----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2001 12:30 PM
Subject: Shree Prajapati International Education Trust Fund:
Primary & Secondary Education in Gujarat, India
Hello Chandrakantbhai,
Namaste and how are you and your
family. Hope everybody is fine and looking forward to their forth
coming Christmas holidays. We are all fine here.
The main reason for writing is for me
to find out more information regarding the International Education
Funds. We have some money to donate from London's Special trust
fund and the idea is that all donated amount needs to be used
towards the education of primary school children for our prajapati in
gamms in Gujarat. One of our trustees (Harikishanbhai) is in
India at the moment and he is likely to stay near Navsari for at
least two/three months. One of his task is to find out
more about education for younger children so that London Trustee can
then make a decision to donate money.
For this reason can you please let me
know who would be the best person that Harikishanbhai can talk to
regarding Educational trust fund. Money needs to be used for
younger children and all money donated must be used up and not put into
the investment account.
Also to let you know that
Thakorbhai, Pravatiben and their family are going to India soon.
This is because there is a wedding of the son of Lad Brothers in Surat,
in India.
If you give me the name and email
address of this person in India or details if you have they at hand will
be very helpful.
All the best and will talk to you soon.
Please pass my regards to all in Calgary.
Thanks
Jasu Mistry
UK.
Namaste Jasuben,
My sincere apologies Jasuben, it has been long time since I
communicated with you. For last few months had been very hectic.
Since last few weeks I have been on the road as well as at L.A. and
a week latter attended Pankaj's (Balwantbhai and Nirubhabhi's son) engagement
ceremony at Newark New Jersey. It was fun and did lots of promotions for
our International Prajapati organizations.
In your last email you wanted to know the particulars concerning the money
donated by London samaj to Prajapati Vishva Ashram. Here is the details:
All the funds received for computer program was deposited in one account in
India (under my name as foreign account). From these funds computers were
purchased for prajaapati samaajo. Dr. Kamleshbhai Dineshchandra
Prajapati, President of Shree Prajapati International Education
Association (SPIEA) has the pre-signed cheques that has been authorized to
spend to wards the requirement of Computers and it's operations.
SPIEA manages both the Computer and Education programs of Prajapati Vishva
Asharm in gujaraat. Shree Paresh bhai of Surat is vice president of SPIEA.
The Computer Centers set up with donations from Prajaapati Vishva Asharm
in gujaraat are: Chikhli, Surat, Kilaapaardi, Waapi, Billimora. Each
Computer Centre has more than one computers except for Kilaapaardi. All
the computers are centrally registered under SPIEA. SPIEA and Prajaapati
Vishva Ashram are in the process of registering as a charitable
organization in India and Canada. Once we have charity status we will
inform every one and it will be easier for donors to claim tax deductions
to a registered charity. We use all the funds for the purpose of
fund-raising.
Shree Narendra bhai Lad was elected as salaried manager to look
after the technical needs operation and maintenance of the donated
computer at the Computer Centers. He also provides monthly report of each
Computer Centre which is posted on PVA web site.
Those Computer Centers that does not effectively use the donated
computers as per the terms of the Gujarat Internet Program of PVA
will loose the donated computers. In such case the donated computers will
be allocated to those prajaapati samajo who can provide adequate
programs for the prajaapati families and especially families who cannot
afford computer education.
For these reasons all the funds received are not dedicated to a
particular Computer Centre. The names of all donors are engraved on
wall plaques at each of the Computer Centre. Few of the donor wall plaques
are in process of being put up. So if any donor visits any of
the Computer Centers his/her name will be found on the donor plaques with
donated amounts.
It is the intention and commitment of Prajaapati Vishva Ashram that all
the cash donations received from any persons or samaaj will be all used
for the program purpose and will not be invested with a purpose of using
the interest income from the investment for the PVA programs.
For more information on these Computer Centers and the use of the
donated funds please contact SPIEA President, Dr. Kamlesh Prajapati. His
phone number is 2634 80205.
As for the primary school I am not familiar very much with the
school structures in gujaraat. But here is the overview of schools in
Gujarat. Dr. Kamlesh Prajapati can elaborate more on the funding and
correct me wherever need be:
.
Primary Schools: Standard 1 to 7.
Secondary high School : Standard 8 to 10
Higher secondary School: Standard 11 and 12: Selections of Science or
commerce subjects
Fees to be paid by al in secondary and higher secondary schools. Those who
cannot afford, have to obtain a written letter from local Panchaayat for
half or no fees depending on the income of the family.
Most critical time is from Standard 8 to 10 where the question of
affordability will depend for a student to continue with education or
work to support the families. Many of families who live in small villages
are most negatively affected with this decisions than those who lives in
larger cities whose incomes are better.
In order to provide assistance equally to all villages, we need a
structure in place.
One proposal is to elect two representative from each TAALUKAA who
can represent the schools in their taalukaa. Each representative should
be in contact with school registrar and the students. This way we
can arrange to pay directly to the schools for the students who are
financially strapped.
In order to have this structure in place we need to set up a single
umbrella organization in which a program structure can be built in an
organized fashion. The taalukaa representatives will report to this single
umbrella organization. We have SPIEA in place right now to take on this
additional program mandate.
When I go to India in January I will be closely working with Shree
Champakbhai Dajibhai Mistry of Edmonton, Canada, Dr. Shree Kamleshbhai
Prajapati for their guidance in taking your suggestion further for
implementation. I will initiate a conference at Navasaari or Billimora for
all the samaajo to attend and come up with a structure to run the school
program you have suggested. I will need lots of support and advise from
all those who are experienced in management and with skills in
legal organization.
