by ICCO and FCE to support the Deepalaya mission of Enabling The Child Look Beyond Slums.  Services: The sponsored children are given tuition, transport to and from school, books, stationery and teaching aids, uniforms, nutrition and medical care, educational tours and picnics free of cost, whereas the paying  section children pay tuition fees and transport charges and arrange for themselves every other need except for books and stationery centrally supplied by the school at cost price. Cooperation with St. John's School/ Mar Thoma Church Society : The  St.  John's School was requested to start an  afternoon  free school session for slum children. The society members helped with contacts for enrolment, recruiting of teachers  among other things. The  society  was negotiating with Save the  Children  fund  for support under sponsorship to these children in St. John's School.

Non Formal Education Centers (NFEs) are for children who are long time drop outs from formal schools or who have never been to school. Our NFEs prepare the children to take admission in the formal school according to their age and capabilities. In other words, we try to mainstream these children through the NFEs. Here also we give emphasis on maximum use of particiaptive methods of learning using teaching aids so that interest of these otherwise demotivated children is sustained.  Multi-grade teaching is the approach for non formal groups as the target group belong to different backgrounds, different culture and age levels. We believe that they need to come to a common platform and at the same time, need to rejoin the formal stream. Deepalaya organises educational tours, cultural activities, etc, as the beneficiary group is with in our integrated system of improving overall status of education of the communities. We try to mainstream 60% of the beneficiaries every year and this year we have admitted 284 children in different MCD schools among whom 144 are males and 140 females. The male-female ratio is almost 50-50 and this is a great achievement for us and the children for whom this activity is targetted. 

Fantasy Fair: Last year members of the Science and Entertainment clubs  prepared scientific models and held the Science Fair. This year they organised Fantasy Fair to share their fantasies with others. Workshops, at each projects, were conducted, where the children were given with materials like chart papers, colours, thermocol, clay and every freedom to present their fantasies in any form. They prepared models on housing colony right on the river Yamuna., bed rooms for the next generation, all animals drinking from the same spot, walky talky tree, a soft sun and a hot moon, etc. They made paintings on human beings flying in the sky, houses hanging from the sky, Lord Krishna, among others. One visually impaired child painted a situation in which he reflected that he wants to walk normally like other children. The children also wrote poems. Gole Kuan children prepared a role play in which every actor has a mask on their face depicting animals.

All these models, paintings, writings, role plays along with songs prepared on fantasies were presented in the Fantasy fair held on 18th August 1998 at Deepalaya School, Kalkaji Extn. Children lived in their dreams during the two hours of the fair. For them, it was a great opportunity to share the things which are otherwise not shared. As it was a new experience, they gave us the hope that the world can be improved.
 
 

 

In Deepalaya Enhancement of latent talents of the children are given with maximum importance. The activities not only increase their confidence level but also repeatedly proves that, provided with proper opportunities, they  can come at par with their elite counterparts.
 
 

Pre schools and Remedial Education Centres are used as an effective medium to increase enrollment and check drop out rate.
Non Formal Education Centres are meant for the children who are long time drop outs or who have never been to schools. 60% of these children are enrolled in different formal schools every year. On the other hand Adult Education Centreshelp the parents of the children to increase their level of awareness in the matters affecting their day to day life.
Accredition of National Open School has helped the children who are unable to attend any formal school. In all these cases Sponsorship has played the most important role to support the needy.

 

 

Pre schools and Remedial Education Centres are used as an effective medium to increase enrollment and check drop out rate.
Non Formal Education Centres are meant for the children who are long time drop outs or who have never been to schools. 60% of these children are enrolled in different formal schools every year. On the other hand Adult Education Centreshelp the parents of the children to increase their level of awareness in the matters affecting their day to day life.
Accredition of National Open School has helped the children who are unable to attend any formal school. In all these cases Sponsorship has played the most important role to support the needy. Pre schools and Remedial Education Centres are used as an effective medium to increase enrollment and check drop out rate.
Non Formal Education Centres are meant for the children who are long time drop outs or who have never been to schools. 60% of these children are enrolled in different formal schools every year. On the other hand Adult Education Centreshelp the parents of the children to increase their level of awareness in the matters affecting their day to day life.
Accredition of National Open School has helped the children who are unable to attend any formal school. In all these cases Sponsorship has played the most important role to support the needy.  HEALTH CARE FOR SLUM DWELLERS :

Many people while visiting our projects or schools ask 'Don't you have clinics or hospitals for the slum dwellers? The answer has always been in the negative. In Deepalaya we have only preventive and promotive care. The terms are self explanatory, the objectives are clear. The activities conducted under these services are immunization, awareness, training,   slide & video shows, eye check ups, TB detection, deworming, diarrhoea management, competitions and regular sanitation drives. Further categorization of the activities can be done as pre and post natal care and the focus of all these activities are women and children. 

Millions of people living in rural India are deprived of basic health care. PHCs (primary health care centre) are there in many villages but seldom one finds a doctor in those PHCs. After passing out from medical institutions joining a PHC is not even the last choice for the budding doctors, leave apart those who has gained some experience in the field. Without going into further detail we must say that the situation in Delhi is no better than in other parts. Hospitals are over crowded, required number of doctors are not there, atmosphere is filthy, there is no body to guide (most apathetic environment) and above all the poor have no faith on these hospitals. To them these are resorts of compulsion. The slums are served by the quacks. We have laws against such practice, but non   implementation of those laws are always overlooked. For the slum people these quacks are good departmental stores - you ask for anything it is there - homeopathy, allopathic, ayurvedic (traditional) or voodooism. And in a situation like this only awareness generation and establishment of linkages with Health Institutions work. 

