1. Asha Darshan Assam BACKGROUND, UPDATE & PROPOSAL
Indu Vijayan
August 2017
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

2. Background
Asha Darshan is one of the oldest AfE-SV projects, running since the year 2000
Asha Darshan Trust is a grassroots NGO and an AfE affiliate, similar to Asha Trust
Biju Borbaruah is the principal coordinator of Asha Darshan and has been working in the area since 1998
Asha Darshan’s work is broadly organized into:
Education
Women Empowerment
Community Development
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

3. Overview
Asha Darshan’s education program spans 11 villages in Baksa and Tamalpur districts of Assam
Education Program has expanded into Manipur with support from Stamford
Primary site of Asha Darshan’s is Bodo tribal area, governed by Bodo Tribal Council (BTC)
Primarily agrarian society with large population dependent on small farming or seasonal labor
The region has been historically marred by violent conflicts and militancy
Political agreements and arrangements over the past decade have brought some normalcy to the region , however, there’s little improvement in the lives of people
Access to affordable and quality education and healthcare continues to be a challenge
Relatively high [and rising] drug & substance abuse in the area
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

4. Asha Darshan – Reach in Assam from 2001
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

5. Education Program
Asha Darshan runs schools with community support where there is a need and demand
Since 2001 Asha Darshan has started 24 schools, of which 15 schools have been either converted (to) or adopted by the Government!
Asha Darshan currently runs 9 schools
Nagapur (Assamese medium)
Nagapur (Bodo medium)
Shimliguri
Shantipur #1
Shantipur #2
Devinagar
Satyanarayanpur
Abhayapur
Sonmuni
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

6. All 8 Pre-Primary schools have been
SL. No.
Name of School
Year of support
Year of closing
Govt. Support 1
Khumguri PP school
2000
2006
Anganwadi Kendra 2
Bathouguri PP school
2004 Do 3
Amlaiguri LP school
Govt. 4
Anthaibari PP school
2011 5
Jhargaon PP school
2003 6
Nagapur PP school
2007 7
Kawli PP school
2005 8
Singramari LP school
2010
Govt 9
Satyanarayanpur LP school
Continue 10
Satyanarayanpur ME school 11
Namati LP school 12
Hajongbasti PP school
2015 13
Lakhinarayanpur LP school( 14
Paharpur PP school 15
2No. Shantipur LP school 16
Danswarng LP school 17
Garughutu LP school 18
Lakhinarayanpur ME school 19
Nagapur ME School (Bodo)Medium 20
Devinagar LP school 21
Nagapur LP & ME school (Assamese) Medium
2008 22
Simliguri ME school(Bodo )
2009 23
Sunmuni LP school
 In the process of conversion to Govt school 24
1No. shantipur LP school
2013
All 8 Pre-Primary schools have been
supported as Aanganwaadi Centers by
the Government
7 LP Schools have been recognized by
the Government as well
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

7. Education Program
Most schools are in temporary construction, with concrete floors but bamboo walls/roofs, and need annual (or frequent) repairs, especially during the rains
Community generally works together on maintenance and repairs of the schools
Schools are typically constructed on community [donated] land
Field staff visits the schools 2/3 days every week and parents frequently visit and meet at the school
SMC meetings are conducted every month, students, parents, and community at large attends the SMC meetings to discuss issues including, but not limited to, the school.
Teacher meetings are held in rotation bases every month or two months
There’s a monthly meeting, last Sunday of every month, of teachers at Asha Darshan center in Bogajuli or Tamalpur
Progress of all schools is discussed along with a post-training follow-up
Annual teacher training program for all teachers
Conducted with help from Asha Trust or other local NGOs with expertise in teacher training
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

