LOCATION OF PROJECT

Village: Khadharawan-Phattupur (Varanasi) and Kamlahan (Bhadohi) (adjoining villages on the border between the two districts)

Districts: (Bhadohi and Varanasi)

State: Uttar Pradesh, India

BACKGROUND:

MSEMVS, Manav Sansadhan Evam Mahila Vikas Sansthan, which roughly translates into Society for Human Development and Women's Empowerment, is the organization in India running this program for the Asha Penn State Chapter and Free the Slaves. MSEMVS works in the Varanasi and Bhadohi districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, where there is a prevalence of landless laborers who are mostly low castes. In such areas, due to the low family income, these laborers are forced in times of crisis to approach land owners or loom owners to ask for loans. In the schools that the MSEMVS have set up, at least 60% of children come from families that have taken such loans. Although the loans taken by the laborers are small, the exorbitant interest rates (5-10% a month) and the lack of valid records of repayment make debt bondage an incessant occurrence. The form of debt bondage in this area, which is enforced through violence, meets all Free the Slaves criteria for slavery.  The children of the families in the debt bondage are forced to work along with their parents during daytime, leaving no time for education.

The total cost of the school is approximately $4,400 per year.  When Asha Penn State made our initial partnership with Free the Slaves and MSEMVS, we agreed to fund a school for at least three years.  As of now Asha Penn State has chosen to pass on the responsibility of funding the school to the Silicon Valley Chapter.  We are still making donations to the school when able.  The Penn State Chapter is now focusing on raising awareness on campus about the current education crisis in India.

PROGRESS REPORT

RESOURCES PROVIDED/BUDGET PLAN FOR SCHOOL:

            

This project is currently being funded by the Silicon Valley Chapter of Asha for Education.

To find out more about the Silicon Valley Chapter go to:

http://www.ashanet.org/siliconvalley/