1. Project # 1..... Printing & distribution of our main Publication in 12 Indian languages. Printing of our 84 page book - Transforming INDIA. A minimum printing of 5000 copies per language will require about Euro 12,000 (US$ 16,440) (INR 6.74 lacs) per language (this includes cost of translation, art work paper and printing in each language) or Euro 144,000(US$ 197,000) (INR 81 lacs) for all 12 Indian languages.
   Impact of implementing Project # 1 Only 6% to 7% of Indians understand English. If we have to reach the people of India, it will be necessary to communicate with the bottom 93% of the population first and not only with the top 7% which is the 'creamy layer'.
   The translated publications into 12 Indian languages viz., Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Assamese, Oriya, Bengali and Punjabi can then be used for communicating with the majority 93% of the Civil Society.
   Although, some of our publications, which are in two pages in Indian languages are hosted on our website, that is not enough, since PC penetration is very low in India. Our main 84 page publication cannot be hosted on our site since the file is too large, about 20 Mb. Experience has shown that our book is read and used by more than 10 people and also it is kept as a reference in most cases.


2. Project # 2..... Creating Awareness & Mindset change in Employers, Parents, Teachers & Students about the close connection between Vocational Education & Training and Employment. About the futility of doing B.A., B.Sc. and B.Com
   Our plan is to reach out to the teachers in schools and colleges, public libraries, local and regional media and students of 18,000 Colleges and 50,000 Higher Secondary Schools across India. Interactive workshops in these schools and colleges across India.
   Training the volunteer trainers in regional languages for initiating discussion and action plans to understand the importance of Education, Governance, and Employment Generation & Economy, using our printed literature, website and talking to our volunteer trainers.
   Conducting Interactive workshops within schools and colleges of India, using our publications as reference materials and as guides.
   We have budgeted about Euro 200(US$ 274)(INR 11,300) per school and college, to reach out to at least 5% per year of all such institutions within India, says about 5000 to 7000 educational Institutions per year.
   This will include 50 copies of our book, 1000 copies of our 2-page publications and cost of local travel to reach out and or send these materials thru post for circulation within these Institutions. The estimated budget of the same is Euro1.5 million (US$ 2.10 million)(INR 8.61 crores) per year.
   
   Impact of implementing Project # 2
   India has nearly 41 million unemployed registered with the employment exchanges. Most of them are unskilled and therefore not employable!
   The present drop-out rate from KG to 10+2 is nearly 93%. The central or state governments have no plans as to how this 93% of human capital is to be gainfully employed and used for Nation Building.
   The requirement of high percentage pass marks in the present educational system further aggravates the situation.
   A large number of this young Human Capital who have 'functional literacy of up to class 5th/6th and up to class 10th/11th/12th can be very gainfully upgraded to skilled manpower, provided we had 500,000 vocational institutes, like China, where 100 million people are trained every year in 3000 vocations.
   The average age of an Indian is 24.8 years. If India has to reap the demographic dividend then it would be necessary to 'Skill' our youth as soon as possible.
   In most countries nearly 80% to 96% of the workforce is 'skilled'. In India it is estimated to be hardly 2% to 5% in some of the better states.
   If India Inc has to be globally it needs to increase the productivity of its work force by skill building. Our present labour productivity is very low even compared to the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Wages and salaries of the workforce in India is going up very fast, in multiples of our real inflation. This is a dangerous trend as it can make India a poor destination for investment both by domestic as well as foreign business. India can only take advantage of its PPP (purchasing power parity) if we produce highly skilled man power in different skills for the domestic and international markets.
   Nearly 98% of those crossing the 10+2 stage opt for college, mostly B.A. about 71%, followed by B.Sc. and B.Com about 18%. We have the so called 'educated unemployed' who are really unemployable!
   Our publications are designed to change the mind set of the youth, civil society and teachers as well as employers who need to give importance to skills rather than mark sheets!
   