For an organisation like Deepalaya it is not possible to provide extensive curative services to the people, and doing it will again be duplication of services. At present we have extensive collaborations with 19 premier health organisations of Delhi like AIIMS, Rajendra Prasad Eye Institute, Indian Cancer Society, Delhi TB Associations, MCD Health Department etc. They have expertise and we have the capability to mobilise community to avail the facilities being provided by these institutions. 

Our health centres are visited by the doctors of these institutions, they come along  with mobile facilities. Our Basti Sevikas (Health Workers) make door to door visit to identify specific problems, whenever required they give advice, take them to our health centre, or refer them to particular hospitals where particular kinds of facilities are available. Many a times the Basti Sevikas accompany the sick person to the hospital or clinic along with other family members so that they are not unduly harassed. The Basti Sevikas are identified from the communities and trained by Deepalaya through these linkages with other health institutions. As stated earlier, the focus of all these activities are the mothers and the children. Children because they are more vulnerable than others and specific precautions keep them away from diseases and mothers because if they become aware of the requirement of their family and get to know how to prevent them, the whole family is benefited. On the other hand better health care of the mothers ensures healthy citizens. 
 

Family Planning :  Our family planning activities have reached a stage where the women are coming forward on their own to avail the facilities available in the health clinic or facilities which can be availed through the established linkages with other institutions. Since last April 68 women adopted permanent methods and the welcome change is that 50% of them are below the age of 28. This was possible as the counseling part has become the responsibility of everyone including the Social Entrepreneurs.

Pulse Polio Campaign : This year we organised Pulse Polio campaign by joining hands and seeking support of Delhi government, on 6th December '98 and 17th January '99. The response was overwhelming with a total of 15516 ( 7756 Males and  7760 Females) children having been administered polio drops. The campaign included various activities organised prior to the administration of pulse polio drops, which were door to door survey by basti sevikas, poster making competition, individual and group meetings, nukkad sabha, candle march by street and working children, mashal rally, Lok Jagriti Abhiyan, film shows, puppet shows, basti sabha, bal sabha, mass propaganda etc. The enthusiastic response of the people made the programme a grand success.

SNAPSHOTS We don't feed our children enough Country               Prevalence of child                            malnutrition (% of                             children under five)                             1990-96 India                             66 Bangladesh                     68 Cambodia                       38 China                             16 Ethiopia                          48 Indonesia                        40 Laos                               40 Mauritania                      48 Nepal                             49 Pakistan                         40 Sri Lanka                        38  Vietnam                         45 The Statesman - Dt. 17.02.'99

Flash Back  Annual Report 90-91 A new milestone is achieved - 47% enrollment of girls in all our educational activities. The principle of positive discrimination again paid it's dividend. We have to go a long way to get 60% girls in our activities.  Linkage/Networking  : We avail of the resources of allied agencies in all related field.  Linkages of  such nature ensure no duplication of services and therefore no wastage of precious material and human resources.  Various government and non government bodies facilitate and support the implementation of programmes - DDA’s Slum Wing, MCD, Education Directorate, Delhi Administration, AIIMS, Cancer Research Institute, UNICEF, Venu Eye Institute, Love and Care, ACCORD, H.O. Building Centre, HUDCO, SUCH, Tuberculosis Association of India, TB Hospital etc.

  The main aim of the disability project has been to develop a positive attitude in parents and the community at large towards the disabled. In the last one year, need based intervention was started for 60 more children from 5 more locations, namely, Transit Camp, Manav Kalyan Vihar, Gandhi Basti, Ramditti Narang School and Indira Camp.  The approach has been, not  to start special classes for the disabled children, but to include them in the existing pre school and NFE classes in the community, and to give special inputs to the child, wherever required.  In the last one year, the project has helped in the medical intervention  of about 14 children, 5 children  were operated for  correction of contractures to  facilitate  their mobility. 9 children with various disabilities were referred to hospitals for treatment of spinal TB, Renal TB among others.  The disabled were benefiting  from the various health camps and clinics held at Deepalaya locations. 6 children with different disabilities were integrated into Deepalaya Formal School and MCD schools.  The children integrated during the previous years are also being supported with mobility aids, disability certificates etc.  Mobility aids like calipers, AFO, crutches, rollator were provided to 10 children to facilitate movement. The special children from Gole Kuan and Sanjay colony were taken for outings with children of Somerville school and Deepalaya Formal School to encourage interaction amongst them.  Disability and Railway concession certificates were made from  AIIMS for 11 children. The new Deepalaya  school at Kalkaji Extension was inaugurated in August. The building is made accessible for even wheel chair users, through lifts and ramps. The German Embassy donated a van to the Disability project. It has made travel of the disabled to hospitals, etc.  much easier.

 

Flash Back  Annual Report 94-95 A new effort, a new activity  and a new vision -- Special units for the disabled children (we started calling them differently abled) are  established. The year that was  A decade and six years ago Deepalaya began as the intercessor with the principal aim of educating children from weaker sections. We began by running a school in a small house at C.R. Park, South Delhi.  Today we have grown to become the largest operational NGO in the capital spreading the good work into three areas of Delhi - South Delhi, West Delhi and North West Delhi, taking care of more than 15,000 children in 34 slum clusters. Phase In Project  The strategy of phase - out and phase-in is a policy towards introducing a “Development Paradigm”. The phase - in was initiated at West Delhi and South Delhi areas.  The strategy is to animate and interact with the community members, prioritise their need and train them to identify resource and potential within to help the community to help themselves.

