Annual Re-p o r t2000-

DEEPALAYATo enable the child look beyond slums

Annual Report2000-2001

Our other programme areas of Disability, Street Children, Working Children, Girl Children continueto receive recognition and acceptance, thereby challenging Deepalaya to cope with the increasingdemand in the above sectors.

Combat reduced fundingThe change in funding priorities of donors, coupled with allocation for emergency relief consecutivelyfor the past three years compel us to consolidate programmes and combat reduced funding with localfund raising. For the first time in our existence, we are inching towards the goal of organisationalsustainability. We have been raising more and more local resources. At the moment, more than 36% ofour funds come from Indian sources, which means that we are getting closer to the target of 50% of ourannual budget.

Scams cause confusionThe process of liberalisation of the Indian economy is a boon to the category of haves, but increases themarginalisation of the have-nots. The growing corruption in our society at all levels becomes a norm forgetting one’s rights. The large number of scams involving the high and mighty leaves committed andhonest people confused and helpless.

However, let us be optimistic and let the process lead to genuine empowerment, capacity building andsocial transformation of the masses.

Rtn. T.K. Mathew

Secretary & Chief Executive

2

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

n the fiscal year 2000-2001 we phased out from several projects and locations, based on our philosophy ofself-reliance and sustainability of the community. The

concept of Social Entrepreneurship (SE) as a precursor tosustainability is proving a success. We have established fourSE Associations with a total of 76 members. They are func-tioning with community support and without a matching contri-bution by Deepalaya.

Struggle for recognitionOur education programme continues to cater to around 14,000children at any point of time. The struggle to obtain recognitionfor Deepalaya formal schools continues and we are not in amood to give up. We are making parallel efforts to promote‘Alternate Learning’ and use of National Open SchoolCertification as a strategy to combat inadequacy in this regard.

t any point of time, we are educating more than 14,000 children through all our educa-tional centres (figure 1). We still believe that formal education should be provided toeach child, but formal education is costly and many poor parents cannot afford it. Their children

are deprived of quality formal education and are compelled to compromise with low quality educationin government run schools.

Deepalaya provides high quality formal education at affordable cost. We have established sevenformal schools in different project locations. Though none of these schools are recognized, theyhave all facilities like any other good school.

Confidence to competeWe have realised that curricular formal education is not sufficient to develop our first generationlearners into whole human beings. Our children have to be self-reliant and confident to face thehurdles of this material world and to be successful in competing with their privileged counterparts.This realization resulted in the concept of ‘Alternate Learning’, which we translated into three areas:National Open School, Skill Training and Latent Talent Development.

Ideal systemNational Open School (NOS) is the most viable option for getting our students a certificate at thesecondary and higher secondary levels. The ‘distance learning’ system of NOS is ideal for our targetgroup which is diverse in nature and faced with many socio-cultural constraints. The students canstudy at home and get coaching classes at our schools. Moreover, as Deepalaya schools do nothave government recognition, our students can, instead, take part in the nationally recognised NOSexams. Figure 2 shows figures of NOS examinations.

Marketable skillsDeepalaya has introduced skill training as an integral part of formal education. The activity is notlimited to the ornamental Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) of the regular curriculum, butextended to marketable skill training. We want to equip our students with skills, which have a demandin the competitive market. Examples are advanced computer education, science education throughInternet and vocational courses like electronics and advanced beauty culture.

Develop latent talents

Latent talent development enhances the self-confidence of our students

3

ALTERNATE LEARNING: A THRUST AREA

Figure 3 shows the latenttalent development activitiesthat we conducted last year.These activities havebecome a pattern for all oureducational centres. Theconsistent emphasis onlatent talent developmenthas brought out concreteresults; because of thedevelopment of their latenttalents, our students havedeveloped a confidentoutlook to face the world.

