Minutes:

Attendees: Suhas, Deepti, Nehal, Tushar, Pankhil, Preeta, Prat, Nihar, Shrushti

Divya on Koderma project:• Want to start similar rescue program at Koderma, similar to Gaya.• No other org present nearby.• Over 70 trains stop there everyday.• 30 children between 7 & 17 at the junction.• Nearest child rescue is 60  kms away.• Asha has helped keep this org alive.• We fund 20% of their expenses.• How many girls & boys among 30?• They support kids till they graduate.• No childline for Koderma presently.• They hope to get it in a few years.• Nehal to open up poll on this project.• Divya to set up conference call with Nick & Prat.

Nihar on VARUN:• Steward since 2008.• Placed at Chandausi, near Varanasi.• Very neglected, naxal affected area.• Very small village.• Visited all 6 schools, for the first time.• Dr. Singh was PhD student.• He got involved with village & he ended up staying there.• All his activities involves local participation.• School building from mud & bricks.• Education is a cultural shock to kids in the area.• 10 education centers have been converted to government school.• The current schools are unlikely to get converted to government

school in next 8 years because District Education Officer not cooperating. 

• Dr. Singh is not interested in becoming a local leader, he just wants to support the ideas & wishes of locals.

• Kids seem interested to come to school.• Quality of life has improved because of people coming together [like

Mahila Mandal].• 126 VARUN alumni across India.• Total budget 904,100 INR.

• Because they have surplus, they only need 780,883.• Nihar is willing talk in more detail about his site visit, some other

time.

Shrushti on Masala Quiz:• Please attend in large numbers, its on 21st.

POLL RESULTS