Introduction:
Swami Vivekananda believed that education is the panacea for all evils. He wanted all Indians to get that education, which would instil a tremendous sense of atmashraddha, self-belief. A student with self-belief would never feel inferior to any other student. Keeping in view of the words of Swamiji, this Ashrama in association with Souls Divene, USA has undertaken an ambitious programme to promote education among the children of primitive tribes at Chipibandhi village of Tamar Block under Ranchi District.
Objectives of the Programme:
- To create interest in education through residential coaching centre.
- To provide quality education through innovative methods.
- To reduce number of dropouts in for male elementary/primary schools.
- To prepare primitive tribal students to qualify in admission tests held for admission to better schools like Navodaya Vidyalay, Kasturba Gandhi schools, Eklavya Schools, Sainik schools etc.
- Ultimate objective is to promote education among the children of primitive tribes to main stream these children.
Activities:
Infrastructural Development:
- An existing dilapidated community building of 900 sq. feet area has been renovated for residential and educational purpose. Separate toilets for boys and girls have been built in convergence with the Block development office.
- A dilapidated Birsa Awas of 200 sq. feet area has been developed as guest house.
- A space within nearby Angwan Bari Kendra has been made available for educational purpose.
- Inverter and batteries have been installed for uninterrupted power supply
Educational Activities:
Regular classes are conducted for class I to V with full capacity of 50 children belonging to Birhore and Munda Tribes. Qualified tribal youths of same village have been engaged as teachers so that they can communicate better with the local children. Teaching is provided using charts and models.Following routine is followed for integrated development of children:
6:00am to 7:00am: Yoga and Physical Training
7:00 am to 8:00 am: Bathing, Breakfast and Refreshment
8:00 am to 8:45 am: School Homework
9:00 am to 3:00 pm: Formal School
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Sports and Nutri garden activity
5:00 pm to 5:30 pm: Refreshment
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm: Regular classes, Audio Visual Programme, Assessment etc.
A Nutritional Garden has been developed as they are highly practical and a direct form of education, where children can learn how to grow good food, which not only improves health, but also provides opportunities for livelihood and increased self sufficiency. Apart from practical skills in agriculture and horticulture, gardens are a living laboratory for the study of environmental issues and life sciences. Also freshly grown vegetables helps in addressing malnutrition & micro nutrient deficiencies among children.
Medical Camps:
Once in a month, special medical camps are held to assess the medical health condition of the students. Medical camps are held by different agencies like SSB (Seema Suraksha Bal), goverment doctors and doctors from Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Morabadi, Ranchi. A register is maintained to monitor BMI (Body Mass Index) of each child.
Sports Activity:
For integrated development of health, children are made to play different games like football, volleyball, fitness rope, etc. All required sports equipments have been provided for these games.
Monthly Assessment:
Monthly assessment of children is conducted to assess whether students have met the standards of learning objectives.
Events at Maa Sarada Gurukul in 2023-24
- Indian Independence Day (15 August 2023) was celebrated by students and teachers of Maa Sarada Gurukul and people from nearby villages. Drawing Competition for students was organized by 26BNSSB Ranchi on this day. On this occasion a special feast programme was arranged for Gurukul students by the sister of Dr. A Sengupta, namely Hemantika.
- Local festival Karma Puja was celebrated by all students, teachers and people of Chipibandhdih village in Gurukul. Officers and Jawans of 26 BNSSB visited Gurukul time to time. They arranged film shows and health checkups for Gurukul and Birhor children.
- Seeds were provided to Gurukul students in November 2023 for plantation of Palas trees by Sri Ramesh Chandra Kumhar at free of cost.
- National Youth Day was celebrated on 12th January 2024 by all students, teachers & nearby village people in Gurukul. Prabhatpheri was conducted by Gurukul students in the nearby village.
- Republic Day was celebrated on 26th January 2024 by Gurukul students, teachers & nearby village people in Gurukul.
- Special local festival like Saraswathi Puja was celebrated by Gurukul students on 14th February 2024.
- Audio Visual Programmes were conducted for students of Maa Sarada Gurukul for their enrichment in traditional values and culture. Gurukul students were given special nutrition supplements every month.
- Gurukul students were given special nutrition supplements every month.
- Monks of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama visited the Gurukul students throughout the year on different occasions.
- Gurukul students have been taught to cultivate plants in nutritional garden.
- Tithi Puja of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Dev was celebrated on 12th March 2024 in Gurukul by students & teachers.
- International Yoga Day was celebrated on 21st June 2024 in Gurukul by students & teachers.
- Cleaniliness has been taught to Gurukul students through Swachh Gurukul programmes. Toilets have been built in association with the Block Development Office of Tamar.
Special Achievements by Gurukul Students:
- One Girl student (Kajal Kumari) has been selected by Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Tamar for admission to their residential school in Class 6 after completing class 5 from Gurukul.
- Two students (Sanjeeta Kumari & Gurudev Birhor) of Gurukul took admission in Madhusudan Vidyalaya Chaibasa.
- Two Students (Sanjay Birhor &Subhash Birhor) have been admitted in class 6 of Ganga Prasad Budhia Saraswati Vidya Mandir with free boarding facility at Ranchi.
Present Strength – Student, Teacher, Staff & Volunteer
- 50 Students
- 2 Teachers
- 3 Attendents (cook, assistant cook, helper)
- 2 Volunteers
Budget Break Up for FY 2024-25 – Recurring Expenditure Proposal
| S. No. | Items | Amount(Rs) |
| 1 | Food and Fuel | 2,65,376.00 |
| 2 | Honorarium | 1,63,200.00 |
| 3 | Dress | 70,000.00 |
| 4 | Cultural and other activities | 20,000.00 |
| 5 | Miscellaneous : (20% of above) | 1,03,715.00 |
| Total | 6,22,291.00 |