3. Project #3..... Livelihood generation for the poor youth & women in the Greater Bombay area (population of 18 million)
   Conducting Livelihood generation courses with partners for imparting skills development and vocational training to the poorest of the poor in slums of Urban India. The target is the youth and single women, to empower them for earning some subsistence amount for their own upkeep.
   The minimum cost of such 3 month to 6 month courses is about Euro 25(US$ 34)(INR 1400) to Euro 100 (US$ 137)(INR 5620) per student. At present we have planned to train about 20,000 youth and women per year within Bombay area at a cost of about Euro 1.2 million (US$1.65 million)(INR 6.77 crores). This needs to be repeated each year.
   We have arranged with other organizations free space in terms of land, building, water and electricity. In a place like Bombay this is a very big cost!
   
   Impact of implementing Project # 3
   The reasons are the same as explained under Project # 2, the main difference here is that we plan to actually 'skill' 20,000 youth and women per year from the poorest sections of society.
   


4. Project # 4..... Integrated Rural Development in 36 villages 120km from Bombay.
   India has 640,000 villages in which nearly 770 million people of India live. If India has to remove poverty we need to uplift this section of the people as soon as possible.
   My Rotary Club, Bombay Mid-Town, District 3140 in Bombay has been working with one village for the last few years. Last month a team from our Foundation visited this and other Villages in this area.
   We decided that if we really have to make a difference we need to take a 'Cluster of 36 villages' in this area. This covers an approx area of 120,000 hectares and a population of about 200,000 people, mostly women & children.
   
   The project will broadly cover the following areas of activity:-
   
   
   • Rain water harvesting, so that there is sufficient water for agriculture and other purposes for all the 12 months of the year Primary healthcare and sanitation Primary healthcare and sanitation
   
   
   • Functional Literacy ,we need to attain 100% literacy as soon as possible
   
   
   • Livelihood generation with skills development, including use of micro-finance
   
   
   • Primary health care, sanitation & drinking water, existing facilities inadequate
   
   
   • Solar Electric Lighting,Green, eco-friendly technology. Cheaper & better in the long run since it is renewable energy.
   
   The total cost for a set on 6 villages is about Euro 1.5 million (US$ 2.1 million) (INR 8.61 crores). For all the 36 villages it would be approximately Euro 9.0 million (US$ 12.33 million)(INR 50.55 crores).
   Impact of implementing Project # 4
   It is estimated that nearly 70% of the food grain production is only by a single crop; in spite of the fact that most of India get a lot of rain and sunshine. China with a smaller arable landmass than India produces nearly 200% more food grains, since their farm productivity is nearly 300% of India! China has nearly 350,000 skill and vocational centres in rural China in order to empower the farmers and their families and make them as rich and productive as possible.
   
   In villages, 60KM east from central Mumbai, where the rainfall is nearly 3 to 4 metres or 10 to 13 feet of rainfall per year, one finds only one crop per year followed by shortage of drinking water during October to June or nearly nine months per year.
   
   Only rain water harvesting and watershed management can be a permanent solution for this man made disaster.
   Although 60 years have passed after our Independence, in 1947, we still do not have 100% literacy; hence the requirement of functional literacy as a top priority.
   The importance of Livelihood development through skills development and vocational has already been explained under projects #2 & #3.
   Primary healthcare, including sanitation and drinking water is of prime importance. We are convinced that once this is in position and if the people are empowered by education and skills, the growth will be dramatic, positive and permanent.
   
   

Note regarding participation of people and other NGO's:

For projects # 2, # 3 and # 4 many free volunteers will be used; this cost is not included in the project cost. We estimate that the actual cost of these people will nearly be 35% of the total cost of the project. Our experience confirms that we should not give anything free. Participation of the People is required in all cases, in kind if not in cash!

Krishan Khannais the Director Vocational Services, in R.I. Club, Bombay Mid Town, Bombay, India, District 3140

i Watchis a not-for-profit foundation founded by Krishan Khanna in 1993. Please See www.wakeupcall.org

Times Foundation is the not-for-profit foundation started by the largest media group in India, Times of India. Please See http://timesfoundation.indiatimes.com

PANIIT is a not-for-profit organization initiated by the Alumni of all the seven IIT's of India. Please see http://www.iit.org/paniit.php for details

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