Ravi 3 years old, from GK is looked after by his mother. Being a single parent, she works in a  factory to earn for her two children.  She came to the CLW at Gole Kuan -  complaining of her son’s feet deformity- club feet. Seeing her financial problems, she was promised monetary assistance for Ravi’s surgery.  The child was operated at St.Stephens’ Hospital for correction of the deformity.  The CLW was a constant support for the mother during this time. A sponsor from Australia financed the surgery.

This March 18 children from our Street and  Working Children Project got a new home. They  were shifted to the Deepalaya School Sanjay  Colony Campus. They are now learning to stay  together, helping each other and some of their  creative abilities are being explored through  singing and drama classes. We plan that  after they have gone through basic education here they will be taken to our rural  project at Sohna, Haryana for special skill  training as we dream that one day these children will be  able to compete in this competitive age with confidence and courage. In an effort to reduce  the problems of street and working children - a pilot project - a.project for street and working children was initiated for the children employed in organised / unorganised, hazardous or other marginal occupations in 1997 at Shalimar Bagh. Later the project was expanded to New Delhi Railway Station.  During the last one year the project has not only achieved most of the objectives but also has expanded its area, in order to increase its outreach, reach maximum children. A mobile school has been started at  Azadpur goods platform, as it was observed that the number of children working there and in the adjoining mandi were unable to get any education. Our effort to admit children in MCD school is persistent. This year, the project was able to admit 20 children in the MCD school (12 boys / 8 girls ) and two children in NOS, helping the drop out to continue their studies. Also gave vocational training, to bring them out of the loathable occupation they are forced  into, a sewing centre was inaugurated at Shalimar Bagh in collaboration with Sramik Vidhyapeeth, a government institute. Two batches of 25 girls are learning here now. The boys have been admitted to the above institute for motor mechanic courses. Various innovative games have been prepared to make education simple and interesting. Also local indoor games are played regularly to keep the morale and interest alive, which is very necessary especially with project like this. Children with any health related problem are regularly taken to the dispensary / hospital. Besides this, general health and hygiene session too are conducted regularly at the centre. The project also participates in rallies to create awareness towards the cause of child labour / domestic labour or any other social cause. This year too, a rally against fire crackers was organised by the project, where 105 children participated.

 

Dilbahadur came to Delhi for begging. Fortunately, he is preparing for class VIII exam now. He ran away from his home in Nepal at the  tender age of nine. Dilbahadur's father was suffering from TB and due to it he was unable to work and the whole family was living in acute poverty. Acute poverty and hunger forced the helpless father to send his eldest son to work in the fields instead of a school. Dilbahadur never liked the work he was doing. He found it  really difficult to bear the running the entire household on his shoulders. One fine morning Dilbahadur took a major decision - which was to look for a better life elsewhere and he landed up in Kathmandu. He started working in a tea shop but whenever he asked for wages his employer used to start beating him. He did a lot of other jobs including working in a lodge in Sonuli and begging in  trains. Begging in the train brought him to New Delhi Railway Station. He liked the city and started working as a rag picker, which used to fetch him Rs 50-60 per day. One day while he was at his work he met a social worker from Deepalaya.  The social worker brought him to the nearby shelter of Deepalaya.  He found 20 children similar background  staying there, who, apart from working during the day, get the chance to study in the evening. That was a new beginning for Dilbahadur. He joined motor mechanic class run by Shramik Vidyapeeth. When all these children were brought to our formal school campus, he also came. Now he learns the skills of a motor mechanic during the day and prepares for his class VIII exam. He has joined Deepalaya National Open School Programme to sit for this exam.

Flash Back  Annual Report 97-98 First time in the developmental history of India a planned phase out is carried out. Deepalaya Plan Project left behind 33 NGOs within the community and an aware and empowered community. The project for Street & Working children was launched last year (February 1997) to ameliorate the plight of street and working children and bring solace. Through the project we have attempted to reach out to children between 6 - 16 years of age largely from the unorganised sector ( on the street or no home or parents) from the location of Banana Godown, Gouri Shankar Mandir, Shalimar Bagh and at New Delhi Railway Station (NDRS)

HIV / AIDS continues to be a major threat. The problem has become so big that it is estimated that 2 million persons are likely to develop AIDS in India by the year 2000.
One of the main reasons for the spread of this disease is that a large section of our society is still unaware about it, reasons for its spread and ways it can be prevented especially by safe sexual practices and condom usage.
Although a lot of work is being done by both government and private agencies for creating awareness for prevention of AIDS, yet there is much more which needs to be done using various innovative approaches.
Deepalaya is implementing a pilot AIDS awareness programme in 40 urban slum clusters in North West, West & South Delhi from July, 1998 with funding support from the Australian agency for International Development.
As a strategy, Deepalaya with the help of Social Entrepreneurs, who are selected from project areas, form groups of women, girl, men / boys who are trained as peer educators. These peer educators, in turn train their peer groups. Awareness campaigns are conducted amongst slum dwellers, local practitioners and industrial workers through IEC activities such as Street plays, Jathas, Slogan & Essay competitions. Regular health check-up camps are held with in the project areas promoting safe sex and condom usage.

