Russa Road Young Buddhist Student Literacy Mission Kathor, P.O. Badu, P.S.

Barasat, 24 PGS (N), Kolkata 700 128 West Bengal, INDIA

Vision
Generous heart, kind speech, life of service and compassion are the things that renew humanity.
Buddha

Mission

Russa Road Young Buddhist Student Literacy Mission has the mission of improving the quality of human life by strengthening the development capacity through literary and educational activities among the communities which will lead them towards other subjective needs (with basic amenities) to live like a human being.

Legal Status Registered under West Bengal Society Registration Act - 1961 Registered under U/S 80G of IT. Act - 1961 Registered under U/S 12A of IT. Act - 1961 Registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act - FCRA 1976.

Aims/Plans of the Society 1) 2) To provide education to poor and needy children. To promote and encourage advancement of literary, cultural, moral, religious, scientific and technical education. To set up libraries, hold meetings, seminars and take up other incidental activities to build a knowledgeable, informative and good practicing society. To exchange and interact with others for mutual understanding of the basic theme of world religion. To impart the message of non-violence", championed by Mahatma Gandhi. To educate and raise health awareness regarding preventive and curative health cares, promote knowledge of environment, ecology, water and sanitation, capacity building to combat updated threats of HIV/AIDS, STIs/STDs, TB, Malaria etc. 7) To undertake role of reducing gender discriminations, promote the conditions of vulnerable populations specially, the women for their socio-economic liberation and empowerment.

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To undertake cultural promotion through knowledge exchange, exposure trips and Rural Tourism Development, creation of awareness among the rural peoples for better understanding and build attitude of better service providers.

9)

To do Promotion of Rural Development programmes to facilitate-Rural life style, Rural employment, Rural Culture and Rural Products Marketting through Rural Tourism.
FROM THE DESK OF SECRETARY: 2011-12

Dear Members, The Governing Body is pleased to present the Seventeenth Annual Report and the audited accounts for the financial year ended March 31, 2012 and on behalf of the Governing Body, I welcome the Members to this Meeting. It is our pleasure to inform the members present that the Mission has gradually been gaining successful in bringing socio-economic development in the rural area of North 24 Parganas. Socio-economic challenges are having great influence on the people of rural India. Malnutrition of mother and children, children fatality, lack of health awareness, etc are mainly due to socio economic hardship of the rural people. In pursuant to the aims and objectives of the Association, the Mission has paid continuous efforts for up-liftmen of human values by giving education on various grounds such as rural development, rural tourism, medical tourism, social activism etc.

It is undeniable fact that without changing the socio-economic condition faced by the people in rural areas poverty alleviation is impossible. To make development of SocioEconomic condition of the people is one of the main objectives of the Mission. Keeping close eyes on this issue, The Mission has decided to start Self Help Group from 2009 to help the rural people and it is running well. Self Help Group is the best engine so far known to hunman beings to help the people in the grass root label. A number of Meetings have also been organized by the Mission in rural areas to give education and awareness to the people on various fields. In addition to Self Help Group, the Mission was also actively engaged in medical tourism. Many people from rural India as well as from neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar etc got quality treatment here in Kolkata by our referral and after getting proper treatment here they are leading their happy normal lives. Apart from these activities, The Mission is continuing its support to the School and impart quality education to the students enrolled at the school, although the Mission is going through critical financial crisis. The Mission also organised a number of functions relating to school activities. Besides these activities, the Mission has also conducted "Intensive English Course" for one month every year. I am happy to mention the original Notice for Fifth Intensive English Course below.

Dear Dhamma Friends, We are very happy to announce that Bodhisukha Parahita Temple, Russa Road Young Buddhist Student Literacy Mission is going to organize 5th Intensive English Course in association with Buddhist Relief Mission from 15th March to 15th April 2012 at its premises of Bodhisukha School run by the Mission. Like 4th Intensive English Course, this year also very qualified faculties will be imparting Special Practical English. As usual Ken & Visakha Kawasaki, who were teaching English for more than 30 years to nonEnglish speaking students, will head the faculties. The Kawasakis are wel-known now in the Buddhist world due to the release of a three volume book retold by them "Jatakas Tales of the Buddha: An Anthology published by Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is learnt the book is recorded as the best fast selling among the books published by BPS within 50 years of publishing. It must be due to the Buddhist Jatakas still relevant to all works of life and also must be due precise and fine translation of the Kawasakis, which took them to finished 25 years for 270 stories only. Students' most favorite teacher Mr. Steve will also join the class. Ven. Dr. Nando Batha will also keep the time for teaching the students. This Intensive English Class will be not only English learning but also include many new things such as Creative writing, Group conversation, Capacity building, etc. From very beginning of the Mission we had given top priority to help monk-students by giving assistance for getting admission to different Universities, by giving stipends to those who were financially weak, by supporting with English Training to young monks. It is no doubt that many monks were benefited from the Intensive English Course we have conducted. All our Dhamma friends from different universities and from Myanmar are cordially invited to participate and enrich their English skills. With Metta, Ven. Dr. Nando Batha

