Why Education Aid to Girls?

Poor parents find it a financial drain to educate girls, as they feel that eventually girls get married and do not supplement the family income. So they find it not ‘worthwhile’ to spend their limited income on a daughter’s education. They would rather save up that money for a daughter’s wedding and dowry..

Providing "free" education is not enough to encourage parents to educate their daughters. Education involves a lot of other expenses like books, uniforms, accessories, transportation, etc., which deter parents from sending their daughters to school.

Various Funds to Help Needy Girls

The Trust has set up, of course with generous grants from donors, to assist the economically needy students in many ways. Some of these funds are:–

FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS :

• Sponsor A Child's Education Program - In USA we have launched this program under the name of 'Shama Kids' in collaboration with SHAMA INC. (an NGO). In India and the rest of the world it is launched as 'DIYA' (Develop an Individual with Your Assistance). Under this program, a sponsor sponsors the education of a needy child for one year by contributing US$ 10 / UK L 6 / INR 400 per month for 12 months. The sponsorship covers everything that a child needs to attend school, i.e. fees, books, uniform, shoes, accessories, health checkup, sports coaching and enrichment workshops.
• V. D. Meghani & M. D. Meghani Book Bank – About 200 school children of various standards are loaned the required set of textbooks every academic year.
• Jagmohandas Boda Nashta Fund – 450-500 school children, who cannot afford to have breakfast are given free, nutritious snacks every day.
• Sheth Chunilal Narbheram Memorial Trust School Dress Bank – Around 300 girls receive school uniforms worth about Rs. 45000/- every year.
• Shri Dalichand J. Doshi School Notebook Bank – Needy school students are given free notebooks, compass boxes, lab coats, etc.
• Smt. Yashodaben M. Patel School Accessories Bank – Around 150 school children are given two sets of shoes (normal and drill shoes) worth about Rs. 45000/- every year. Many children also receive school bags and water bottles as per their need.
• Smt. Samratben H. Doshi Nibhav Fund – Very poor students are given transportation expenses.
• CTD Foundation - They bear the statutory fees (to be paid to BMC) of all students of primary section.

FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS :

• Smt. Maniben Rajmal Mehta College Book Bank- Every year around 650 students are given textbooks (around 4500 volumes) on loan basis from the book bank.
• 'SHAMA' PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN AT OUR COLLEGE

a) Scholarships to needy students: The tuition fee of each student is paid by the Trust to Education Department. The other fees i.e. admission, examination & Computer fees are paid from the funds provided by SHAMA Inc. On an average 250/300 students avail of this facility per year..

b) Scholarship to students pursuing higher education:

Since one of the important aims of SHAMA Inc. & the Trust is to empower women, financial help is also provided to students pursuing higher education after completing their studies in our College. Around 60 Students avail of this assistance for doing their Masters or B.Ed. every year

c) Loan to start small business:

To empower our past and present students and to build their self confidence, they are encouraged to be self reliant and self employed by utilising whatever inherent skills they have. For this purpose interest free loans are given to them to start a small business. The amount of loan varies from Rs.2000/- to Rs.25000/- for each applicant. Many have started repaying loan.

d) Students’ nutritious snacks & health programme: Around 50 undernourished students are provided with nutritious food every day in the canteen. They are provided monthly food coupons. A Donor may book a mini-lunch for 200 students on their birthday or anniversary or death tithi of parent or grand-parent or any other day he/she wishes by contributing Rs. 2500 for one day’s meal for 200 students.

e) Medical check-up and follow-up treatment: is provided to students who are needy.