Mathru
Project Proposal 2009-10
Pravin Shankar
Outline
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History
New School Building
Achievements in 2008
Future Plans
Budget Proposal
Mathru School for the Blind:
Timeline
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2000
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2002
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Construction completed. School moved to new premises.
School named The Asha School in appreciation.
ESlate successfully designed, built and tried out in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon Institute
2007
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Construction started.. Started 5th grade
Second Asha CNJ grant and WAH grant made ($18,000, $10,000)
2006
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Asha CNJ issues first grant for school construction ($17,000)
Appeal made for local funds to construct dorms, kitchen, dining room. community and computer center.
2005
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Appeal and plans sent to Asha CNJ for funds to construct a 10 room school
2004
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Subsidised Civic Amenities Plot allotted By local government
Appeals made for funds and services to local donors & individuals
2003
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School started with first grade
Rented premises and “kutcha” sheds.
Goal: Add one grade per year. Be a 10 Grade High School by 2010
Strated 7th grade
Application made to Central Government for grant to run school. When approved Grant will pay 70% of
expenses.
Asha resources
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Time: 3 years, Money: $35,000, SiteVisits: 6+, resident volunteer for several months..
Building Construction
(Site Visit – Pravin – Dec 2005)
“Asha” School
(Site Visit – Pravin – May 2007)
More Pictures of the School
Building
More Pictures of the School
Building
Reception
Inside…
Inside…
Classrooms…
Classrooms…
Classrooms…
Playarea…
Playarea…
Braille Snakes & Ladders…
Library
Library
Computer Lab
Computer Lab
Computer Lab
Computer Lab
Kitchen & Dining Area
Kitchen & Dining Area
Kitchen & Dining Area
Dormitory
Dormitory
Achievements in 2008
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ESlate - CMU
Braille Printer – IFlex
Recording Studio
Vocational Training Center
Braille
• Easy to read
• but…
How Braille is Written
How Braille is Written
Braille
• Easy to read but…
• Difficult to Write
– Written in reverse, from right to left
– Children need to learn mirror images of all
letters
– Delayed feedback
• Paper needs to be removed
• Longer time taken to identify mistakes
ESlate
ESlate
• Digital Stylus – Interfaced to Computer
• Text2Speech
– Speak Sentences to the student
• Student writes letters on stylus
– Provides immediate audio feedback
• Lessons and Exercises
• Video Demo:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~nidhi/brailletutor.html
ESlate – Current Status
• Was presented at the International Conference on
Information and Communication Technologies and
Development, 15-16 December 2007 in Bangalore.
(Sponsored by Microsoft, IEEE, ACM, IDRC)
– Mathru staff and students were invited to give a special
demonstration of the Braille Tutor at the conference
• Field trial of ESlate2 at Mathru – May to Aug 2008
– Partnership with
• Carnegie Mellon Technology Consulting in the Global Community
program
• Microsoft Research India (MSRI)
Braille Printer
• Donated by IFlex Solutions, Bangalore
• Being used to print all textbooks and
reading material
• Future plan:
– Have a library of books which will be made
available to any visually challenged person in
the area as a borrowing library
• Cost of a Braille blank: Rs 1.30
Braille Printer
Braille Printer
Vocational Training Center
• Planned to become operational in Summer 2008
• Vocational training with residence for 20 students by Teachers
(volunteers)
• 5 of the 20 will be Mathru personnel/students.
• 5 will be physically disabled and the remaining 10 will be selected
from the visually challenged general populace
• The 20 will be selected by a qualified group of selectors.
• Subjects will be Screen Printing, Knitting, Book Binding, Plumbing
and Electrics
• Mathru is already talking to potential employers
• Students will also be able to be self-employed
• Besides training in these fields, the students will have daily classes
in Marketing, finance, computer skills, accounting
Budget Proposal – 2009-10
• Needs money for annual Administrative
Expenses
– For the year 2009/2010 they need Rs.
4,00,000 (between USD 8,000 and 8,500).
• Breakup of Budget*
– Educational Expenses
– Hostel Expenses
– Administrative Expenses
* Detailed Breakup available in Proposal – Question 43
Questions?
Recording Studio
• Donated by Ashraya, NJ (http://ashrayausa.org/ - Different from Ashraya Project of
Asha CNJ!)
• A Mathru teacher has been trained to
operate it
• Produce material that will be later made
available to other visually challenged
persons and institutions