Figure 1: Educational activitiesActivities Male Female Total

Formal School 1,073 960 2,033Non Formal Education 2,345 1,370 3,715Pre School 2,125 2,109 4,234Remedial Education 2,115 1,745 3,860Working Children 250 61 311Disability Programme 80 68 148Total 7,988 6,313 14,301

Figure 2: National Open SchoolCourse No. of Students

2000-01 1999-2000 1998-199910th grade 391 228 22012th grade 203 189 200Total 594 417 420

Figure 3: Latent Talent DevelopmentActivities Male Female TotalDrawing Competition 542 631 1,173Cultural Programme 266 207 473Total 808 838 1,646

The recognition issueAccording to Government rules, DeepalayaSchool Kalkaji Extension (South Delhi) cannotbe recognised. It conforms to all the normsset by the Education Act and Rules 1973; it isequipped with all required facilities like rampsand lifts for disabled children, three separatescience laboratories, library, auditorium, sickroom, canteen, playground etc. However, thereis one norm Deepalaya does not meet: theteachers’ salary.To get recognised, we have to pay each teacheraround Rs 10,000 a month. We cannot levythis amount on the poor students of slums towhom we are catering. But unless the teachersare paid as per rules, the students are deprivedof their right to sit for exams conducted bythe Central Board of Secondary Education. Forus quality education gets priority overrecognition. That is why we encourage ourchildren to take National Open School examsas the alternative.

Despite our continuous efforts, Deepalaya School KalkajiExtension is still not recognised

4

ALTERNATE LEARNING

l iminating genderdisparity in primarya n d s e c o n d a r y

education by 2005, andachieving gender equality ineducation by 2015, with a focuson girls’ full and equal access toand achievement in basiceducation of good quality. Thishas always been the frameworkfor action since Deepalaya beganwith five children in a South Delhislum in 1979. Then, enrollmentof girl children was only 12%. By2001, we can claim that girls getequal opportunity in Deepalaya(see figure 4).

Fight for equal rightsWe have realized that there isno single solution to the problemof discrimination against girls.We fight on several fronts, withaccessibility to education beingthe most crucial factor. To achieveequal rights for girls, we bringeducation to the doorstep of thefamilies, we practise positivediscrimination (with sensibility notto harm the rights of others), wecreate opportunities towardsleadership development, and wefacilitate and build supportsystems.

Figure 4: Percentage of Girl ParticipationActivities Male Female % GirlsFormal School 1,073 960 47Non Formal Education 2,345 1,370 37Pre School 2,125 2,109 50Remedial Education 2,115 1,745 45Working Children 250 61 20Disability Programme 80 68 46

Last year’s achievementsn 6,313 girls are brought under formal and other educationn 1,191 girls are provided with skill training, of whom 25 got

basic computer training and five advanced training in softwaretechnologies

n Implementation of free tuition for girls of Mewatn 234 girls are provided with reproductive health trainingn 696 girls participated in educational tours and picnicsn 838 girls participated in various competitionsn 986 girls and women formed saving groupsn 5,016 women and adolescent girls are provided with counselingn 885 women formed self-help groups in 53 villages of Mewat.

In our cultural programmes too, girls play a prominent role

Student Becomes Teacher“When Sunita Raj of Deepalaya brought me to the Girl Child Project in Gole Kuan, my family was goingthrough a bad time. My father had died of TB and my mother was striving hard to support her three children,of whom I am the eldest. In 1989 I got admitted in the non-formal school of the Girl Child Project. Now I aman instructor for the same project. I have started teaching while preparing for my 10th exams under NationalOpen School. This year I sat for the exam and I’m very confident that I will get good marks. I’m very glad thatmy mother supports me against all odds.”Saleha Bano, Gole Kuan slum (South Delhi)

5

EMPOWERING GIRLS

e initiated the Deepalaya Disability Project in 1995. It aims at providing complete careto the differently abled children in our project locations. Previously we established specialclasses for disabled children, but for the last two years our approach has been to include them

in the existing classes. When required, we give special inputs to the child through special units.

Many linkagesTreatment is a constant requirement for both physically and mentally disabled children. Treatment notonly involves physical treatment, but also monitoring, assessment, child specific planning and itsimplementation. Providing aids and appliances is also essential in this process.

