HIRO 4: EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL DROPOUTS

EDUCATION- for SCHOOL Dropout Boys & GIrls: 

In remote villages, it is common site to see quite grown-up boys and girls doing various jobs at home.

Usually, boys either sit around or play with their peers games like marbles and so on. Some of them are given the job of herding the domestic animals a distance away from home. Once they go in the morning around 10.00a.m.-10.30a.m. They come only around dusk time after having grazed the animals. There in the grazing site if there are a few boys and girls then they would play some game or the other. Many of these boys are either dropped out of school when they were small, some of them due to lack of motivation to study, or poverty at home. Most of the time It was poverty at home. The parents were unable to provide text-books, stationery etc.  

Two girls are at home. 

Often it also happens that the children are out of school because the parents are uneducated. They do not see the helpfulness or use of schooling for later life. The High schools too are far away from home. The geographical condition also does not allow them to take risks through jungle to walk to the school some distance.  Poverty also pushes the parents to employ their sons and daughters to earn whatever they can get to support the family.

The girls are usually asked to remain at home after they reach their puberty to help mother in cooking, washing, cleaning around the house, sweeping and if there is a child to be taken care of. Thus, a girl does not merely become a helping hand in the house, but she is also groomed in taking care of the house, cooking and all other works a person is supposed to be after her marriage. 

Thus the parents actually prepare their daughters this way to be good housewives at their husbands' houses.. 

A Girl remains at home. 

Take for example these girls in the picture. They were told by the parents to remain at home and not to go to school. One major reason for them to be at home was the High school was far away from home with lack of proper security and roads in addition to poverty.  

The SCOPE is however mulling over gradually opening a school  from eighth grade onwards in order to educate the society in and around Koyna backwater Area. A special school may help the region to be sustainable and improve its quality of living.   

Besides school, there could be a training centre for these out-of-school children (girls and boys) a kind of non-formal training and some such activities which will help them to become self-sufficient. 

Some trades dependent on local resources of the area can be like gathering medicinal plants and making products as required by the Ayurvedic (Herbal Medicinal Factories) medicines, powders, juices, etc; jam, honey, and other food products-making cottage industries can be given opportunities to come up. 

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HIRO 2: EDUCATIONAL ENDEVOURS UNDER HIRO-SATARA

The Objective of HIRO (Hamlets In Reauirement of Orientation)  Project:

To create, render,  opportunities with the financial and/or any other support which can further education, for the underprivileged rural children (Girls and Boys from Kindergarten to the High school) from the villages adopted by the SCOPE in SATARA, PUNE districts and wherever the SCOPE will work in the future besides these districts.

Who are these Children: 

Socially & Economically chanllenged. 

These children are from the SCOPE adopted remotest villages of the above two districts. Of course, SCOPE is not limited by the boundaries of these two districts.

The remotest means the villages or the people who are not yet exposed to the development or any urbanization; they are also quite away from many of the modern means that are in the urban area. Due to geographical difficulties, that is, the terrain being hilly and jungle becomes very difficult to reach out to the cities and vice a versa. 

A boy is seen free from school

After having walked the lengths and breadths of these small and hilly pathways, we spotted several settlements of the people far away from the cities as well as the main village-markets. These settlements are called 'Hamlets'.  There are about fifteen such hamlets. The SCOPE always tries to find the people who are poor, and settled in remote villages or settlements.  

After having spoken to the people on several occasions, we came to know their needs. One particular need came in to sharp focus: the EDUCATION. 

Education is a panacea for all the Social and other ills like economic backwardness, social degradation and lack of life quality. Only education can render sustainability to life, create means of livelihood and help live human person in a dignified manner. 

The SCOPE understands EDUCATION as an UMBRELLA concept.

What is an Umbrella Term:
All the children are not naturally inclined to study in a formal, educational Institution or classroom situation. Many are variedly inclined and have different capacities. Therefore, in the HIRO Project, students or children who are differently inclined are also included. Technical or any other non-formal educational training also forms part of the HIRO Project. 

EDUCATION-for Children: 

The SCOPE expanded the concept of EDUCATION to mean differently in different situations for different persons. We found a number of children out side school atmosphere. Some of them were just being at home clinging to their mothers or walking around with their mothers. Some were being looked after by their little older sisters. Some help their mothers around the house.

Others engaged in some children's play-either playing in the mud, or loitering around aimlessly. Such children needed to sit in the Kindergarten classes so that they are in the school atmosphere.  

Clay Artefacts by the Kindergarten Children: A Class Activity.