 

AIDS Alert The Government and other organisations have for some years now been warning that India could become the AIDS capital of the world by the turn of the century. Far from taking measures on a war footing to pre-empt this, the government has shown little inclination even to understand the magnitude of the challenge. Meanwhile, seropositivity has been steadily rising - from 2.5 per 1000 in 1986 to 17 per 1000 in 1996 - among people in their prime. Even as the virus goes into energetic overdrive, the government's lethargic control programmes are falling by the wayside. Times of India,  Thursday, 2nd July 1998

Flash Back Annual Report 85-86 One of the largest INGO Plan International collaborated with Deepalaya to carry out integrated Development in Delhi slums. Health check ups and treatment  The  children are given periodical health check up and  treatment through  the  services of a homeopathic  doctor,  who  visits  the school  once  a  week.  The  children  are immunised  against chicken pox,  measles,  Diphtheria,  Tetanus, Whooping  cough, Mums, BCG, among others. They are given  treatment against skin rashes, scabies, infections, eye viruses, cough and cold, apart from others.  Integrated Urban Community Development/ Deepalaya Plan programme  In partnership with foster parent Plan International, Deepalaya Education   Society  launched  an  urban  community   development programme in one of the relocated colonies of West Delhi. To accomplish the goal of universalization and vocationalization of  education, the  following  programmes and activities  in  various areas of development, viz., education, health, recreation, and income generation are undertaken by  the project.

If there is any land on this earth that can claim to be blessed, to be the land where humanity has attained its highest towards gentleness, towards generosity, towards purity, towards calmness, above all, the land of introspection and of spirituality - it is India. In India the most talked about subject is Rural Development. Whether it is a so -  called developed nation or a so - called developing one - rural development is the primary concern of all. But what is actually meant by Rural Development? Most economists and politicians see development as growth of GNP, leading to the gradual increase in the rate of per capita consumption. But inspite of maximum improvement in GNP, in certain countries, in the East & in the West, people are found to be hungering for something which cannot  meted out by GNP. The visionaries of rural development like Swami Vivekananda have defined rural development as participation and relation, meaning that willing participation of those for whom development is meant is an essential factor without which nothing can be achieved.
In India, where over 70% of the people live in villages, rural development should be the greatest concern of all. If villages do not thrive in all respects, no amount of development effort in urban areas will yield any sustained impact. So, attention needs be paid. With the right approach and attitude, Deepalaya has taken its first step by establishing Deepalaya Rural Development Resource Centre at Gusbethi village, Tavaru block,  Gurgaon district of Haryana which falls under the Mewat region.
Two thirds of the total population is Muslim. On an average there is a primary school in each village but is not effectively functional. There are no medical facilities. The girls are normally not sent to schools. During this year, Deepalaya saw rural development aims at desired changes, quantitative as well as qualitative in all components i.e. social, cultural, economic, technological, natural and political. On the educational front the organisation felt that integration and use of pre-school or balwadi as a mechanism to promote formal education. In January '99 a training programme for SEs were organised.

Operational Areas : Kirori, Gusbethi, Pipaka, Patuka and Bhutlaka.

	Male	Female	Total
Balwadi	95	60	155
REC	91	28	119
SHGs	-	78	78

 

Flash Back Annual Report 84-85 Deepalaya enters Child Focussed Integrated Urban Development, a new chapter begins in Capital's welfare programme. Deepalaya Enters Integrated Urban Development Considering the need of development/social work among the weaker sections in Delhi slums/relocated colonies, negotiations are under way with foster parent Plan International USA through its Delhi Office. The proposal is to  take up community Development Works in these relocated colonies of West Delhi through a sponsorship  programme. If approved by the agency, the programme can be launched in 1986-87 financial year details of which are too early to be given. However, once started, it would be a massive programme and Deepalaya may be able to reach out a large number  of  deserving people in the slums through education, health, income  generation and community development

Listen To Shama: Seventeen year old Shama is the second child among three brothers and four sisters.  Shama's father is a vegetable vendor who never works regularly. As a result, the family is always in financial crisis. This quiet and submissive girl tells a lot by her eyes and long silences. Shama had a troubled childhood. She feels she has never seen her childhood. Shama has been looking after her whole familly since the age of 9. "My parents never got along . There were always fights and tension. My mother was totally indifferent toward all her kids. My elder sister was rebellious and so the whole responsibility of looking after the younger ones fell on my shoulders'', tells distressed Shama. Shama joined Deepalaya adult education classes some five years ago. Now for the last five months she is  also attending sewing and tailoring classes conducted at Deepalaya centre in Gole Kuan where she is not only learning sewing and tailoring but also finding solace in the company of social worker Sunita. She has also made friends. Shama said, "Before joining Deepalaya, I never had any friends or somebody to talk to about my problems. There was entertainment. I feel good to spend time in Deepalaya sewing class where I also get opportunity to laugh and tease others". She says, " I always use to feel scared of everything. Now after doing this sewing course I feel much more confident. Now I earn more than Rs.600 every month by stitching. Earlier I use to take money from mother for my tuition, but now I am contributing to the family income. This six hundred rupees has given me a lot of confidence. Now I feel I have some worth and I can certainly do something worthwhile". Shama wants to work independently as a tailor which gives her freedom and flexibility to look after her younger brother and sister. 

Girls learning beauticulture. It is a helpful skill to them.

Flash Back  Annual Report 95-96 Deepalaya started an ambitious project - Deepalaya Formal School at Kalkaji to cater to 4000 slum children with the best kind of education available in India. We do not know where from the money will come. Faith in almighty kept it going. Deepalaya Plan Project (West Delhi) :  Deepalaya Plan Project has done a decade of development work in West Delhi. The year 1995-96 has primarily concentrated in facilitating the shifting of responsibilities and smooth transition of responsibilities from Deepalaya to local Community Based Organisations. As the deadline for complete phase-out is set for 1998, programmes and plans during the last twelve months dwelled around planning for phase-out strategies. Special training was organised for Account keeping, Programme planning, Personality development, Thrift and credit, First aid, Health awareness and Family planning. Social entrepreneurs were given training as Remedial Education teachers, Balwadi teachers and Health guides.