We have established linkages with organizations like the All India Institute for Medical Sciences, theNational Institute for Mentally Handicapped and the National Institute for Hearing Handicapped. Theseorganizations help us with counseling facilities, assessment of children, planning and programming oftheir development, etc.

Fight for rightsSome 6% of the Indian population (60 million people!) are, in some way or another, disabled. They areoften detached from the mainstream of the society; the Planning Commission forgets about them, theCensus has not included them for decades and the lawmakers have little time for them. Their rights andprivileges are simply ignored.

That is why Deepalaya has taken up networking for the cause of disabled children. We have establishedactive linkages with institutions like the National Centre For Promotion Of Employment for DisabledPeople and the Spastics Society of Northern India. These linkages give us the opportunity to crusadeagainst all discrimination of disabled people through rallies, campaigns and public protests.

Change the mindsetDisseminating information and thereby preparing the community to face reality is another major objectiveof our Disability Project. We believe that communities should know the way to fight the menace theyface. The main obstacle is the traditional mindset of the parents toward disability. Either they neglecttheir disabled children or become overprotective. Changing this mindset is crucial. We work closelytogether with other organisations to raise awareness, using various effective methods.

“I’m 16 years old and come from a poor family. I was undernourished and had to stay in bed forthe last three years. I couldn’t even move and depended on my mother for everything. WhenDeepalaya first came to our house, my family didn’t want to cooperate. It took four months toconvince my family that I needed urgent medical care. I was treated for three months at St.Stephen’s hospital and now I’m able to walk - without any support from anybody! I’m proudtoday, I have joined Deepalaya’s tailoring centre and I want to support my family with theincome I can make from tailoring.”

Sheetla, Sanjay Colony slum (South Delhi)

A Proud Girl

6

CARING FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED CHILDREN

At a Disability Camp of Deepalaya

Activities No. of ChildrenFormal School MCD 44Formal School Deepalaya 21Special Unit 53Remedial Education 11Vocational Training 8Non Formal Education 2Balwadi 2Home Based Interventions 56Community Based 27No intervention 73Working 29Association for Long Term Benefit 16Drop-outs 36Gone to Village 34

Kind of DisabilitiesPolio 138Mentally retarded 76Celebral Palsy/Paralysis 35Bony Defect 32Speech Disorder 24Hearing Impaired 24Visually Impaired 16Slow Learner 16Clubfoot 8Autism 3

7

CARING FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED CHILDREN

he total uplift of a child is not possible unless the family is involved. That is why we startedin 1986 with implementing our Integrated Urban Community Development project. We startedworking with the families, taking them as the unit of development. Through these families,

we were able to develop the communities as a whole.

Achieve real changeWe have put in maximum effort to create sustainable communities. We have applied two conceptsextensively: Planning Cum Micro Realization (PCMR) and Social Entrepreneurship. These conceptshave evolved out of the lessons we had learned from our long experience in implementing welfareactivities with backward communities.PCMR is a process-oriented approach to involve communities in self-development. The emphasis is onthe achievement of real change within the community. The community people have to participate inthis process to bring about change at the individual level, own resource management at family level andsocial transformation at community level.Social entrepreneurs (SEs) are individuals from the community who are trained by Deepalaya to carryout developmental activities for their own community. They are not paid by Deepalaya, but by thecommunity members themselves. This means SEs are self-employed and self-sustainable.

Major landmarkThe practice of these concepts results in the availability of trained cadre in the communities, leadership,resource mobilization, distribution and sharing of responsibilities, multiplication of initiated activitiesand above all creation of Community Based Organizations (CBOs).We achieved a landmark in 1999 when we phased out of 16 slum clusters in West Delhi. We left behind33 CBOs, 350 SEs, thousands of women who are aware and sensitive enough to fight for their rights,and communities that demand quality education, viable skill training and necessary healthcare.