8. Self Help Groups
Asha Darshan runs an extensive network of SHGs since 1998 with a broad objective of empowering women socially and economically
Initial target was the most backward poor working women with little savings because of non- linkage with banks
Since 1998, 435 SHGs have become operational under Baksa and Dhemaji district
Each SHG has between members with nominal weekly contribution of Rs. 5-10
A SHG comprises of a president, vice president, secretary, an assistant secretary, and a treasurer.
Group can take no or very low interest bearing loans on as-need basis
The groups have connection with UCO bank Tamulpur branch, AGV bank at Kumarikata, Nagrijuli, Ghagrapar, and Alahabad bank at Rangia.
SHG member get loan support at a minimum 2% interest to meet medical or educational requirements of the families. The groups are doing paddy farming collectively and other income generating activity individually namely piggery, poultry, handloom and product marketing.
Asha Darshan is leveraging NRLM(National Rural Livelihood Mission) to rejuvenate SHGs and improving the overall economic condition of the women
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

9. Vocational Training
Vocational Training program was started in for members of SHGs on the following areas:
Candle making
Tailoring
Horticulture and improved farming practices
Jewelry making
Bamboo handicrafts
The objective is to eventually ensure Rs. 10L for every SHG member
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

10. Mahila Shanti Sena
Mahila Shanti Sena was formed in 2002 under the guidance of Paramshree Rabindra Nath Upadhyay with the following objectives:
Rescue and counseling of victims of domestic abuse
Raise awareness, rescue and rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking
Health awareness amongst women and children
Raise awareness about Right to Information and Right to Education
Building a strong group of women leaders
Raise awareness against militancy and violence
Mahila Shanti Sena has played a critical role in formation of SHGs, and operations of the Asha Darshan schools.
Women from Mahila Shanti Sena have played a critical role in reduction of violence in the region and promoting community participation in the region
[Update ]
In the year there was an incidence of domestic violence of denying property rights at mother in-law’s home in Kachubari village. Shanti Sainiks went there and settled the dispute peacefully by organizing discussion at village level.
Next incidence was in Punia village about a misunderstanding between spouses Shanti Sainik visited the home, assembled there, discussed the problem. When no reason found for doubt the husband asked for forgiveness. The wife also apologize him and accepting each other happily.
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

11. Weavers Program Weaving Training & Production
Handloom is traditional industry hat has been systematically decimated by introduction of modern power looms and import subsidies
Weaving continues to be a potential means of economic empowerment with highly skilled labor pool
Training Program using modified looms and Jakarta looms
Focused on designing and quality of final product
Started a local shop for direct sale with moderate success
Over 160 weavers have received training from Asha Darshan
Asha Darshan is training multiple people to enable them to receive Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

12. Activities
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11/14/2018

13. Site Visit – November 2016 [Few points]
Now what are the challenges in running school here 
a) Different languages people speak
b) Decades of conflict have caused a lot of issues in the infrastructure. Govt schools were not there in multiple villages. 
c) Violence among different groups were not uncommon few years back. Now things are apparently quite peaceful.
d) Elephants come down from the mountains almost every day. They ruin the vegetable and paddy field in some villages.  So "bhago" is the word after 4 pm every day.
More Here : schools.html
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

14. Budget Proposal for 2016-17 Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
HONORARIUM TEACHERS : Rs
Programme Head : Rs
For Training Programme : Rs
Women empowerment programme : Rs
Administration : Rs. 9,
All total amount of Rs. 53,55000/- down from Rs /-
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018

15. BACKUP
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11/14/2018

16. Education Program
Government norms for setting up Aanganwaadi Centers is tribal density of , but, little or no support was available
Asha Darshan started with opening per-primary schools in 7 hamlets in Tamalpur
These centers were eventually upgraded to primary/upper-primaries as children graduated and little help came from the Government
between ICDS(Integrated Child Development Services) centers were either opened or pre-primary centers were adopted
Nagapur is an exception where Asha Darshan ran a Secondary School to meet the demand and non availability of a school in 10-15km vicinity
Asha Darshan schools are either Bodo or Assamese medium
Asha for Education - Silicon Valley
11/14/2018