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Trip to Ekalavya
Ashram, AP on Jan 27th, 2003.
A report by:Kalyan Vangapalli
Graduate Student
– Computer Engineering at UMass, Dartmouth.
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Email: kalyan@lycos.com
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I reached the Ashram at 10.00 am and spent nearly
half-a-day at the Ashram. IDRF came in contact with
this NGO thru personal contacts of one of the volunteers,
Raghu Verabelli. Raghu visited Ekalavya Ashram in
January 2002 and got the proposal for expansion of
its boarding facilities. Since then, IDRF has sent
a Rs. 4,00,000/- (approx $8,000) for the proposed
project. These funds were raised by Boston volunteers
of IDRF thru "Cricket for a Cause 2002" tournament
during summer and "Art& Food Festival"
in Oct'2002 featuring Hindustani classical music by
Pandit Madhav Gudi.
Ekalavya Ashram is a non-profit, tribal welfare
facility established in 1990, by Sevabharathi Trust
on the banks of river Godavari. This Ashram is run
by people from the local community of employees,
businessmen, etc. Ekalavya ashram caters to the
underprivileged tribal folks who cannot afford
any sort of education to their kids.These students
belong to different tribal & backward communities
and are from the remote corners of Adilabad district.
Adilabad, a northern district in AP, bordering Maharashtra,
is the most backward district in the state with a
high illiteracy rate and low population density. Most
of the district's population lives in villages with
scheduled castes and tribes constituting more than
30% of the district's population.
Shri. Thirupati Rao (Raghu's father) is also involved
in the expansion project and is supervising the construction
work. He introduced me to the office bearers of the
trust, President Shri. M. Narayana, Secretary Shri.
M. Ananda Rao and the vice-president Shri. V. Niranjan.All
of them were kind enough to explain me the functioning
of the organization, show me around the place and
progress of the construction. There are
about 64 students living in this hostel. Most
of these students are attending elementary through
high school. One of them is an Engineering student,
two of them attend a nearby Degree college and one
of them is an Intermediate(+2) student.The Ashram
bears the cost of schooling, books, food, shelter
and clothing for all the students. Ekalavya Ashram
meets its annual expenses of approx. Rs. 5,00,000/-
(approx $10,000) through generous contributions from
the local community and with the help of other organizations
like Lions International, ITDA, Rotary club
etc. Current facilities for the residents include
a single-storied dining-cum-dormitory and a kitchen,
made possible through the funds raised from the local
community.Existing facilities were insufficient for
the growing needs of the Ekalvaya Ashram. With the
current living space barely sufficient, any further
intake of students would cramp up the place. They
plan to increase the strength of the Ashram to 100
students. Hence it was necessary to add a new floor.
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The
funds donated by IDRF last August were used to build
a dormitory on the second floor
for the new students. Construction for the second
floor started in late September and in a five-month
period it is near completion. At the time of my
visit only flooring, carpentry and paint jobs were
remaining. Raw material for the pending job was already
procured and work was in progress. Groundwork to build
a staff quarter on the third floor has been done but
will be completed depending on the availability of
funds.
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Work is on schedule and if things go on smoothly the
new accommodation will be inaugurated by the set date
of first week of March 2003, coinciding with the anniversary
of the Ashram. Plans were to rope in the District
Collector of Adilabad for the inauguration.
After the tour of the premises, I had the opportunity
to go over the account ledgers for the work. To maintain
financial transparency, all the payments are made
through the bank or checks, nothing in cash. As of
present, payments in the amount of Rs. 3,18,000/-
were made towards the construction work. I brought
along a copy of the bank transactions, summary of
expenses, estimates for remaining work, copies of
receipts and some pictures (attached) of the construction
work.
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I also had an opportunity
to meet and spend time with some of the students.
I inquired about their whereabouts, facilities provided,
care taking and schooling.I felt sorry to learn that
some of the kids are orphans.During my interaction
with them, I learnt that they were the first in their
families to receive the luxury of education thereby
transcending the traditional tribal life with the
hope for a better future. I was pleasantly surprised
to note that some of these children were very sharp.
Apart from the formal education, emphasis is laid
on the importance of local culture, tradition and
values. Vocational training, sports, extra-curricular
activities are stressed in the after school hours.
The ashram boys did bring laurels from the statewide
athletic competitions.
On the closing
note, the members of the trust were very thankful
for the contribution IDRF has made for the welfare
of the underprivileged children. As a note of thanks,
initials of IDRF are being engraved on the
new building. I am really moved by the efforts and
dedication of the office bearers towards the Ashram,
to spend their time and resources despite their own
social and family commitments. It was my pleasure
to visit the Ashram.
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It
is my sincere hope that we would be able to support
many such noble efforts run by IDRF supported NGOs
all across India.
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