ASTHA Project, Delhi (Asha Seattle)

ASTHA Project, Delhi (Asha Seattle)

Site Visit on December 19th, 2008

By Nikit Abhyankar, Asha Stanford

1. Organization & Its mission, short and long-term goals

ASTHA’s center deals with the education of mentally and mentally challenged children in the age group of 4-16 years. After children turn 16 they “graduate” from ASTHA’s facility and move on to vocational training institutes for the mentally and physically challenged or the regular curriculum through open schooling system. ASTHA is also preparing some of its current students to write open school exams. Their ultimate objective (which has evolved over time and changed significantly in last few years) is to ensure that their students are absorbed in the mainstream education system. With this view, they also changed their curriculum to accommodate topics covered in the NCERT textbooks.

1. Your Perception of organization, facilities, and providers

ASTHA as an organization is fairly big. It runs three centers similar to the Kalkaji center I visited. I do not have enough inputs about ASTHA as an organization but the Kalkaji center seemed a coherently run center to me. The infrastructure (space, computers and equipments) are not lavish but are in fair condition. There are 4 computers in the center all in the working condition. Space is divided in to three different classrooms. The classrooms are made based on the age-group rather than the intellectual level. I found this in a way good and in a way problematic. Good in the sense that children learn in the company of their age children. However, on the other hand not all children in that age group have the same intellect level. The center owns a RT Van to transport children but the van is old (bought in 2000) and has been used extensively. So, its maintenance is a big liability. Children attend the centre from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. This includes a lunch break of an hour and rest period after the lunch. They are planning to extend the hours till 2:30 pm. Teachers are graduates and are specially trained for teaching the mentally challenged in the central government institute. In general, I found the organizational structure fairly democratic in that teachers and helpers were not intimidated by the presence of senior trustees. However, due to low salaries of teachers (~Rs 7000-8000/month), the center faces retention problem – teachers keep changing. This may have an effect on the learning process of children. Moreover, there is a chance that teachers, being new, would not be consulted in making major decisions. Total strength of children is 20. I asked them whether they had to deny admissions to any children because they were already running at full capacity. They said that though there have been very few cases like this, generally this does not happen. This means that they do not have enough idea/potential for significant growth.

In addition to children education, the center also houses a helpline service on various issues related physically and mentally challenged children. The helpline service received enquiries from individuals and NGOs from many north Indian states and also from North-Indian states. They plan to expand the service to south Indian states as well. The helpline service is supported by another Asha chapter and is not covered by Seattle. The helpline service employs three women and a supervisor (who also happens to be a trustee of ASTHA). It is housed in a separate newly constructed “kuccha” building right behind the children center. Current timings are 8 am to 4 pm. However, they are planning to extend the hours till 8:30 pm – but other administrative issues (and increased costs) such as someone to accompany women at night etc should be addressed first.

1. Organization statistics

The center maintains good teacher to student ratio. There are about 20 full time students and 2 part-time (once/twice a week). Number of teachers = 4, Assistant teachers = 3, Therapist = 1, helpers = 2. Boys = 12. Girls = 8.

1. Perception from children's point of view

I could set up a dialog talk only with a couple of children as children are mentally challenged. However, in general children seem very happy being there. They were playing, eager to communicate with us. With help from their teachers, they had made artworks for Christmas and Diwali. Also, the center is going to host a variety show put up by all ASTHA students on Dec 23rd. Children were quite excited about singing for the event. Because of very good teacher to student ratio, students get personalized attention. The trustees and teachers know every student’s progress quite well. Some students get spastic attacks which are meticulously monitored by the teachers. In general, teachers and trustees were quite friendly with children. Once children “graduate” after turning 16, they move on to a new (mainstream or vocational training) school or take open school/university exams. ASTHA provides support for about an year after “graduation” by visiting children’s homes and parental counseling. They also visit children’s homes and parent regularly. Sometimes, children are used to the equipment in the center so ASTHA allows them to take the equipment home; some parent can afford to pay for the equipment while some cannot. ASTHA volunteers said it was very hard for them to ask money because they could see that parents could not pay.

1. Perception from providers' point of view

- No specific comments -

6. Neighborhood perception & involvement

No involvement of the neighborhood except for the fact that many students from the neighborhood come to the center and the center staff has to talk with the children’s parents. People in the neighborhood knew about the school. I asked few people for directions and everyone knew the center.

7. Funding and financial information

The center receives grants from the Ministry of Social Justice, Government of India. Government sponsors the following components:

(i) About Rs 4000-5000/month per teacher for salaries;

(ii) About Rs 250 per visit for the therapist

(iii) About Rs 10,000 per year for administrative support/other facilities

The building is available to ASTHA on long lease from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and is practically free of charge (lease charges are Rs 100/year).

Students are charged nominal fees if their parents can afford. Presently, most students pay in the range of Rs 25 to Rs 300 per month. If students can’t pay, ASTHA does not take money from them. If any children are malnourished, ASTHA provides them food as well. Presently, all children bring food and water themselves.

8. Feedback to Asha

The project definitely seems on the right track and I recommend continuation of the funding. However, they lack a crisp vision for the long term for expanding the project. Moreover, I specifically asked them whether they had turn down any applications I did not get a chance to interact with children’s parents, which is advisable in the next site visit.

9. What we can learn from them

- No specific comments –

10. How we can help them

We can help them to expand their activities. Main things that they need funds for

(i) Undertaking extra-curricular activities like painting competitions, sports competitions etc. For example, on the day of the site visit a teacher had taken a student to Lucknow for a painting competition. This trip would cost about Rs 3000 including travel, accommodation and food for two. ASTHA has no funds to make these expenses. In this particular instance, they sent the child because the organizers promised reimbursement of the expenses. Same applies to sports meets for the children. However, supporting this component may be a bit tricky because it is very hard to account for these things.

(ii) The RT van presently in use is in pretty bad shape and also incurs a large maintenance. They would appreciate if they get a new and better van for transporting children.

(iii) They also want to increase number of students in their center. However, for the expansion there would be a significant new expenditure on land/space and equipments.

11. Overall rating - positive or negative

My overall rating is positive for continuing the funding. However, increasing the funding for expansion etc should not be undertaken without detailed scrutiny of the proposals. I asked them about their expansion plans and they did not have a crisp idea about how they want to expand – both in terms of increasing number of students and enhancing the infrastructure.