Shama Belongs To The Process Of Paradigm Shift:  Shama is a result of our purpose to create a just society and environment for all in which happiness and freedom is restored by lessening social, emotional and physical burdens and providing opportunities and eradicating  social, economic and physical exploitation and abuses. Under the sector of Socioeconomic Integration, Deepalaya tries to bring in changes, mostly attitudinal, so that a whole is made out of parts of different colours, shape and background. Every slum of Delhi represents India in its true sense. People from different parts of our country come and live, not essentially together, for a common cause - livelihood. Their problems and  difficulties are same but seldom they identify themselves with those problems. The culture of facing the common problems, posed by the demon of metropolitan life, is not prevalent. Rather, the  Biharis identify themselves with the fellow Biharis and the UPites with the UPites. As a result, the problems, the threats remain the same and people continue to suffer. The advantage of this situation is taken to its fullest extent by the influential persons with vested interests. We do not have to name them. Right from day one, when Deepalaya enters a community, Deepalaya tries to address this problem to its roots i.e. bringing the people to a common platform. No great activism or social advocacy is practiced but the people are helped to understand their problems at the micro level. We look at happenings of a planned paradigm shift in the overall environment of the communities as a result of change processes initiated by the crusaders of Deepalaya and their ultimate faith in the people's capabilities of adapting with the change process.The shift of this Development Paradigm completes it's cycle over a period of decade, when Deepalaya intervention is no longer required and the community begin to acquire quality of life of it's own and become sustainable from all points of view, i.e. cultural, social, economic, moral, religious and political. A new order at the micro level which when spiraled can lead to macro and mega level of world order and view. 
 

Listen To Shama
Shama Belongs To The Process Of Paradigm Shift
Phase In - A Process To Initiate To Achieve Sustainability
Phase Out - A Milestone Is Achieved
RELATED ACTIVITIES : Khel Utsav, Skill Training, Income Generation Projects(IGP), Pragati '98

 

Phase In - A Process To Initiate and Achieve Sustainability: Phase In is the most important aspect of Planning Cum Micro Realisation (P.C.M.R) - the guiding approach followed in Deepalaya towards holistic development of the communities. P.C.M.R. is a process oriented participatory planning cum micro realisation exercise designed as the first phase towards launching an integrated development project. This process should continue for a period of 1-3 years. During this period a Deepalaya animator/crusader interacts with the community to help them identify their resources for their own well being as a collective. Deepalaya supports the groups to prioritize. In this,  confidence is built and people get to know each other. It is not constrained with budget spending, target achievements and time frames. It is expected to promote leadership, networking with different groups and linking with outside resources. The outcome is a concrete development plan by the people and for the people and the implementation phase continues thereafter. This approach not only gives opportunity for self reliance from day one but also strengthens people's organisations and help them to test or evaluate the strength of the organisation and interest or stake of the individual through repeated activities. 

Phase Out - A Milestone Is Achieved: This June we phased out from the Deepalaya Plan projects. These projects were being implemented since 1986 in four resettlement and slum communities of West Delhi namely Raghubir Nagar, Khayala, Meera Bagh and Kirti Nagar. By the phase out process Deepalaya withdraws its direct intervention from a community after being assured itself that the community is empowered enough to deal with established linkages, identifying problems and working out solutions, capable of planning, formulating and monitoring initiated programmes, mobilising resources, maintaining resources and above all can follow democratic norms in selecting representatives in the community structures paving way for greater participation. The most important factor here is that the community under phase out should be able to carry out all the above mentioned activities without direct help from the implementing agency like Deepalaya. 

Listen To Shama
Shama Belongs To The Process Of Paradigm Shift
Phase In - A Process To Initiate To Achieve Sustainability
Phase Out - A Milestone Is Achieved
RELATED ACTIVITIES : Khel Utsav, Skill Training, Income Generation Projects(IGP), Pragati '98

 

Flash Back  Annual Report 93-94 The concept of Social Entreprenuership is introduced. With it, conceptualisation of Development Paradigm gave a new meaning to sustainability in developmental work. Children got a new programme, an innovative platform to meet their sponsor parents - Maitree Shree is introduced.  Girl Child :  We made a positive discrimination towards the Girl Child, and due to this till date the Girl Child enrollment is maintained at 49%.  A special girl child project has been launched to cater to their special needs. The idea is to provide equal opportunities to express their mental and physical faculties which are otherwise neglected.  Towards self reliance : Our mission is to create, enlighten and establish a new social order which is self-reliant, self governed and exploitation free.  The concerted efforts for the past few years have started bearing fruits.  The handing over of some of the activities to the community associations as part of the phase out strategy is a proof of the same.  Active and whole hearted participation and involvement of the community members, leaders and specially the women is the intangible outcome of effects so far put in.