In 2000-2001 we achieved another landmark with theformation of three SE Associations in South Delhi and one inNorthwest Delhi. It was felt that if social entrepreneurs of onelocation come together to form an association, they canbecome a more viable alternative to the CBOs. After all, CBOsare purely based on the principle of doing good but gettingnothing in return. The social entrepreneurs, however, are paidby the community which increases the involvement andsupport of that community.At the locations where the SE Associations are operating, wehave stopped direct implementation of our programmes. Theassociations are continuing all education and skill-trainingcentres, using the infrastructure created by Deepalaya. Thereare linkages with other NGOs for carrying out health andtraining activities.One Deepalaya staff member monitors and looks after the needof the associations. They regularly hold community meetingsto decide on user fees, space resourcing and specificprogrammes. Deepalaya trains the members of every associationto update their knowledge and skill.

Viable alternative To the family’s doorstep“I’m working with Deepalaya to create aSE Association. I started working as a so-cial entrepreneur two years ago and to-day several other SEs are working withme. It’s my own venture supported byDeepalaya. I establish an education cen-tre in the community and hand it over toanother person who is identified by meand trained by Deepalaya as an SE. Then Iestablish another centre in the same com-munity and look for another suitable per-son to run it. This way, I will have moreand more SEs with me and I’m their men-tor. I develop them, help them and su-pervise them on a day to day basis. Inreturn I get 15% of the user fee collectedby them. With this association we can bringeducation to the doorstep of each andevery family.”

Meena, East Delhi Project

8

COMMUNITIES AS PARTNERS

e initiated ‘Deepalaya Gram’(Deepalaya Village) in 1998.Our aim was to create a

resource centre in Gusbethi, a village atthe gateway of Mewat region in the stateof Haryana. Deepalaya Gram wouldhave an education centre, a skill trainingcentre, an agricultural demonstrationunit and a home for street and workingchildren.The idea was to give these children whohad run away from home, a new homewith all facilities for their intellectual andskill development as well as freedom tomove around freely. By the time theygraduate from Deepalaya Gram theyshould be able to lead a respectful lifewith education and skills as their asset.In 2000 the home started functioningwith 22 children.

Trust and respectDeepalaya’s street educators play an important role in making contact with the street children. Theyregularly visit the children at their places of work and stay: the railway stations, bus stands and marketplaces of Delhi. They spend time with them and counsel them to come to the Recreation & Familiariza-tion Centre in Delhi for some recreational activities. We hope their fear and mistrust will change into arelationship based on trust and respect.When motivated to join the home and take up education, the children are taken to Deepalaya Gram.This year we contacted over 290 children among whom 54 joined the home at Deepalaya Gram.Because of the high run-away rate among the children, at any point of time the number at the home wasnot more than 25.

Clearing 5th class“I come from Purulia district in West Bengal. Istarted working in Delhi as a rag picker when Iwas 12. My father used to drink a lot and beatme – that’s why I left home. At New Delhi RailwayStation I met Mr. Mallick of Deepalaya. Now I’min the home for Street & Working Children inGusbethi. I’m older than the other children, soI’m studying in the nearby Delhi Public Schoolof Tavru, clearing my 5th class board exam.”

Ajeet Mahut, student at Deepalaya Gram

Mr. Kodama of the Japanese Embassy visits thehome for street & working children

9

STREET CHILDREN: HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Training Programmes ParticipantsHealth Workers Training 137Leadership Training 29Social Entrepreneurs Training 77Leprosy Training 39Training on Adolescent Healthcare 30Self Help Groups Training 87Literacy Training 20Teachers Training 36Remedial Education 15Non Formal Education 11Reproductive Child Health 36Total number of participants 517

Healthcare Activities ParticipantsPulse Polio Programme 19,577Immunisation Programme 3,385Health Mela 2,007Health Camps 1,071Mother & Child Care 317Tuberculosis Treatment 332Pre & Post Natal Care 96Dental Camp 241Sanitation Drive 114General Checkups 505Deworming 901Unani Camp 624ORS Packets Distributed 133Referrals to Hospital 145

