SSS-1 Student Meeting
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Date : 18 Sep 2011 Sunday
Time : 11 30 AM to 1 PM IST
Venue : LalBagh, Bangalore
Attendees : Student side : Student S Gunasekaran, his parents (P Shanmugam)
SHaDE Side : M Raghavan, J Balaji, Haridoss G, Sampath Kumar S

Actually the meeting was supposed to be conducted last week itself (11Sep2011) however it was postponed due to ill health
of the student. As his dad also fell sick in typhoid during the subsequent days, I had asked them NOT to come on the next immediate week (this week) and we thought of having it in the next week (25Sep2011).

Though it was not planned to have on this day, they were anxious to meet us and they had managed to come on their own. I was informed over phone just yesterday (17Sep2011 Saturday) at around 10 PM. Then I had informed the volunteers who were in Bangalore and could possibly make out for the meeting.

They reached bangalore very early at around 6 AM. We all had assembled at Lal Bagh at 11 30 AM.

The interactions started casually with the discussion about the student and their family, their life style, their economical status etc.,

Looks like they had been having a tough time as his mom had some injuries in her hand and due to which she is unable to work. His dad who works for weekly wages in some one's weaving unit. His wages is around Rs 750 per week which sums upto Rs 3000 per month. They have to manage their entire house hold expenses including house rent, cable tv charges,their groceries, medical expenses and educational expenses. Mr P shanmugam takes care of his father as well, who is aged about 80 years but manages to work as a watchman for a dialy wages of Rs 70 - Rs 80 inspite of his age and issues with his leg.

Guna had been suffering from various sickness right from his birth and he had been getting treated in the nearby hospital in Tiruchengode. His medical expenses is also occupying a fixed share in their monthly budget. To summarize, they are having a very big time to maintain their daily life. Even to come to bangalore for the meet, they had borrowed Rs.1,000/- from a neighbor.

Guna's sister is also studying her XII Std but she seems to have scored well in SSLC than Guna. Guna was unable to score well due to his frequent illness even during the days of exam.

We had discussed in detail about the situation and also shared about SHaDE and the incarnation of SSS with its goals. They had agreed for the 80:20 ratio for the fees and academic expenses. Overall, they seem to be very genuine and true. They very much lack in financial aspects.

The student Gunasekaran does NOT seem to be very bright but having an interest to study well and take care of his family. He should be given much attention and care apart from just the financial support. Of course, that is the core ingredient of our SSS. We had clearly told them of the norms to be followed, especially the minimum score to be obtained every year for getting the financial assistance for the subsequent years.

We had also told them of the Mentor and their R & Rs (Roles and Responsibilities). We had discussed about his R & R as well. We were about to discuss and finalize the mentors. After the meeting, we had agreed to have Haridoss and Balaji J as mentors with their mutual consent. Balaji J would act as a primary mentor and Haridoss G would be a secondary volunteer, would pitch in wherever necessary and especially during the absence of Balaji.

They had showed us most of the marksheets (X, XII etc.,) along with the Bonafide certificate plus the receipts of the fees being paid so far.

They gave us a copy of Guna's Indian bank passbook. We can make use for depositing any amount on a need basis.

He was supposed to pay around Rs 500 roughly for the exam fees which we told that we would deposit in to his account in a couple of days.

We can have a system ready to update all the details of student plus the meetings between the mentor and student in a regular interval. I would do the needful.

We should be very clear on our goals and should drive the student towards a better life.

I, personally thank each one of you for your trust on me and our dear SHaDE. I am sure we would sustain the same in the forthcoming endeavors as well.

Cheers,
Raghavan alias Saravanan M
Founder and Chief Executive Volunteer
SHaDE | Bangalore Chapter | India