Helpers of the Handicapped, Kolhapur

HELPERS OF THE HANDICAPPED, KOLHAPUR

APPLICATION FOR SPONSORSHIP OF STUDENTS TO VIBHA

REPLY TO QUERIES FROM MR. PRASANNA PENDSE

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

What is the status of the project as of now? The proposal mentions 72 students in the hostel. Has the hostel been completely staffed right now? Also, are fees charged for some of the students in the hostel or is it completely free for everyone?

At present we have 71physically challenged students living in our hostel.
The hostel has been completely staffed right now.
Nominal fees are charged for some of the students who can afford to pay and for the rest it is totally free. As per present statistics 20 students are totally free and the remaining 51 students pay total fees of Rs. 265,050 for the full year. So on an average the fees collected per student (including free students) works out to Rs. 311 per student per month (roughly USD 7.00 per student per month), which is highly subsidized. This includes lodging, full boarding, transport, medical facilities, and all other facilities. The fees shown are the designated fees which are generally paid in installments. Some of the students coming from farming families fail to pay full installments and at times we have to waive the balance installments.

If Vibha were to fund this project (and since you have asked us to fund only a portion of the project), would you be in a position to give a project report on the students that Vibha has funded or on the project as a whole?

We will be in a position to give a project report on the students that Vibha has funded as well as on the project as a whole. Actual expenses incurred for surgeries, medical facilities, and aids and appliances can be furnished individually. Common expenditure like boarding, electricity & water, vehicle & other maintenance & repairs etc., can be considered on pro-rata basis.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:

C) DIRECT COMMON EXPENDITURE (PRO-RATA)

School Bus Fuel, Maintenance, & Repairs Rs. 2,000

(Do the children have to be transported to a school that is significantly far away?)

The children of upto Class VI staying in our hostel (17 students) go to our own school Samarth Vidya Mandir. Since it is in the same premises as our Hostel, they do not need any transport. Other about 70 students who come from nearby villages are provided transportation in our bus. They are picked up from their homes and dropped back. This was essential to encourage their regular attendance in school and reduce

Page 1 of 3

the drop out rate. Students from Class VII to Class X go to Prabuddha Bharat High

School which is about 17 kms away from the hostel (one way). Similarly the College students go to three different colleges which are 10-15 kms (one way) from the Hostel. This involves considerable expenses on Fuel, Maintenance & Repairs of two buses that we use for transporting students.

Electricity & Water:Last year the actual expenses incurred on Electricity & Water was Rs. 1,89,244/- for 115 inmates. The same average is considered for this year.

Sports, Cultural Activities, Personality Development Programs – Rs. 1,000

(Can you provide with more details on what kind of activities are planned)

Children are provided with kits for outdoor sports like cricket, basket ball, throw ball, and indoor games like carom. We have put together one cultural program called ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’ (We Shall Win !) in which children, even wheel chair bound, sing and dance. Expenses are incurred on their training, costumes, and in holding cultural shows. So far we have held 21 shows in Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Orissa, Pune, etc. These cultural activities build up confidence in students and help us in spreading awareness about our work.

We hold Personality Development sessions by experts from Mumbai and Kolhapur. Recently we had a four day workshop on Enhancement of Spoken English. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Soundara Rajan by courtesy of an organization of Bangalorecalled ILID. At time such experts do not charge their fee but we have to spend on their lodging, boarding, and transport etc.

Children are taken on excursions out of Kolhapur to acquaint them with the outside world and for recreation. In the past we have arranged excursions to Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, Agra, Hyderabad, etc. In Kolhapur they are taken to movies and to places of recreation.

D) DIRECT COMMON EXPENDITURE (PRO-RATA)

Staff Salaries & Honorariums – Rs. 3,500

(How many teachers / staff members are required to provide for adequate care for 72 students?)

Presently, we have the following inmates:

Students71

Staff18*

Trainees14

Persons admitted for 12

Economic Rehabilitation

Persons admitted for 5

Physical rehabilitation___

120

Page 2 of 3

In addition to (18) resident staff there are (11) staff members who come from outside to work in the Hostel. Expenses on Salaries & Allowances on (27) staff members and (13) trainees last year was Rs. 5,30,172/-.

We have presumed that out of (43) current staff members (20) are required to take care of 71 students. Average salary per employee is considered as Rs. 1,035/- p.m.

Other Administrative Expenditure – Rs. 1,400 / -

(Can you provide with more specifics on this?)

This includes Postage & Telephone Expenses, Printing & Stationery, Insurance & Taxes, Maintenance & Repairs (other than vehicles) etc. Such expenditure is projected at Rs. 1.70 lacs over 120 inmates i.e. Rs. 1,417/- per inmate.

If you need any clarifications on the above information, or if you need any additional information, please let us know. We would be pleased to submit this information.

Page 3 of 3