Community Organisation

	Male	Female	Total
Members in Informal Groups	224	774	998
Thrift & Credit Groups	12	316	328
Legal Education	38	20	58
Street Play	150	24	174
Total	424	1134	1558

Income Generation

	Male	Female	Total
Petty Traders	0	36	36
Micro Enterprises	0	39	39
Production Unit	0	1	1
Self Employment	0	4	4
Total	0	80	80

 

 

Skill Training:

If you visit Malti's (a social entrepreneur) sewing centre in Gole Kuan Project of South Delhi,  you will see two parallel classes being run by her. One is for sewing & tailoring and the other for adult literacy. She has a tremendous space problem, but still manages a little space beside the crèche to make all her beneficiaries literate. She does not demand any extra fee from them for this initiative. She says, 'Unless they are literate,there is a greater chance of exploitation, even though these women become capable of earning money after skill training'. She also involves them in thrift and credit, which again helps the beneficiaries to procure raw materials. Vocational skills are provided to the beneficiaries with the aim that they  are capable of earning their livelihood through using these skills. Sewing, tailoring, typing, beauticulture etc. are taught to the beneficiaries. In these skills recurring cost is low but the beneficiaries save money for buying raw materials for daily use. This year considerable emphasis has been given on skills like beauticulture, sewing/tailoring etc. 

Khel Utsav: On 2nd January 1999 South Delhi Projects of Deepalaya celebrated Khel Utsav (Sports Festival) with participation from all its eleven projects and 550 children. One of the elite public school of Delhi Kalka Public School (KPS) provided their sports ground for this with the purpose of facilitating the otherwise    unprivileged children of Deepalaya. Last year also this school helped us to organise the same festival by making this ground available to us.  This year we restricted the age group of the participants to 16 years. It all began with regular fanfare like March Past, Lighting of Lamp, Flag Hoisting and Oath Taking. The Principal of KPS Mrs. Asha Malhotra was kind enough to be present at the inaugural function and declare the meet open for the participants. There were 12 events and in each event 2 groups each participated so that every one got a chance to compete. The highlight was participation of the disabled children in flat race and pyramid making. No one at the ground missed the chance to encourage them. It was very enjoyable when the male staff of Deepalaya participated in pitcher race and the female staff in tug of war. Other than this, Khel Utsav, sports activities are regularly conducted in all the locations including the annual Cricket Tournament of South Delhi Projects.

Income Generation Projects(IGP):  IGPs are meant for the people who have less chance of regular employment or establishing any sort of income generating unit. In our IGP units are based on reselling already available products and production units by individuals or group of individuals or providing services. We train the beneficiaries in skills required for generating income and basic accounting, marketing, etc. for empowering the beneficiaries to have enough resources and capabilities to raise their income. Saving is an important factor here. The beneficiaries, while working in the group, get together to save regularly towards the enterprise capital they are going to start. We subsidise the group with matching capital. Most of the time a revolving fund is created out of the total capital money so that more people get benefit of the process. Due to reasons like lack of manpower and effective linkage this activity did not get focus in this year and we could only continue with the existing groups.

Pragati '98: This year Pragati, the annual function of Deepalaya Plan Project was held at Diocesan Centre, Gol Dakhana on June 9. As the name"Pragati" suggests, the progress made by the communities towards empowerment, capacity building and social transformation. It has taken us  12 years to bring about the social transformation which has led Sarla, Bhagwanti, Lalit, Bharti and many more to play responsible roles for development of their own communities. The programme included Quiz contests on Health, Thrift and Credit, functioning of Samitis, among others.  It was an opportunity of self evaluation of learning from different training programmes and workshops conducted by Deepalaya PLAN Project. An exhibition displaying posters, charts, models on health and sanitation programme was put up at the venue giving an insight in to the progress made and approaches adapted in the respective areas.  Added feature of this years "Pragati' was a specially conceptualised Quiz contest on historical perspective related to India's independence and on the post independence era. At the end, prizes were given to winners of Quiz contestants, a recognition of the communities participation in development.

Listen To Shama
Shama Belongs To The Process Of Paradigm Shift
Phase In - A Process To Initiate To Achieve Sustainability
Phase Out - A Milestone Is Achieved
RELATED ACTIVITIES : Khel Utsav, Skill Training, Income Generation Projects(IGP), Pragati '98

 

Our  HRD till now was limited to HRM ( Human Resource Management). But the last 3 years saw a positive trend towards recognising HRD  playing an    important role in overall organisational development.
In practice, we have been developing the human resource of communities where we work by identifying Social Entrepreneurs and enabling them . The last year saw a structured formal training for the Social Entrepreneurs which was of 10 months duration and was a mix of class room training and field practice. The result of this is a more informed and committed cadre.
In August 1997, A.T. Kearney, an internationally reputed business consultancy were introduced to us by Partners in Change, an NGO who are trying to link the corporates and the NGOs. After  a lot of dialogue, they decided to help us in organisational strengthening and institution building. This was followed by a study. One learning of this study was that our HRD systems are weak.
1998 could truly be called the year of HRD in Deepalaya. Following ATK suggestions, the HRD department started working on strengthening our  systems. A two day workshop was conducted for all our staff to build team spirit and facilitate fund raising. This was a good experience for most. Following this we introduced the appraisal system which was systematic and result oriented.
Last year also had Deepalaya reflecting on the past 20 years through sessions led by ATK or facilitated by our staff. Through our internal facility we have gone ahead and  had strategic planning sessions for the next 20 years. Succession plans are under discussion and workshops were held by ATK and the HRD department on the subject.
In the offing are plans to introduce Growth planning  for each employee of Deepalaya. This is a follow up of the appraisals. Through this the attempt is to facilitate succession planning. The objective of this exercise is to have a more motivated and better skilled and committed personnel.
The icing  on the cake is the completion of the Human Resource Center at Janakpuri, which would serve as the focal point for all our HRD activities.

