Says Mr K S Kim, MD, Samsung India: "We are supporting this project which will have around 435 beneficiaries at the end of this year. For the education component, 4 balwari centres, 7 non-formal education centres, 6 remedial education centres, parent teacher associations and shiksha samitis have been established."

Seven non-formal education centres, which will cater to children in the age group of 6 to 14 years, are also being set up. The four centres in Papankalan are already operational. The children are also being prepared for admission to government schools.

The parent-teacher's association and the Sthaniya Shikhsa Samitis have been set up to boost the involvement of the community in the implementation of the education programme, and sensitising it on child rights, says Mr Kim.Income-generation programmes, supported by Samsung, have been also built into the project to protecte children from physical and mental in hazardous industries.

Working children in the age group of 14 to 18 will be trained during the year in the polybag assembling unit at Hari Nagar. A three-month training course is conducted for these trainees. After training, these children are given apprenticeship, which is optional. Each apprentice is given a monthly stipend as well as some free time during the working period for recreation and non-formal education.

According to Mr Rustam Ali, the project coordinator Alamb, this project seeks to raise the confidence and self-respect amongst the disadvantaged community, with special focus on children and women, by making them aware of their potential.

Relief on its way for animals in quake-hit Gujarat
More relief is on its way for animals in quake-hit Gujarat, with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) deciding to send 1,500 metric tonnes of rice and wheat.

"We have earmarked Rs 2 crore for around eight lakh cattle in and around Bhuj and Kutch," board chairman Justice (Retd) Guman Mal Lodha told reporters recently.

With about 12 NGOs both from India and abroad along with 100 volunteers of AWBI working in different parts of Gujarat since the quake hit the state, about 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and wheat declared unfit for human consumption has already been sent and another 1,500 metric tonne will be dispatched shortly by the FCI as animal feed, Lodha said.

"There are about six lakh metric tonnes of wheat and rice lying in the warehouses of FCI declared unfit for human consumption. But these can serve as feed for cattle and we have appealed to the concerned offices to provide us with the grains which can then be sent to the places where needed," he said.

Temporary cattle sheds are also being built with wood and other easily available material. "It is estimated that about 30,000 cattle have perished but we have not conducted a head count. The worst effected area is Kutch as animal rearing is the primary occupation here," the chairman said.

Swisscargo gives aid to SOS Children's Villages
The Swisscargo has donated SFr 15,800 to SOS Children's Villages of India. On March 11, Mr Michael C Seymour, VP, Swisscargo Asia Pacific, India and Gulf, presented the cheque personally to the SOS Children's Villages director T N Kaul, at Greenfields, a village adopted by SOS Children's Villages.