Bhoomika
Organization background

Bhoomika is a non-governmental charitable organization (NGO) that has been working in Orissa since 1997. The focus of the organization is (i) motivate and provide opportunities to enterprising poor via micro-finance loans (ii) provide vision health-care services through its eye hospital, (iii) to provide relief, food and shelter to impoverished villagers during times of calamity such as cyclones, (iv) harness the power of group dynamics by organizing the poor into self-help groups and farmers-clubs, and (v) providing them with training and empower them with a sustainble livelihood.

Project background

The proposed project is planned to be implemented in 10 brick kilns situated in the outskirt of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. The parents of the proposed students of the nursery-school are the migrant labourers from far-off tribal districts in Orissa, who come here with a hope of better income. This income varies from Rs 8000 to Rs 12000 per annum - still far below the government-defined poverty line of Rs 24000 per annum. As these workers come to work in the brick kilns from far off places, they bring their children with them. Further, their mindset is to get the children to work with them in the brick kilns to augment their income. Also, as the brick kilns are typically far from villages, the parents have a further disincentive to send their children to school. Another important obstacle is that the local schools are reluctant to admit these sections of students due to lack of basic elementary education. Consequently, the literacy rate among these people is less than 20%, far less than the state average.

The project is intended to provide basic education to the children of the brick kiln workers as well as enhance their health standard by giving nutritious food. Premises will be rented to run the classes, and a trained volunteer (with a nominal salary) will run the classes on a regular basis. The teacher will use teaching and learning materials (TLM) to make the teaching environment more interesting and enjoyable. A mobile van equipped as library/school will also circulate among the different schools helping to augment the learning process. The duration of the class on each day will be 4 hours i.e. 9 am to 1 pm. Every day the student will get cooked food which will contain the require food supplements. Apart from this, a health team will conduct health check up camps for improvement in physical standard of each child and also provide vitamins and medicines if required. The teacher will also make the parents aware about the importance of education and proper health care of their children. Awareness on vaccination also included in the programme. To avail the government sponsor health facilities, importance will be given to network with the local health workers and existing medical facilities.

GKF contributions to Bhoomika