Flash Back  Annual Report 87-88 A courageous and democratic step is taken. The concept of Phase Out is introduced. Planning Cum  Micro Realisation a concept developed by Mr. T.K. Mathew of Deepalaya shows a new but sustainable path towards community development. Teachers Training : In this modern age, extra curricular activities play a very vital role in a child's education. As this has to be encouraged in all  aspects, we sent three teachers to Bal Bhawan in  Delhi to  get  trained at the 'creative art workshop  for  teachers  in June. We also sent two teachers to Madras in June to  attend  the training course organised by Aide et Action in modern methods of teaching in all subjects. In  August a teacher and the sponsorship administrator attended a letter writing workshop held by Aide et Action at Bangalore. During Dushera Holidays 6 teachers attended a week long  workshop held  at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya premises by the 'Ekalavya' group from Madhya Pradesh who are successfully intervening in teaching programs in Madhya Pradesh in order to render it more  creative, effective and geared to the needs and abilities of the children. The workshop dealt on 'curriculum development' but 'what it gave us  is an ideas approach' to learning, areas to new books in  each field, groups and resource persons, who could help us concretise these ideas with time and geared to the special  needs of our children and to introduce this into our methodology and syllabus. A series of  workshops beginning in December are being  planned  to make this a reality.

 

Today, when Deepalaya enters 20 years of it's operation we can be very proud of our mass acceptance as a front runner in the NGO sector. But this mass acceptance has not been fully translated into flow of funds and resources.
However the performance study of Deepalaya Communication Division, the unit responsible for fundraising and communication, points out the activity areas of the division has been multiplied and the performance record put the inflow of funds on the positive swing. But the increase in the work area of Deepalaya, the need for funds has significantly increased and thus setting renewed the challenge for the division to raise more funds and resources.
The Division has set the ball rolling in Greeting Cards, Direct Mail Campaign, and building partnerships with Embassies, while consolidating media presence, multiplying donation boxes and establishing fruitful linkages.
Direct Mail Campaign: Specialised form of communication targeted to top level executives of MNCs, magazine subscribers, frequent fliers, charitable trusts, doctors and club members, was sent out during Diwali, New Year and Holi. A total of 140000 mailers were sent and got support. 
Greeting Cards: The Division added a new dimension to it's activities when Deepalaya launched it's Greeting Cards in December. Prior to printing of 20000 greeting cards, a catalouge containing all the designs was printed with support from IFFCO. Eminent artists like Satish Gujral, Manjit Bawa, R.K. Yadav, Babita Sahni, Raghu Rai (photographer) and Manu Parekh contributed.
Corporate Partnership & Embassy Support: In terms of corporate and embassy partnerships the year has been successful in many ways. The year began with Punjab National Bank coming forward with a donation of Rs. 32,000 followed by Bank of Baroda giving a grant assistance of Rs. 20,000 and Uday Management and Charitable Trust promoted by International Business Centre donating Rs. 50,000. The Division's effort in building partnerships with business houses resulted in CSL Securities Pvt. Ltd. supporting skill development centre in Shalimar Bagh in purchasing 10 sewing machines. They also provided 100 pairs of sweaters and shoes. Our relationship with Embassies witnessed some creditable outcomes, when Australian High commission chose to fund us in our AIDS Awareness programme and German Embassy donated a Maruti Van for the Disability Project and provided furniture for our main school at Kalkaji Extn. The South African High Commission also contributed for construction of the same school. 
Public Relation & Media: Ms. Maneka Gandhi, Ms. Shabana Azmi, Ms. Gul Panag (Femina Miss India), Mr. Satish Gujral, Mr. Raghu Rai, Mr. Pawan Verma ....they all are now closely associated with Deepalaya and have been present in events and celebrations we organised. Some of them like Raghu Rai have been instrumental in mobilising support for Sanjay Colony School in Deepalaya from his circle of friends. All this has been achieved because of the P.R. skills of the division. However, a lot remains to be done. Our media presence has been quite extensive this year, be it Aaj Tak, Star News, Subah Savera and Zee News all have covered us. Also, among the print media, Hindustan Times, Times Of India, Statesman, Hindu, Mid Day, Indian Express, City Scan, Pioneer, Rastriya Sahara, Amar Ujala and Punjab Kesri reported our activities.
School To school Programme: This year contacts were made with various schools and institutions to involve school children in mobilising resources and funds. The project, however, could not achieve the desired results as schools were either involved in their own community development programmes or hesitant to involve themselves in fund raising activities. Nevertheless some of the schools came forward to donate books, stationeries, and water bottles. The project is concentrating in building initial support, which can later be developed in a long standing relationship. 
 

 

Dr. Ambedkar Smriti Award for Social Services

Mr. TK Mathew, Secretary & Chief Executive of Deepalaya was conferred Dr. Ambedkar Smriti Award for his outstanding contribution in helping the cause of the down - trodden. The award instituted by Dalit Children's Education and Development Programme Trust was presented to Mr. Mathew on 26th May 1998 at the Constitution Club by Hon. (Ex) Justice  V.M Tarkunde. This year Deepalaya also conferred with Vijay Gujral Award for excellence in education.