Eye Care Activities Beneficiaries

Checkups 2,732

Spectacles Distributed 301

Referred to Hospital 109

Medicines Given 713

Counseled 334

Total 4,189

Family Planning Activities Beneficiaries

Condoms distributed 2,116

Contraceptive tablets distributed 1,067

Copper T 99

Operation done 27

Counseled 647

Total 3,956

10

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

11

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

Villages covered 53

Self-help groups formed 64

Members 885

Cumulative savings Rs 1,93,060

Cumulative loans given Rs 69,450

Cumulative savings given back 24 persons

Cumulative no. of loans 50 persons

Cumulative no. of groups given loan 20 groups

Cumulative repayment Rs 18,750

Details of Self Help Groups in Mewat

Health Awareness Beneficiaries

AIDS Awareness 150

Awareness on Unani Care 624

Awareness on Seasonal Diseases:

Dengue 45

Cholera 82

Total 901

Literacy Activities ParticipantsQualified (Primer 1-III) 3,500

Primer I 111

Primer II 128

Primer III 240

Group Talks 5,853

Home Visits 12,473

Individual Counseling 1,187

Awareness Camps 744

Extension Lecture 273

Training Programme 61

e realised that the sustainability of the communities we work for cannot be achieved un-less Deepalaya itself is a sustainable organisation. In 1998 we therefore adopted the fol-lowing strategy:

n to increase the share of indigenous fundraising in total funding from 20% to 50% in five years

n to train internal and external cadres towards empowerment of human resources

n to establish further linkages with governmental and non-governmental organisations for betterresource utilisation

n to franchise with groups of people towards implementing welfare activities.

We have achieved marked improvement in all these aspects except franchising. We expect that in thecoming year we will start franchising with groups of people or NGOs for expansion of activities andareas of intervention.

Indians contribute moreOur dependence on foreign funding is becoming significantly less. In the last couple of years, the per-centage of foreign funds decreased while the share of Indian funds increased.

Two years ago (1999-2000) 79% of all the funds that Deepalaya received came from foreign sources.Last year (2000-2001) this percentage dropped to 64%. The Indian contribution therefore grew from21% to 36% - an increase of 15%! Deepalaya wants to further increase this percentage to 50% - a fifty-fifty balance between foreign and indigenous funds.

Institutions and individualsIn 2000-2001, 37% of the Indian funds came from government institutions, foundations, trusts andother institutions. The remaining 63% came from public donations and gifts. This includes income fromcorporate donations (in kind or financial), individual sponsorships of children (perpetual and annual),individual donations through means of direct mail, donation boxes and sale of greeting cards, advertise-ments in the quarterly newsletter and annual Souvenir, etc.

Delhi State Aids Control SocietyHPS Social Welfare FoundationHousing Development Finance Corporation Ltd.Ishan Charitable TrustMaulana Azad Education FoundationMewat Development AgencyMunicipal Corporation Delhi / World BankNational Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)National Open School (NOS)Punjab National BankSociety for Service to Voluntary Agencies (Sosva)Tata Education TrustUNESCOUNICEFVijaya Gujral Foundation

Our Indian funding partnersAide et ActionBelgian EmbassyCanadian International Development AgencyConcern India FoundationFoundation for Christian EducationGerman EmbassyGlobespanInter Church Organisation for Development Co-opera-tionJapanese EmbassyJuniper FoundationNational Foundation for IndiaPathfinder InternationalProject Concern InternationalRotary InternationalSave the Children FundS.M. Sehgal Foundation

Our foreign funding partners

12

TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATION

More trainingCadre development got great momentumafter 1998 when we established our HumanResource Centre in Janakpuri, West Delhi. In2000-2001, we trained a total of 517 personsin this centre. An internal training faculty hasbeen formed to look after all training needsand conduct training programmes forbeneficiary groups as well as Deepalayapersonnel.

Effective linkagesTill last year we had effective linkages with 88government and non-governmentorganisations. This year we could add anothereight new linkages. We have taken initiativesto link these organisations with ourCommunity Based Organisations and SocialEntrepreneurs Associations so that servicescan reach the beneficiary community directlyand continuity of such services is assured.

