18. We have a name but no face, and in one instance a face with two names.
In this section, we look at projects that have been named after an Indian city or state but, except for indicating the amount of money received for the project, there are no details or information about the nature of the project, where exactly they are located, what were the objectives and how the money was used.

(A) Jamshedpur Project:

Comment: No project description. No source of funds specified and no details about how the funds were used.

(B) The Jhansi Project has had two contributions.

Comment: The project is running a formal school. However, since the year 2000, there have been no contributions. There is again no information on whether the project is ongoing or discontinued.

(C) Varanasi Project:

Project Description: The School was started by Mrs. Asha Pandey [another Pandey!] on July 1, 1996, in Varanasi. The aim of this project is to provide education to those children who due to extreme poverty do not have the opportunity to go to school.

The school was founded with the hope and intention of growing and developing as the children who come also develop and grow. Asha Pandey is the project coordinator. She received her M.A. in psychology from Banaras Hindu University, as well as completing a one year teacher’s training course. Upon graduation, she worked for 2 years as a teacher at the Ram Niwas school, as well as at the St. Atulanand Central School, both in Varanasi. At St. Atulanand’s there were 65-70 children under her supervision in the classroom. The methods at this school were not beneficial to teaching or learning for that matter and Mrs. Pandey became bored with the monotony of the existing system.

Comment: Only one year and then what? What happened to Asha Pandey’s boredom after 1996?

(D) Rajasthan Project:

No details about what this project was about, whether it was one time or ongoing, etc.

(E) Bihar Project:

Comment: No information on whether project is ongoing or discontinued or what the project is about, in which city, village or state it was started or any other detail.

(K) FWERW—Foundation for Women’s Education in the Rural World:

Comment: No details here on what this project is about. However, in another project, mention is made of ‘Kathai Aruvi’ and we gather that it is a compilation of stories for children. $9,334 in just two years amounts to approximately 4.5 lakhs in Indian rupees. Now, this is a colossal amount for a small book that is a compilation of stories. There are no details about which individual or organisation received the money and no details about whether all the 4.5 lakh rupees were spent in just compiling this book.

(O) Rishi Valley Education Center:

Comment: A total of $ 60,122 has come into these projects which have the name of an Indian state or city but there are no project descriptions and no details about how the money was used and for what purpose. This is an astronomical amount in Indian rupees and, appropriately enough, seemingly is sunk in a black hole.