Background

The Project Site (Dhamma Dipa School) is situated at Manu Bankul. Manu Bankul is a small village under Sabroom Sub-Division and Rupaichari R.D. Block in South Tripura District. Manu Bankul is 135 K. M. from Agartala, the capital town of Tripura. It takes only 50 minutes from Calcutta to Agartala by Air and Manu Bankul is only 3 hours drive from Agartala. Dr. Ven. Dhammapiya, Founder & Chairman of Bahujana Hitaya Education Trust is the sole impetus behind this noble project.

Bahujana Hitaya Education Trust (BHET) is a non-profit Public Charitable Body established on 15th June, 1998. The Dhamma Dipa School project was started by BHET as a charitable project in May 2002. It was a small beginning with only 30 boys and 20 girls. Admission is open to all, but priority is given to the underprivileged and poor. Dhamma Dipa School is in its initial stage run by the contribution of local people. In the past years the number of ‘students’ has grown to 250 children. Since almost all the parents or guardians belong to the very low economic class of society, they are unable to meet the expenses to educate their children. After many years of charity it has now become very difficult for BHET to sponsor the growing number of students. Funding for recurring expenses and construction is immediately required in order to make this project a success to benefit hundreds of children.

Objectives

  • To offer safe housing and provide all basic needs.
  • To cater value-based quality education to the underprivileged children of poor tribal and other backward communities, laying special emphasis on girls’ education and promotion of tribal culture.
  • To train students in character building and spiritual development (meditation).
  • To support poor tribal students for higher education.

Activities of children

  • Education
  • Cultural activities and studies (dancing, singing)
  • Meditation
  • Skill oriented programs

Activities of Organization

  • Organising public awareness programmes for sanitation and hygiene.
  • Educating locals in re-forestation.
  • Improve socio-economic status of tribal women by providing training in various vocational courses.

Results so far, future plans/needs

In the past 4 years, the number of students has grown from 50 to 250 and has earned a good reputation in Tripura State. Sanitary facilities have been established to ensure proper hygiene. Extra dormitory space and classrooms have been built. The present classrooms however – due to lack of funding – are made of straw and bamboo. A hut with 2 classrooms collapsed in the fierce tornado in December 2003 and 13 children got captivated inside the hut. Fortunately nobody was injured. However, proper classrooms have to be built to ensure future safety. So short term funds need to be raised to accomplish this.

The goals in the long term are:

  • Upgrading Dhamma Dipa school up to High School & Degree College
  • Organizing skill-oriented training programmes for unemployed youths
  • Developing herbal medicinal garden and setting up a research laboratory to carry out research and preserving traditional knowledge on herbal medicine

Administrative Set Up

The "Governing Body" of "Bahujana Hitaya Education Trust" comprising of

  • Chairman
  • Vice-Chairman
  • Secretary
  • Assistant Secretary
  • Treasurer and
  • Trustees, has full power to make all important decisions concerning the affair of the Trust and the school. The "Governing Body" shall institute a "Management Committee" to run a school. The

"Management Committee" has the following composition:

  • Managing Directo
  • Secretary
  • Co-coordinator
  • Accountant
  • Members

The "Management Committee" shall work on the directives of the "Governing Body" of BHET. The Trust may have one or more "Management Committee" depending upon the number of projects that may come up in course of its development.