The launching of the Greeting Cards in 2000.These cards are one of our fundraising tools

Mr. A. J. Philip PresidentMr. T. M. Abraham TreasurerMr. Y. Chackochan Executive MemberMr. K. V. Thomas Executive MemberMrs. Mariam Mathew Executive MemberMrs. Elizabeth Issacs Executive MemberMr. J. K. Varghese MemberMr. P. J. Thomas MemberMr. B. P. Thomas MemberMrs. Grace Thomas MemberDr. (Mrs.) Thankam Mathew MemberDr. James Thomas MemberDr. (Mrs.) Mini Thomas MemberMr. T. K. Mathew Secretary &

Chief Executive

Friends of DeepalayaMs. Nafisa AliMs. Manpreet BrarMs. Devi CherianMr. Dinesh GoelMr. GopanMr. Arun KapurMs. Sharon LowenMs. Shovana NarayanMs. Gul PanagMr. Raghu RaiMr. Jyoti SagarMs. Prema SagarMr. Suhel SethMr. Pavan K. Varma

General / Executive Body of Deepalaya

13

TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATION

INCOMEI CONTRIBUTIONS & GRANTS

FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONFUNDING AGENCIES & FOUNDATIONS Rs. 1,54,47,043PUBLIC DONATIONS & GIFTS Rs. 39,21,391TOTAL Rs.1,93,68,434

INDIAN CONTRIBUTIONFUNDING AGENCIES & FOUNDATIONS Rs. 38,64,577PUBLIC DONATIONS & GIFTS Rs. 65,73,434TOTAL Rs.1,04,38,011

II OTHER INCOME Rs. 10,59,962

TOTAL OF I + II Rs. 3,08,66,407

Other income3% n

Indian publicdonations & gifts 21%

n

Foreign publicdonations & gifts 13% n

Indian fundingagencies & foundations 13% n

Foreign fund-ingagencies &foundations 50%

n

14

INCOME 2000 - 2001

EXPENDITURE 2000-2001

n Education 46%

n Health 5% Training 3%

Rural development 3% n

Street & working chil-dren 1%

Fundraising 10%n

Communitydevelopment 4%

n

Programmemanagement 12%

n

Specialissue areas3%

n

Incomegeneration

projects2% n

n

n

EXPENDITUREEDUCATION Rs. 1,31,81,122HEALTH Rs. 14,18,485TRAINING Rs. 9,42,480RURAL DEVELOPMENT (Mewat Project) Rs. 7,47,939STREET & WORKING CHILDREN Rs. 3,14,770ADMINISTRATION Rs. 33,74,124FUNDRAISING Rs. 27,81,788COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Rs. 11,01,140PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT Rs. 35,84,835INCOME GENERATION PROJECTS Rs. 6,10,575SPECIAL ISSUE AREAS (Girl Child Project, Disability Project) Rs. 8,40,969TOTAL Rs.2,88,98,227

15

Administration 11% n

DEEPALAYA46, Institutional AreaD Block, JanakpuriNew Delhi 110058Phone (011) 5512908 /5548263 / 5590347Fax (011) 5540546www.deepalaya.orgsupport@deepalaya.org

We in Deepalaya keep on striving for a world where childrencan look beyond slums. We continue to work with theeconomically and socially deprived, as well as the physicallyand mentally challenged. We enable them to be self-reliantand enjoy a healthy and dignified life.

If you want to support our work, please consider a donation.All donations are 50% exempt under Section 80G of theIncome Tax Act.

Some suggestions :

♦ For 200 rupee, we can buy teaching aids for a child for oneyear

♦ For 500 rupee, we can provide a child with computerlessons, develop his/her latent talents and organiseextra-curricular activities

♦ For 4,000 rupee, we take care of all the needs of a schoolchild for one year. This amount covers all the involvedexpenses, including the tuition fee for the teachers.

Please write a cheque in favour of Deepalaya and send it to the address mentioned on this page.

DO YOU WANT TO HELPUS?