“What can I do that will make a difference?" ..well a LOT!

A female journalist is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore.

Further along she sees an small boy, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean.

"Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?," she asks.

"Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don't throw them further in they will die."

"But, dear don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can't possibly save them all, you can't even save one-tenth of them.
In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won't make any difference at all."

The small boy listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish
and throw it into the sea.

"It made a difference to that one."

The female journalist looked at the small boy inquisitively and thought about what he had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined.......................

The Star Thrower is a powerful story of the potential within each one of us to make a difference in the lives of others. It is a gentle reminder that we should be here for each other, to give service, even in small ways, whenever we can.




In such turbulent times as these, when we may often feel alone and small, unable to make any lasting changes in our lives, we may find ourselves asking, “What can I do that will make a difference? What can one person like me do?” 


In reality we don't have to be rich, talented or even particularly intelligent to make a difference in the life of another. 

We just need to remember that we are all here for a purpose, and that making small changes in the world, eventually adds up to something bigger in the life of another. 

No matter how small your action might be, it makes a difference to someone! 

One person can change the reality of another. When we become throwers of the stars, we too, have the power to change the world.

Join us for Computer literacy project and bring POSITIVE change in the lives of many Under-privileged kids!

@Deepak_CACR

BMC Budget for Primary Education...That's a LOT of money!

Rupees 2660.44 Crore sounds like a lot  of money,isn't it? (4291112000 USD)

That is the budget for the primary education in MCGM public corporation schools,where the number of students are decreasing and budget seems to pile up each passing year.

So wht's the break up behind this paradox....CACR tries to find out.

MCGM imparts free primary education in eight different mediums in 1150 primary school to 3,78,627 students which includes 863 students from 17 special schools for mentally challenged students.
MCGM also runs 145 Secondary Schools wherein 54,117 students are imparted free education.

There are 453 MCGM owned School Buildings and 62 rented School Buildings.
As on date there are 11,988 teachers for Primary Schools and 1407 teachers for Secondary Schools.
The Budget Estimate for 2013-14 which was Rs.2472.53 crores has now been revised to Rs.1894.61 crores, which means approximately 75% utilisation of the budget estimated.
Despite this, the budget estimate for 2014-15 has been increased to Rs.2660.44 crores.

Some of the important projects/schemes which will be implemented in 2014-15 are:-

1. Virtual Classroom Project:- 
An amount of Rs,12.62 crores has been budgeted despite the poor implementation of the project initiated last year at a cost of Rs.27 crores approx.

2. English Language Training by British Council Library:-

Provision of Rs,1.78 crores has been proposed for training 2400 MCGM teachers during this year.

3. Connecting all Schools through Computer and Internet:-
An amount of Rs.2.38 crores has bedn budgeted for providing hardware facilities.

4. Repairs/Upgradation and Reconstruction of Municipal School Buildings:-
During the year, 9 new school buildings will be constructed, 8 school buildings will be taken up for reconstruction and upgradation with increase in number of classrooms and 21 buildings will be taken up for structural repairs, for which Rs,266.34 crores has been proposed.

5. Quality of Housekeeping in municipal schools:-
Cleanliness, Hygiene, Upkeep and Security of 338 MCGM school buildings, remaining buildings being under care of Mali cum caretaker and peons for which a provision of Rs. 48.28 crores has been budgeted.

6. Educational Kits(Uniforms, Shoes and Socks, school kit, notebooks, stationery, raincoat and umbrella, etc. has been budgeted at Rs.100 crores for both Primary and Secondary schools.

7. Supply of supplementary food stuff(Chikki)
An amount of Rs.84 crores has been budgeted for providing chikki to children in both primary and secondary schools.

8. Grants to Private Primary Aided Schools:-
Almost 434 Private Primary and Secondary Schools are expected to get grants worth Rs.466 crores.

Other projects like 

• School Excellence Programme(Rs.11.31 crores), 
• Management Information Systems which includes Child Tracking System(Rs.5 crores), 
• Primary Teachers Training Centre(Rs.4.10 crores),
• Upgradation of Powai High level Scout and Guide Camp site(Rs.1.02 crores),
• Upgradation of Science Labs(Rs.1.50 crores), 
• Grants for Public Library(Rs.30 lakhs), 
• Girl Child Incentive Fixed Deposit Certificates(Rs.7.25 crores), 
• Bus Fares(Rs.80 lakhs), and 
• Balwadis(Rs.2.37 crores).

The press too has covered this report here 

Only public accountability and Audit can help to find if the funds are being well utilized 

We at CACR are trying to do that. Come join us!

@Nitin_CACR

Whats makes us work and stand out?

CACR-Citizens Action for Child Rights is a network of like minded citizens concerned about ensuring child rights with specific focus on ensuring good quality of education and health for all children. We are a Section 8 company registered in Mumbai,India. Most other NGOs are registered with Charity Commissioner. We are registered as a Private Ltd. Not for Profit Company.

     Section 8 companies have the most reliable strongest organizational structure. They are those companies which are formed for the sole purpose of promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity or any other useful object and have been granted a licence by the central government recognizing them as such.

CHILD RIGHTS NGO

Since CACR is a citizen's movement for child rights, education and health all Like-minded individuals passionate about these causes are welcome to volunteer with us.

             Our USP is also that we don't aim to take over the system or establish our own parallel schools. Our aim is to the make the system robust by increasing accountability; public opinion and awareness. We directly participate and improve the functioning of BMC School by collaborating with the BMC Education department. We do not take any funds from the BMC to run the schools nor occupy any space in Municipal buildings.

Presently we are a core team of 5 members and an excellent set of partner institutions like IIT Bombay, ADAPT, Enactus HR College , Rotaract Ruia college,V Citizens association. etc

       
 

CACR as a non-profit organisation strives to make a lasting change in the quality of education and health of students from the Economically Weaker Section and studying in Government/Corporation schools. We aim to make the system self-sufficient and efficient through public participation.

Each core member at CACR brings his/her unique set of skills on board and has a trust and belief in CACR's mission.

Core members are involved with designing and executing the various projects with help and guidance from Advisory board.

+Richa Singh  is a team member of NGO CACR 

Welcome to our BLOG! Happy Reading ahead :)

Citizens Association for Child Rights-CACR , is a network of like minded citizens concerned about ensuring child rights with specific focus on ensuring good quality of education and health for all children.

We at CACR believe that regular interaction and discussions with the hierarchy of the Education Department and sharing of observations and suggestions with them periodically will ensure improved accountability and proper distribution of facilities and amenities for children enrolled in these schools.

Citizens Association for Child Rights very strongly believes in supplementing the system and does not believe in creating parallel systems. We believe that the urban privileged public has immense power to influence and impact the lives of affected children for the better through government interface and participation.

Our Website gives the details about the organisations, members and volunteers.

@Richa_CACR