 

A.T. Kearney ACCORD AIIMS Community Extension Service Alarippu Apeejay School Asia Pacific Forum for Child Welfare Australian Embassy Bal Bhawan,  Ms. Rasika Khanna(Classical Dances) Bal Samiti, NGO AIDS Cell AIIMS  NGO Forum for Street and Working children Birla Vidya Niketan,  Ms. Rosic Capey - Penfriend Cambridge School, Srinivaspuri,  National Book Trust Campaign against Child Labour Cancer Society of India CEMD Cheshire Home Christian Medical Centre Delhi Commonwealth Wives Association Delhi Council for Child Welfare Delhi School of Social Work Delhi T.B Association Department of Health, MCD Dept. of Social Work, Ambedkar College Dept.of NCT of Delhi for Total Literacy Campaign  Ramditti Jeevanda Ram Narang Trust. Dept.of Social Work, Jamia Milia Islamia Development Alternative Directorate of Social Welfare District Institute of Education and Training(DIET)  Gandhi Peace Foundation German Embassy Global March Against Child Labour High Commission of South Africa Humanist Movement Indian Cancer Society Indian Chest Institute Indian Dental Association Indian Environment Society Indian Medical Association  Indian Red Cross Society

Industrial Training Institute ISI, New Delhi Jan Madyam,  Kalka Public School Katha Khazana Lion's Club, Delhi Love and Care Malaria Research Centre MCD (IPP VIII) MCD T.B Centre Ministry of HRD for Non Formal Education Mobile Creches  Mrs. Madhmita Roy Ms. Laila Kabir - English Conversation Ms. Meghna Prasad - Pregami & English Conversation Ms.Goll Sandy - Pen friend National Council for Education Research and Training(NCERT), National Open School (NOS) National School of Drama,  Nehru Bal Vikas Samiti NIPCCD NIUA Parivar Seva Sansthan Pravah Institute for Candle Making Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing Ranbaxy Community Health Services Rotary Club, Delhi RP Centre for Opthalmic Sciences, AIIMS S.P. Jain Institute for Management Studies. Sahitya Kala Parishad SCERT SGTB Sminu Jindal Trust. SOSVA Spastic Society of Northern India State Resource Centre, Jamia Milia Islamia "The Family" for Carols UN Information Centre Urivi Vikram Charitable Trust. Venu Charitable Eye Institute Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) VRIDHI Youth Reach

 

Naiade PLANTE & GATIEN, France. Maurice Dubras, UK Ms. Rita Sridhar, New Delhi Mr. D.C. Jain, New Delhi Ms. Leena Labroo, New Delhi Mr. U. Emmanual, New Delhi Mr. Ajit Jha, New Delhi Ms. Salila George, IDBI, New DElhi. Mr. K.L. Garg, IDBI, New Delhi Mr. Rahul Sadhu, New Delhi Ms. Maneka Gandhi Ms. Christabelle Noronha Mr. S.S. Chopra, Punjab National Bank, New Delhi. Ms. Leo Falayar. Netherlands Mr. R.P. Rastogi, London. Mr. P.K. Sharma, Delhi Ms. Brigitte Kivuva,Nairobi Mr. R.N. Lakhotia,New Delhi Ms. Aabha Sharda,New Delhi Ms. Ritika Virmani, New Delhi. Ms. Johana Dunlop,New York Mr. Pramod , New Delhi Ms. Meenakshi Nath, New Delhi Ms. Debarah Unges, New Delhi Ms. Sanne Williams,New Delhi Mr. J.K. Mahajan, New Delhi Mr. Terry Bennett, Middlex,UK Mr. Syamalee.Sanyal, Gurgaon Mr. Taiyyeba Satri, USA Mr. Daugine to Squer, France Ms. Susan Embury, England ICCO Netherlands, Ms. Jean Marie Mendiat, France Ms. Maniam Khalpur, Muscat Mr. Sreejit Pillai, Malaysia Mr. Lnise Jamison,UK Mr. Stephen Luku, Mexico, Ms. Namrata Singh, Aboar Ms. Heike Junger, New Delhi Mr. Tathegata Roy, New Delhi

Mr. Rick Dubra, U.K Mr. Patricia Van Ojk, Holland Mr. Vinay Nair, Glauster Mr. Alison Sumin,New Delhi Mr. Harish Dayghan, Nagpur Mr. Babu V.M., Kerala State Mr. Deehen Wangmo, Bhutan Mr. Sammy Pandey, Delhi Ms. Esmensaud, France Mr. Ravichandran, Madras Mr. Sunder Kundarthala, Kerala Mr. Trashaf K. Mukerjee,West Bengal Mr. Soubeyrand, Paris Mr. Datthien Aleyan DRC, Paris Dr. Mrs. P.O.Thomas, Malaysia. Ms. Nancy Price, Australia. Ms. Sanne Williams, Delhi Ms. Anne Billard, New Delhi Mr. Mallik Arjun A. Konnur, Karnataka. Ms. Kavita Anand, Bombay Prof. L.M.Kantraim, Ahmed Nagar.Maharastra Dr, Arvind Mathur, New Delhi. Ms.Champa Sharma, New Delhi Mr. Rajeshwar Jha, Bihar Mr. M.A. Rashid, Bangladesh Ms. Sue Embury, England Ms. Reshma Lakha, South Africa Ms. Nariam Khalfan, Oman Mr. Chris Tuppon, London,UK Mr. Frans Hamer, ICCO, Netherlands Mr. Odette Oskam, ICCO, Netherlands Ms. Kamal Kashyap & Geetesh Jaiswal, Mumbai Ms, Annette Wagenaar, Amsterdam Ms. Janet Batar, England Mr. Renuka Chohan, Noida Ms. Eva Ratmensen, Amsterdam Ms. Namrata Singh, Alwar Ms. Annie Van De Pas, Amsterdam Mr. Santhosh Thomas, Kerala