Hence, the SCOPE appointed some women to search for children who had not been in the school ever since their birth and were at home. Initially it was difficult for the women to separate the children from their mothers and home atmosphere. We had to use various methods and baits to attract them to a so called classroom. Gradually they began taking liking for a group games and learning. We also began providing snacks to hold them back in the classroom. Our main aim was to create in them the liking for books and studies. This will help them to educate themselves.

The Teachers:

Kindergarten Teachers are in a workshop

One may wonder how the SCOPE could get teachers in such remote hamlets. The so called teachers were not actually trained teachers with specific degrees to teach in a Kindergarten or in a school. These were the girls grown up to twelve, thirteen and above years of age. They were in the school up to seventh grade.  

However, the High schools being far away to a block headquarters or in another village quite away from their own homes, they remained at home. Thus they became school-dropouts. Many of these girls once reach their puberty, they would be married off. Such married women we spotted who could earn a little to support the families. These were ready to teach the children whatever they had studied at School from their childhood. That was how they became Kindergarten Teachers. 

A Teacher drawing pictures

The SCOPE gathered such women and/or girls and trained them as Kindergarten teachers. These teachers would receive from time to time training. For such training the SCOPE would hire resource persons from Kindergarten centres of the cities. The SCOPE created opportunities to give them exposure to District level Kindergarten classes. This was in view of improving the quality of our Kindergarten classes as well as quality of teachers. 

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HIRO 3: Education for Women's Empowerment- SATARA (EWE)

EMPOWERING Women:

EMPOWERING Men: 

Agriculture Officer mixes manure & seeds

To bring such people in to the main stream of general life, improve the quality of their life

Various Kinds of seeds exhibited 

 

THE SCOPE WOMEN'S CO-OPERATIVE PROJECT

PUNE VILLAGES UNDER SCOPE

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SATARA VILLAGES UNDER SCOPE

THIS POST IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

SCOPE WITH NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)

SCOPE OFFICE VANDALIZED BY ANTI-SOCIAL ELEMENTS

On this 15th of April, it will be exactly one year since the SCOPE office was vandalized by the anti-social elements.

Perne Phata ( Perne Branch-off) is a SCOPE Resource Centre in the  A couple of days before 15th of April 2012, I went to open my office at Perne Road Fork. As I opened the office, every file and paper was strewn all over the flat. The computer and laptop were smashed. some important files and other documents were in shreds.

It was difficult to take all this in. All that the people had donated over a long period of 15 to 17 years had been reduced tatters.





The SCOPE complained to the local police authorities. They too vouched that they had no trouble from the SCOPE or its people and women. But they could not say as to who were the culprits of this dastardly act.









However, my reflection on this was that:

1. it was the will of God which goaded me on to work for the poor. Since I consider it as God's work, no one can destroy the spirit with which SCOPE has been working for the underprivileged poor.
2. Often, the honest work is often hindered and the people try to break their dedication and enthusiasm.
3. There is always a section of any society which does not wish that the poor and marginalised should become aware of their own legal rights and dignity.Therefore, those who struggle to awaken the underprivileged are the targets of this particular section's anger and jealousy     

SCOPE IN REMOTE SATARA

Vishwas started his Social Service in Remote Satara in the year 1999. One of the state government agriculture officers visited SCOPE work-sites in Pune district. He saw the works there. After having seen the works, talking to some of the beneficiaries of the works around he requested the SCOPE to start its work in Satara remote area for marginal and poor communities. This will help check migration of the original settlers. The children too will get good education from SCOPE. Moreover, the people of that area will come to know of their basic rights. It will also help the area to develop. 

Accordingly, as per the suggestions of the Government official the SCOPE visited the villages in that area. we visited some families so we get know about there social and economical status, than same night in the village we had community meeting with mix group of the people of different cast. The next day we visited different offices those who are directly involved in the development of this people  and collected population wise list of the villages, area map to know geographical bag round of this area, list of the govt social worker there telephone numbers. There agriculture status report all the related information we collected from different govt officials to select an 20 villages cluster to start work with people, our way of presiding is process peoples participation   mines is people are center of there own development. Than we started visiting the villages when ever and wherever people are  available we were attending them according there time so that they could not west there daily work. After the visitation of month there was lot of expectations for various help but their first request was to start something livelihood project so than can remain here to look after there children for there education and they look after there old parents so they can work here and earn something instead of migrating towards the city.

  

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ADDITION TO SCOPE'S INFRA STRUCTURE: A SCORPIO

A New SCORPIO vehicle has been added to the SCOPE NGOs Infra Structure. this will help SCOPE to reach out to many more remote villages.

