August 24, 1999

Dear Mr. Vithal,

 

            Reference your E-Mail regarding queries raised by Mr Prasad Balkundi.   We regret for the delay in clarifying  some of the doubts raised by him.    Our answers to the questions are as follows:-

 

Q         Are the people helped people from states other than Karnataka?

A         We help people from States other than Karnataka also.

 

Q         What is the difference between those trained at the NAB mobility training centres and those at CBR programs?

A         Training given at MTC, Bangalore is limited to giving training in mobility and daily living skills.  It is a 6 weeks training programme.  After the training, the trainee does not require any body`s help for his daily needs and movements and becomes independent.  The training at CBR is a more comprehensive one making him socially and economically independent.  He is also taught the family trade.

 

Q         Do people apply for training programs or are they invited for the programe?

A         People apply for training programmes in response to our advertisement in local news papers, TV and Radio.

 

Q         What about rich people – do they donate or are they charged anything for services?

A         All our programmes and services are free to visually disabled persons.   Donations are voluntary.

 

Q         How many students will be helped by MTC every year?

A.           Approximately120 visually impaired persons are helped by MTC every year.

 

Q         What is the ratio of student to teacher ratio?

A         The ratio of student to teacher is 4 : 1.

 

Q         Does the Government guarantee 80% of salaries even if the number of instructors increase?

A         The Government does not guarantee grants for increased  number of Instructors.

 

Q         What expenses come under miscellaneous?

A            Expenses coming under miscellaneous are postage, insurance, conveyance, staff amenities, books and periodicals, purchase of cleaning items, etc.

 

Q         What are the enrollment figures for the last five years?

A            Enrolment figures for the last 5 years 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97,1997-98 & 1998-99 in MTC are 108, 121, 134 132 & 96 respectively.

 

 

Q         What are the staff figures for the last five years?

A         The teaching staff  figures at MTC for  the last 5 years 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 are 4, 5, 5, 5 & 5 respectively.  

 

Q         What is the exact salary figure and is there an overlap with other budgets?

A         The salary figures for the teaching staff for the last 5 years are Rs.95,832, Rs.1,16,560, Rs.1,40,131, Rs.1,87,044 and Rs.2,05,764  respectively.  There is no overlapping.

 

Q         Who trains the teachers?

A         The Mobility Instructors are trained by us.   Our Training Programme is recognized  by the Government of India.

 

Q         What is the organizational structure?

A         Our organization  structure is President, Vice Presidents, Honorary General Secretary, Honorary Joint Secretary, Honorary Treasurers, Chief Executive Officer and the Staff.

 

Q         Who are the part time employees and the full-time employees?

A         We have no part time employees.   All employees are on full time.

 

Q         Are the salaries of the cooks and administrators of the hostel included in the main salaries or under the heading  of “boarding”?

A         The salaries of cook and administrators of the hostel are included in the main salaries and not under the head of boarding.

 

Q         What is the layout of the hostel and its capacity?

A         The capacity of the hostel is 60 trainees.    We have a dormitory, kitchen, store room, warden room and wash toilet rooms.

 

Q         Has NAB approached other funding agencies?

A         NAB has approached other funding agencies.

 

Q         What is the qualification  of the volunteers?

A         The qualification of the volunteers is that they should be educated and motivated to work for a social cause.

 

Q         If AID pays only a partial amount of the project how can NAB get the remaining amount?

A         The three projects are on-going projects.  We are always in the process of fund raising, approaching different agencies.  If AID provides part of the project, we will be approaching other Agencies and if no funds are available, the expenditure will be met from regular funds (routine donations, etc).           

 

 

 

Q         Is there a link between NAB (Karnataka) and NAB)?

A         The link between NAB Karnataka and NAB India is that we are a State Branch of the NAB India.  We work with the same aims and objectives and we are independent as far as running of the organization is concerned, i.e., we have to exist on our own means and work within the parameter of the policy laid down by the NAB India.

 

Q         Can NAB (India) fund NAB (Karnataka)?

A         NAB India  are not committed to support the Karnataka Branch.

 

Q         What is the chance of NAB shutting down and if it were to shut down what would happen to the money given by AID?

A         In the event NAB Karnataka Branch discontinuing, all funds and assets belonging to the State Branch shall rest in NAB but shall remain earmarked for the welfare of the blind in the State and shall be passed on to the successor of the State Branch by NAB subject to the prior approval of the Commissioner of Income Tax, Karnataka.

 

Q         If AID were to provide funds – will the money go into reserves or directly for the project?

A         If  AID provides funds, the money will go directly for the project.  We maintain separate accounts for each project.

 

Q         How  has enrollment changed over a period of time?           

A         The  enrolment has not changed over a period of time.

 

 

            Hope you have received our project  proposal which was sent by post.  Most of the queries have been answered in the proposal.   We hope we have been able to clarify all your doubts.            

 

With best wishes,

 

 

 

Dr(Mrs) Saroja Ramachandran