Origin of the school

1. Location of Amlasole: Binpur II, Dist: Medinipur (W) Bera Bhenge West Bengal, India (Beyond Barriers) A school with a difference Bera Bhenge then…. Background • Amlasole jolted the collective conscience of Bengal when five Sabar & Munda villagers starved to death here in 2004. • There is no regular employment, food security, or basic awareness of hygiene. • Literacy rate is abysmal. • Rural electrification reached Amlasole in 2009, but proper housing remains a dream. • Newspapers and telephone links are yet to reach Amlasole. • Agriculture is hamstrung by the shortage of water. The Munda (60%), Sabar (35%) & Bhumij (4%) population is engaged in seasonal farming, farm labour, and collection of forest produce like Kendu leaves, Sal leaves, deadwood, Babui grass, herbs & incense. • There is also a lingering fear of harassment by the police and punishment by political outfits. • Origin of the school • Bera Bhenge (“Beyond Barriers”) was set up to provide meaningful education to the marginalised Sabar children of Amlasole. They found it difficult to get into the formal primary school already running in Amlasole due to social discrimination. • But gradually students from other tribes too started enrolling. At present the student strength is 53, and there are 4 teachers. • The school is run by a group of academics under the aegis of MCCDR (an NGO of volunteers) - in association with a village welfare organisation - Amlasole Birsa Munda Gram Unnayan Committee. • With their children getting proper education, the villagers are learning to dream of a better future, breaking through the barrier of enduring despair. Kengora, Amlasole IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS Sabar children, Amlasole In this scenario, true education acquires the significance of a prime mover in the scheme of things. Bera Bhenge now An NGO registered under the Societies’ Registration Act,1961

2. School activities: • Creating awareness about hygiene & basic hygienic practices to students, mostly first generation learners • Providing nutrition supplement to midday meals • Introduction to Bengali and English alphabets and counting through games / other teaching aids • Children of Amlasole found it difficult to relate to the standard formal textbooks. This compelled us to write books on an experimental basis using local dialect, idioms etc.. • Four books have been published till date, with a fifth in the pipeline. They are very popular with the students. • Training in first-aid and gardening • Students are taken on excursions • Deserving students are being given monthly merit scholarships. • Since the beginning, all the expenses – uniforms, book publication, learning aids, teachers’ salaries, stocking the library etc. – are being met by donations from well-wishers. The responsibility and associated financial burden has become manifold. • Future Plans: • Crèche • Sabar students tend to be irregular in school. Early in the morning, their parents go out to collect forest produce or work as day-labourers in others’ fields. The older children have to look after their infant siblings instead of going to school. A Crèche with all necessary infrastructure is required to bring these elder siblings back to school. • Hostel • A Hostel (capacity to accommodate 50 students) is urgently needed in order that the formal education, encompassing both academic exercise and proper hygiene, can be imparted consistently to the children. This is particularly important for the majority who are first generation learners. • Your Participation: • Amlasole children need your active participation • As Contributor/Donor • - Sponsor a child’s education in Bera Bhenge • (Rs. 6,000 per year) • - Sponsor a child’s education outside village • (Rs. 20,000 per year including hostel) • - Contribute to Crèche • - Contribute to Hostel • As volunteer • - Please let us know if you want to get involved in our activities AT PRESENT THERE IS NO SOURCE OF FORMAL / PROJECT - MODE FUNDING. THE ENDEAVOUR IS SOLELY DEPENDENT ON INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS. Write to aryscottish@gmail.com for free membership of the yahoo group • How To Donate : • (Donations eligible for rebate U/s 80G. We also have FCRA permission) • Please make payment only by A/c payee cheque/draft, favouring Micro Centre for Community Development and Research. • Please mention your full name with postal and email address and send your cheque by hand or by Registered Post to • Dr. Arup Roy • Tel. 91-33-2355 3462, Mob. 91-94338 70156 • Flat F-6, Ideal Association, • CIT Scheme-VIIM, Kolkata-700 054. • Write to us if you want to send your donation directly to our bank account. Requirement of funds • For Infrastructure Development 1. Crèche - Rs. 3 Lakhs 2. Hostel - Rs. 10 Lakhs • Annual Operating Cost • 1. At present – Rs. 3 Lakhs • 2. With Crèche, Hostel – Rs. 7 Lakhs Education after Bera Bhenge: Some of the students passing out of Bera Bhenge are sent to mainstream schools. • A private primary school with hostel facility at Silda, where seven of our students (4 from the Sabar community and 3 from the Mundas) are presently studying. • Three students are now admitted to High Schools in Silda and in Jhargram. • These expenses too are being borne by us. Please Donate Generously