Fifth Intensive English Course Notice

Bodhisukha School

Education is backbone of any community. Without education no community can develop. It is education which can throw light in every corner of our every daytoday life. Education is true means for Socio-economic and intellectual advancement of the society. Keeping this view in mind, from the very outset the Mission has been working for promotion of Education. It is our motto - every child at least deserves primary education irrespective of caste, religion or socioeconomic background. It is, therefore, a desideratum to run a School by the Mission. Bodhisukha school (English Medium) established in 2001 with 15 students and two teachers started imparting quality education to the needy and poor students. All students of the 1st, 2nd and the 3rd batch of the school have passed Class X with all 1st division. All credit goes to the teaching and non-teaching staff and all students, who have given such good name to the school. extension construction This year the of has school been

done. 160 students are enrolled in classes from LN to X this year. Most of the students are mainly

belonged to poorer category of population (Minority Muslims, SCs, STs and economically under developed General Castes).

Like every other year this year too Bodhisukha School has observed Independence Day of India with pomp and show. But this years Independence Day celebration is a bit special. This year, it is the 66th Independence Day of India. In our school this year a documentary film has been shoot. Our arrangement started from 14th August 2012, Tuesday. Through out that day all our students and teachers were busy decorating the auditorium and the field where the programme and flag hoisting were about to be performed one after another. On 15th August 2012, Wednesday the team of documentary film shooting arrived at around 9 am. Before that, Vivekananda Chakma, Avinob Chakma, Suraj Chakma, Wai Zin and all other hostel boys, under the supervision of Shib Snakar Das, one of the teachers made a beautiful wel-come gate with balloons. Then they took the initiative to arrange the flag to hoaist.

66 th Independence Day celebration

The programme started with flag hoisting by Ven - Arya Wantha at around 10 am. Then all the students were guided by the teachers to be seated in the auditorium. After that our Director Ven Dr. Nando Batha gave a beautiful speech on the importance of Independence Day celebration. Directors speech was followed by a wel-come song by Pragna Chatterjee and Tiasha Santra, students of our school. Then Tirthankar Chowdhury one of the students of Class-V of our school recited a poem of Rabindranath Tagore Balo veer. Afterthat, It was turn for a group song - Tiasha Santra , Pragna Chatterjee, Jeet Chatterjee, Shimul Mitra, Tirthankar Chowdhury and Eshita Roy all our school students, sang a beautiful group song. There after, according to programme list, it was a group dance performed by four of our students Eshita Roy, Preety Debnath, Noor Ayesha Khatun and Madhumita Debnath under the supervision of Suparna Sur, our dance teacher. After this group dance we took a Tiffin break for 15 minutes at around 10:45 am. We gave some refreshments to all the students along with the other audiences present there at the auditorium. We resumed our programme at 11 am, with our principle madams speech. She told us that we all should celebrate this day of Independence with proper respect and prideness. According to her in this auspicious day we also should remember the great personals who shedded their blood

to give us freedom from the British bondage after long 300 years. Next was a group song sang by our school students under the guidance of Trishna Ganguly our music teacher. Then Subhadeep Saha a student of class- X of our school recited a poem of Quazi Nazrul Islam Biddrohi with proper action and in Founder Donors of Bodhisukha School, Ken & Visakha Kawasaki bold voice. Deep Chatterjee was the next participant. He sang the song Vandemataram. Now, It was the turn of Kazaw Ree Mog he recited of English poem Where the mind is without fear Written by Rabindranath Tagore. Then, It was a group dance danced by Tiasha Santra , Pragna Chatterjee, Runa Khatun, Sehnaz Hussain, Eshita Roy, Preety Debnath, Noor Ayesha Khatun and Madhumita Debnath. It was so well performed that the dancers had to perform it once again to satisfy the audience. After that all the students and each and every audience along with all teachers and school staff come to the ground to form a decent line in a disciplined way to conclude the programme by singing Janaganamana with proper respect as it is our National Anthem. The entire programme was over at around 12 Oclock.

