Bhatti Mines is considered one of the most impoverished areas of Delhi. Many of the people live in slum like conditions, drinking water is not available and children are forced to turn to child labor to assist their family in survival. When the Bhatti Mines were closed….the miners were forced to look elsewhere to earn their living and their children stopped going to the only school in the vicinity to join the workforce as construction laborers.

On a recent trip to India, I accompanied the Amala Foundation, a non-profit group in Austin, Tx who adopted the Bhatti Mines School.  We met Santosh Singh and his wife and were moved by his genuine efforts to provide the children of  area with an education. Santosh Singh and his wife are devoted to serving the poor and disadvantaged families of Bhatti Mines and the surrounding area. They started the school in an effort help disadvantaged youth and destitute women to acquire employment-oriented skills so that they are able to integrate themselves into society and bridge the existing critical gap hampering their participation in themainstream of societal development.

The Bhatti Mines sc

hool was started as a mission to impart technical knowledge along with functional literacy to uneducated youth of impoverished communities. The mission is to enhance  occupational skills, promote self-reliance, and empower the children economically so that they may take control of their lives. Through this endeavor, it is possible to further the cause of eliminating the practice of child labor in this community.

 The mission of the School of Bhatti Mines is:

 1. Academic Development: to reduce the dropouts by educating them at least up to secondary level. We teach the children English, Hindi, Math, Science, Social Study, Economics and Home Science.

2. Vocational Training: to develop entrepreneurship in to the youth to bring financial well being, self sufficiency and literacy.
To offer women vocational training in Computers, beauty culture, cutting and tailoring.

3. Job Placement: to assist the successful trainees in finding employment.

The Requirements

1. Nine Trained experienced teachers @ 1,579 × 9 =$14,211 annually.

2. 2.Eight rooms @ $264 × 12 months =$3,168 annually
   

3. 3. Books, notebooks, and miscellaneous school supplies = $2,000
   

Total expenses per annum =$19,379