HIRO 1. HAMLETS IN REQUIREMENT OF ORIENTATION (HIRO-Project), SATARA - PUNE

The Name Itself: HIRO: (Hamlets In Requirement of Orientation)

A Typical Hamlet in Remote Satara

We live in a twentieth century. This is the age of high speed computers, nano technology, and highly tech-savvy time. It looks as though we are on top of every development. Naturally the share of this development one may think has reached every nook and corner of the world. 

Furthermore, one may even think that there are no illiterate people, village like setups. But every village has turned into a small city or a big one. However, humans cannot boast of this high-pitch development.  

There are still states and places in the world, definitely in India where illiteracy, lack of hygiene, sustainable quality of life, life with dignity, lack of electricity, highs heed computers and all other things to add up to modernization absent.

One such place in many other places all over India is Koyna backwater Area in Satara district. Here, there are still some people living in jungle setups. A few about 10 -15 families live in clusters or settlements. These clusters or settlements are called 'Hamlets'. They live here because of their lands. They cultivate these lands.
Geography of the Area:

Market-returning husband & wife

The whole Western Mountain ranges are so arranged naturally that they form a big basin. Moreover, this area receives great amount of rain. Therefore, in the sixties, the State Government built a dam called Koyna. All the people living near Koyna (river) had to vacate their lands to live on the mountain top. The area is full of thick jungle with sanctuary of wild animals. It is also declared by the Maharashtra State Government as Wild Life Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve Forest.  Due to all these reasons the area becomes physically difficult to travel. Many villages and hamlets are connected with small pathways. 

Bag of seeds for community farming

The big vehicle-roads are not possible here. The roads are dusty and bumpy. In the rainy season the hamlets are quite cut off from the main villages and Blocks. Only road available for the people to connect with other villages is by boat through backwaters. Of course, in rainy season the boats too are off from the shore. 

Getting Aquainted with SATARA: 

Initially, the SCOPE began its work in the Pune District in the year 1999. One of the Government Officials saw the SCOPE was doing. He was quite appreciative of the dedication, transparency, commitment with which the SCOPE had done its work for several years in that area. The official happened to be the Block Development Executive Officer. After three years he was transferred to Satara district. Within few months of his reaching there, he contacted me and requested that the SCOPE began its work in Satara remote, around back water in Western Region. That was how the SCOPE became one with the Satara remote and began working there. 

First Steps of SCOPE: 

The SCOPE surveyed the area for two years. We became friendly with the scattered Hamlets. This helped us learn the issues with which the people struggled. Their needs were many and varied. 

There were many children, number of them out of the School Atmosphere. Parents are illiterate. Superstitions were rampant. Health and hygiene was needed an urgent attention. Migration was the biggest problem in the Koyna backwater Area.  Livelihood depended on seasons. It had to be made sustainable. The people could depend solely on seasonal crops. Whatever they earned or cultivated in the farms they received very meager returns. Apart from seasons, there were wild boars and bison to destroy the crops. This created not only a very high percentage of migration of the locals to the big cities like Pune, Mumbai, Kolhapur and Goa, looking for jobs but also very low wages in and around their own hamlets.

What Jobs they performed in those cities: 
If the families migrated to the cities then the women became servants and cleaners. The men became vehicle drivers or coolies. The children would find jobs as child labourers in hotels or some such places. When they came to their native villages they were unhealthy, sick, overworked and underfed.

The Major Issues the SCOPE encountered: 

The SCOPE concluded that 

1. The Migration had to stop

2. The People needed to be 'educated'.

3. The sustainable livelihood needed to be created which will help them to remain

in the villages.

Way back in 1996-97, a group of Japanese students came to India with certain Hiroyuki Ishikawa. Though Japanese, he had tremendous compassion for the poor wherever he saw them. 

He helped many poor students from various Indian states for their higher studies, irrespective of their religion and caste. His dream of helping those who could not afford was an inspiration for me to think of school-dropouts ranging from Kindergarten to the High school. Moreover, education was already announced as one of the basic human rights. 

Hence, the SCOPE thought of creating an Education program and dedicate it to Hiroyuki. Thus, HIRO Project was born as an educational wing of the SCOPE. 

The SCOPE saw as we were visiting the villages in SATARA an opportunity to gather the children under a teacher. 

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TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR LEADERS (Secretary & Chairpersons’) of SHGs under SCOPE NGO

Topic for Workshop

1. Management and practice

Total participants present were 

50 from six villages of Rahu Cluster of Daund Block, Pune.