OUR AIM WILL BE TO PUT IN PLACE A STRUCTURE AND A PROGRAM THAT WILL
PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL THOSE PRAJAAPATIO WHO ARE IN
NEED TO CONTINUE AND FURTHER SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION SO THAT THEY
CAN BUILD THEIR CAREERS AND PROSPER IN LIFE.
Lots of work is involved but I know within my heart that we all can do
it for our Prajapati families. That is, if we work in a team and provide
assistance and advise to each other. I am prepared to devote all the
times to put this secondary school education program in place provided
that I have been given the right advise and support.
We will continue with this topic and hopefully will be able to put
in place some kind of a structure.
CD LAD
That is an excellent proposal.
The reason I was putting more emphasis on Children from grade 8 to 12 and
higher was that they are more prone to leave the schools for many of
them does not get support due to large family they exist in.
I have learnt that the children at the age of 5 enters first grade. From
grade 1 to 4 there are no fees as this program is funded by the
government. Also many samaajo are giving out free books and pencils every
year. I am no too sure the area they cover. From Grade 5 to 12 the fees are
incremental according to the grade level. Again the partial fees are subsidized
by the government. I will call Dr. Kamlesh Prajapati and find out more
details.
Thanks for your support Jasuben, Dr. Chiman bhai from California has
offered to assist. I feel very comfortable that we will be able to get an
international steering committee set up to lay the foundation for
Primary and Secondary School Education project firmly. We do already have an organization
in place SPIEA. All we need to do now is to expand SPIEA's mandate to include
our project.
We will continue the dialog so that by the time I go to India I have most of
the stuff ready to implement. I am copying this Email to Shree Champakbhai,
Shree Chimanbhai and Shree Kamleshbhai for their in put as well.
CD Lad
-REPLY 3:
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 10:50 AM
Subject: RE: Shree Prajapati International Education Trust Fund:
Primary & Secondary Education in Gujarat, India
Hello Chandrakantbhai,
Thanks for your reply.
I believe that we need to promote the education for younger children at an
earlier age. Education at young age is very important and it lays
the foundation for children's future. Computers are well on their way
in most of the villages in Surat and Valsad Districts.
Many people have in past support
educational programs by supporting one child for a year through various
organizations like SEWA International and such. We need to do
something for our own prajapati young children up to the age of 14/16.
As you mentioned, I think we need a trust
committee which has a trustee representation from various gaamo in India.
This central body needs to verify and ascertain the needs of applications.
They also need to make sure that all gaamo get the fair share for their
applicants. This will be like a governing body for young prajaapatio for
their primary and secondary school level education.
Once the trust body is set up we should
design forms that people can fill up and hand them to their local branches
or directly post their donation at the given address. I am sure ones
such trust bodies are put in place and appeal for fund carried out and once
more and more prajaapatio become aware, donation will flow in towards
the good cause as long as it is distributed equally and fairly to all
gaamo and young children.
I do appreciate the hand work that you are
doing in getting the correct prajaapatio involved at correct level and I am
sure you will also success in setting this one up. In my opinion,
education for young children will receive a good support and boost once
started.
Thanks for you help and good luck. Whilst
you are in India in January, it would be nice if you can succeed in
achieving this task. Let me know if I can do anything to help
you.
Jasu Mistry
UK.
REPLY 4:
From: Kamlesh D. Prajapati [mailto:kdprajapati@rediffmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 8:19 AM
To: PVA:Calgary:Chandrakant Lad
Cc: Champak D. Mistry
Subject: Shree Prajapati International Education Trust Fund: Primary
& Secondary Education in Gujarat, India
Chandrakantbhai,
For the last two months I have been very busy and last week I was in Bombay
and hence I have not been able to answer any-mail promptly. You wish to know
about the STRUCTURE OF EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF GUJARAT. Today I will only try to
send information about the different stages of educational system in gujaraat.
1.PLAY GROUP (AGE 2.5 TO 3YRS): AVAILABLE ONLY
IN BIG CITIES
2. JUNIOR AND SENIOR KINDERGARTEN AND SENIOR:
BEGINNING TO STUDY COLOUR, ANIMALS ETC
3. PRIMARY SCHOOL: STANDARD 1 TO 7.
FEES APPROXIMATELY STARTING FROM 100=00 RS PER MONTH TO RS 250=00 IN PRIVATE
SCHOOLS. IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL FEES RANGE FROM RS 80=00 PER MONTH TO RS
150=00.
4. SECONDARY SCHOOL: STANDARD 8 TO 10: FEES
NORMALLY ARE RS.50 T0 RS. 100
SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE (SSC) EXAM IS CONDUCT BY GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT
ANNUALY IN MARCH.
5. HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL: STANDARD 11 AND 12:
STANDARD 12 HIGHER SECONDARY CERTIFICATE EXAM IS CONDUCTED BY GOVT. OF GUJARAT
IN APRIL EVERY YEAR.
The information is the same for private non-government schools except that
the fees are higher than the fees in government schools and varies from place to
place.
If you require any thing more about that e–mail me I try my best to do in
this matter.
SINCERELY,
DR. KAMLESH DINESHCHANDRA PRAJAPATI
President, Shree Prajapati International Education
Association
Bilimora, Gujarat, India
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