Celebrations & Activities of the school

This year also the school observed many programmes such as Annual Function of Bodhisukha School, Environment day celebration, Children day, Teachers Day, Independence Day, Republic day etc. the prime-motto of the school is to maintain the overall development of each student, not only in the field of academic education but also in the field of all sorts of co-curricular activities such as Karate training, yoga classes, outdoor and indoor games etc free of cost. Apart from these activities, the school also organized Health Check up camp for all students for the students' health betterment by well experienced doctors free of charge. This is in accordance with our Motto - Health is Wealth. Our institution is for all the willing students irrespective of cast, creed & religion. To encourage and to bring the students of such families which are leading their lives from hand to mouth, we use to give yearly scholarships to the meritorious students of poor families by waiving their monthly tuition fees.

SELF HELP GROUP (SHG) FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT India attained one billion population on 11th May, 2000. 60 % of its population living in rural areas are below poverty level (BPL). One of the greatest problems for government of India is that there are too many jobless people in the country. It is impossible for the government to provide each and every body with a job. Many jobless youngsters feel frustrated, when they have no permanent income, and they become anti-social. Another problem the government of India is facing is women empowerment. Traditionally women are treated differently from their male Women counterpart. Even now in rural India many people think that women's job is to become house-wife only, totally dependent on her husband. Empowerment is the best policy to uplift the socio-economic condition of rural

India teeming with many millions of people. Knowing the best potentials of women empowerment, the government of India greatly also supports Self Help Group (SHG). Moreover, it is assumed that most of women are having saving awareness and saving mentality. Traditionally and socially they are kept aside for house work only. Now when they have got an opportunity to do the work side by side with their counterpart, each and every woman wants to do something by availing micro credit loan. It is a huge demand of the hours of rural India and it is the sole responsibilities of the citizens to help each other to uplift their day to-day lives. Keeping these responsibilities in mind, the Mission has started SHG by forming rural women group in 2010-11. During this year it reached momentum. So many women have changed their livelihood after getting our assistance. Out of many successful transformations of rural lives, two success stories may be given here. Success Story of Mitu Basu
Name: Mitu Basu Age: 37 Group Name: Kamini Address: Mahaswarpur, P.O. Badu, P.S. Barasat, 24 PGS (N), W.B Husband Name: Subrata Basu

No. Children: 2 - one daughter and one son The daughter recently married, and son is studying at Class VI at school. Business: Tailoring and trading Before joining to our SHG, Mitu Basu was completely house-wife, depending on her husband's incomes only. Her husband was daily waged labour. It was too difficult for them to send their daughter to school with very low income. In 2009 she joined to our SHG and she availed 1st loan (Rs. 5000), by which she purchased a talouring Machine and it was her 1st endeavour to do some small scale business in collaboration with her husband, who used to sell whatever she did productions with her machine. Now she purchased two more machines giving jobs to others, too. And thus her productions increased day by day. Along with increased productions, their family incomes also naturally increase per month more than Rs. 7000. With their incomes they were able to give marriage ceremony to their daughter. Now they are able to send their son to school and they are running this business smoothly and they are also having plan to extend their business. Success Story of Karabi Paul Name: Karabi Paul Age: 38 Group Name: Kamini Address: Mahaswarpur, P.O. Badu, P.S. Barasat, 24 PGS (N), W.B Husband Name: Ranjit Paul No. Children: 1 - one son Business: Sharee

Karabi Paul was doing Sharee business last 8 years in a small scale within her locality. When she joined to our SHG in 2009, with our encouragement she extended her business area to different schools and government offices, and she made her husband involved in her business. Previously her husband was a driver, hiring an auto rickshaw from someone. The whole day he has to drive and he has to pay half of whatever he earn on the day to the owner. Now she was able to purchase one auto by her name by availing finance and thus her husband was able to drive their own auto now. And so their family income is increasing more than Rs. 10000 per month.

Health Care Services

From day one of our birth, the most important thing is to live a life happily. Happy life will not be available without good health. So to have good health is every body's prime concern. Our legend said "Health is Wealth", which should be the It is undeniable fact that there are hundreds of In fact, nothing is important than life. motto of every individual.

thousands of people who are deprived of modern health care facilities not only in India but also all over the world. Therefore, for any living beings health is the most important and so health care is the most important vital part of our life. The member will be very pleased to know that the Mission was able to do interpreter services, referral services, health care consultant services, etc. Apart from these, the members will be very happy to learn that the Mission is able to give accommodation to the people who not only come from far eastern India but also coming from Bangladesh and Myanmar. They came here for better treatment in Kolkata. It is our great pleasure to render And more our sincere referral and interpretation services to those patients.

importantly most of the patients are leading their happy normal life after getting treatment here. Apart from these services, we have also given some help to the patients for purchasing medicines for those who were in need in fact. Out of many cases one case study may be given here. Finally I would like to convey all the members present and staff with whose endeavour we will continue to achieve our aims and objects of the Mission.