To keep the records of Accounts SHGs

Practices, Rules, laws financial support of Nationalized Banks to the SHGs.

Agricultural Schemes of the State. 

Resource Personnel:

1. MRS. Sanjivani Pathak, Asst. MANAGER,   

    United Co-operative bank (Nationalized bank), 

    Rahu, Daund Block, Maharashtra.

2. Mr. J. S. Bhadakvad, Agricultural Asst. 

    supervisor (State Agricultural Dept), Rahu, Daund 

    Block.

3. Mr. Baban Sheikh, SCOPE coordinator (Pune 

    Region)

4. Mrs. More, SCOPE-SHGs’ animator, (Pune 

    region)

5. Mr. Vishwas Chakranarayan, Executive Director-
     SCOPE, 

Date: 28.02.2013

Venue: Rahu Grampanchayat Sabhagriha (Village Community Centre)


The Resource persons Spoke:

1. Mrs. Sanjivani Pathak:

She promised the group of the assistance from the bank, she invited the women to invest in small scale agriculture-allied business. She also told the women to approach her in case of any difficulties in the banking.

2. Mr. J. S. Bhadakvad said that the Govt. has been giving more priority to the group work. ‘We also support you to give agricultural schemes’ he told the women.

3. The Director of the SCOPE Mr. Vishwas Chakranarayan  said, ‘if you keep yourselves open and generous and together, then SCOPE will also support you thorough various training programmes. It will encourage you to market your products.’ Along with this Mr. Director also spoke to them about the Laws of Banks and its relationship with the SHGs. He further spoke about Integrity, accountability transparency in the accounts, teamwork, and respect for each member in the group.

4. Mr. Baban Sheikh and Mrs. Anita More explained the women leaders of SHGs about the account books and how to record things.

Conclusion: Several women expressed their thought and opinions. The women admitted that this was their first ever meeting. They expressed their happiness over the guidance from the Bank Personnel. Many desired that there should be many more such workshops and follow-up programmes. That will gradually prepare them to handle the difficulties in their own respective SHG groups in their won villages. This way there would be village leaders automatically being prepared from among women.  After the workshop there was light refreshment to all the participants and the resource persons.

Mr. Vishwas Chakranarayan, the Director of SCOPE is explaining various books of SHG Accounting. 

Here, he is exhibiting the Passbook of the SHGs

Here he is showing a sample of the Account Book to the women. 

SUCCESS STORY: BIOGAS IN DAUND BLOCK

This is the way people cut trees to use firewood for cooking

 The SCOPE began its work of creating awareness about Biogas. As the prices of petroleum and cooking gas have been rising by leaps and bounds, the SCOPE decided to discuss the problem with the villagers of  Takli Bhima  village of Daund block, Pune district.

There were several meetings to discuss the positive and negative things about this new proposal.The whole process went on nearly for a year and beyond.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Even to make a cup of tea the villagers use firewood.  

Considering the cost of LPG cooking gas, the destruction of green earth around and health hazards due to smoke of firewood suffered by the villagers the SCOPE educated the village-families about many benefits of the Biogas-cum-toilet project. 

 It  was a common site in the rural India apart from the slums in cities of people going out into the fields for nature's calls.Even today one may come across this situation in several villages across India. However, the SCOPE also educated the villagers about the health hazards created due to open feces. 
Though the villagers agreed to attach toilets to the Biogas Plants, they faced another big hurdle.

The question was, "How to connect the Human toilets to the Biogas Plants?" Since bio-waste comes from cows(mostly) and the cows are considered Holy, it was unacceptable for the villagers to join human feces to the Biogas Plant. But they were made to understand with several meetings. 

Finally a few were ready initially. As the others saw the benefits, they too joined the movement of having a Biogas-cum-toilet plant around their house.   
   

Earlier, women would be busy thinking and hunting for dry firewood, braking and chopping it from the neighbouring jungles. Anything would do. Small dry shrubs, thorny bushes or dwarf trees to bigger and shady trees. All this firewood was being stacked. 

Today, they do not have to roam around for firewood. Now they are aware of financial savings. There are smoke related health-hazards, like burning eyes, illnesses of lungs, corns due to thorns. Of course the Biogas has taken their worries of hunting or chopping firewood, the Biogas fire kindled every family's oven.
There are other benefits. The Biogas is much safer than the LPG gas cylinders.the farmers also avail the benefit of manure by way slurry that issues forth from Biogas.  

Some More Photos of other families in the same area.