History of ILP

The India Literacy Project, (ILP), founded in 1990 in the USA by a group of young Non-Resident Indians was inspired by Dr. Parameshwar Rao, a scientist trained in the U.S. He returned to India in 1967 to dedicate his life to improving the lives of the rural poor in India.

Dr. Rao's original goal was to improve the life of the villagers in and around the Vishakapatnam district. He soon realized that literacy was a necessary prerequisite if the villagers were to absorb the knowledge he wished to impart to them. This, together with the knowledge of India's then abysmal literacy rate of 52%, propelled him to campaign in the U.S. for Indians to actively participate in improving the literacy rate.

ILP's first initiative was in the form of a small grant to an adult literacy program of the Bhagavatula Charitable Trust (BCT) in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. From these humble beginnings, ILP was born. Today ILP is an active organization, with more than hundred volunteers in the U.S and a vibrant organization in India. To date ILP has supported over 100,000 under-privileged children and women in over 12 States. With the help of donors like you and a dedicated team of volunteers in USA and India, ILP is mobilizing funds and raising awareness for education.

Through experience gained at the grassroots level,we have expanded our program to cover education initiatives for "out of school children" and "literacy-cum-income generation programs". We have also included capacity building programs, such as teacher training and dissemination of best practices in our goals. More recently, we have supported projects that strengthen mainstream education provided by the Government.

The ILP-India initiative was established in January 2000 and is registered as a Charitable Trust under the Sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax in India,and facilitates assessment and evaluation of projects and the overall administration of its operation. ILP-India's unique on-site participatory evaluation and monitoring program, has helped strengthen, sustain and improve the success rates of programs funded.

ILP Constitution

INDIA LITERACY PROJECT (ILP) (A Non-Profit Organization, Est. 1990) Registered Address: 303 Polo Lane, Oak brook, IL. 60523 CONSTITUTION OF THE INDIA LITERACY PROJECT ARTICLE I : NAME The name of the Corporation shall be INDIA LITERACY PROJECT, herein after may be referred to as the ILP. ARTICLE II : PRINCIPAL OFFICE Chapter 2:1 : The place in the State of Illinois where the principal office of the Corporation is to be located is the City of Willowbrook, ( now the Office is in the village of Oak Brook )Du Page County. Chapter 2:2 : The place of the principal office of this Corporation may be changed from time to time by resolution of the National Coordinating Committee, and such office may be in any county, state or country. Chapter 2:3 : The Corporation may have such other offices as the National Coordinating committee may determine from time to time. ARTICLE III : ORGANIZATION Chapter 3:1 : India Literacy Project shall be a not-for-profit organization established and operated exclusively for literacy, educational and charitable purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Chapter 3:2 : No part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article III: 3:1 hereof. Chapter 3:3 : No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in ( including the publishing or distribution of statements any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Chapter 3:4 : Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the Corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. ARTICLE IV : PURPOSE The specific and primary purposes and objectives of the India Literacy Project shall be: Chapter 4:1 : To promote "Literacy As a Movement of People." Chapter 4:2 : To eradicate functional illiteracy. Chapter 4:3 : To enhance social awareness through literacy and education. Chapter 4:4 : To conduct courses, classes, and work-shops and other related activities to further the cause of literacy. Chapter4:5 : To develop, publish, print or distribute books, journals, periodicals and literature. Chapter 4:6 : To produce and distribute audio/video cassettes or films to promote literacy and education. Chapter 4:7 : To provide relief in cash or kind to those affected by riots, floods, fire, epidemics, droughts, and other calamities. Chapter 4:8 : To provide medical aid to the poor, indigent, senior citizens, and handicapped persons. Chapter 4:9 : To promote, sponsor and support similar literacy, educational, social and charitable organizations with the same or similar purposes. Chapter 4.10 : To promote, support, and provide for rural developmental projects across India wherin literacy has been a integrated as component. ARTICLE V : NATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE Chapter 5:1 : Subject to any other provisions of these Articles, India Literacy Project shall be governed by a National Coordinating Committee hereinafter may be referred to as the NCC. Chapter 5:2 : The number of coordinators, their qualifications, and the procedure for their selection and removal shall be governed by the Bylaws. Chapter 5:3 : President of the National Coordinating Committee: The President shall be Bhagavatula Parameswara Rao of The Bhagavatula Charitable Trust, Yellamanchili, India and shall serve as such until his resignation, retirement, or death. The President shall appoint his successor, and in absence of such appointment there shall be no President. ARTICLE VI : MEMBERS Chapter 6:1 : All Coordinators shall be members of this organization. Chapter 6:2 : The classes of members, qualifications and privileges shall be specified in the Bylaws. ARTICLE VII : LIABILITIES OF NATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS No Coordinator of the National Coordinating Committee or Member of this organization shall be personally liable for the debts or liabilities of the organization, except as such Coordinator or Member shall expressly agree in writing. ARTICLE VIII : AMENDMENTS These Articles of Constitution may be amended or repealed and new Articles adopted by the National Coordinating Committee by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Coordinators. ARTICLE IX : SEAL (India Literacy Project shall have a common Seal with power to break, change or renew when necessary. Deleted in 1993 NCC Meeting) ARTICLE X : DISSOLUTION Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the County in which the principal office of the Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes. ARTICLE XI : ADOPTION These Articles of Constitution have been duly adopted by National Coordinating Committee of India Literacy Project(ILP), which also at times uses a banner head. " Literacy As Movement of People(LAMP)" and in witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this fifteenth day of November 1990. (sd ) V. R. Veluri   (sd) Rani Samyukta Chintam ________________ (Original Submitted on Nov 15, 1990) ________________ NATIONAL CONVENOR   NATIONAL COCONVENOR

ILP - By Laws

BYLAWS OF THE INDIA LITERACY PROJECT

CHAPTER I : NAME

The name of this corporation is India Literacy Project (sometimes may be referred to as ILP).

CHAPTER II : PRINCIPAL OFFICE

The principal office of this corporation for the transaction of business shall be specified from time to time by resolution of the National Coordinating Committee. Such office may be in any State or Country. The corporation may have such other offices as the National Coordinating Committee may determine from time to time.

CHAPTER III : REGIONAL CHAPTERS

Section 3:1 In furtherance of the purposes of India Literacy Project, Regional Chapters may be formed in different regions of North America.

Section 3:2 Each Regional Chapter shall be coordinated by a Regional Coordinator.

Section 3:3 Regional Coordinator : The National Convenor may appoint a Regional Coordinator subject to the approval of the National Coordinating Committee.Regional Coordinator shall furnish periodic written reports to the National Coordinating Committee of all relevant information relating to the activities,finances and general operations of the Regional Chapter in such form, frequency, detail, and degree of accuracy as the National Coordinating Committee may specify.

Section 3:4
Obligations of Regional Chapter: Regional Coordinator of each Regional Chapter shall use due diligence to carry out the purposes of India Literacy Project, as set forth in its Articles of Constitution and these Bylaws.

Section 3:5
Termination: The, the National Convenor may terminate any Regional Coordinator subject to the approval of the National Coordinating Committee.

CHAPTER IV : MEMBERS

Section 4:1
Voting members shall consist of the Coordinators of the National Coordinating Committee and such persons as may be specified from time to time in the Articles of Constitution or in the Bylaws. All other classes of members shall be non-voting.

Section 4:2
General Members shall consist of all adherents to the purposes and objectives which the corporation was formed to promote who are approved by the National Coordinating Committee or a committee appointed for that purpose, and who meet the minimum qualifications for membership which are established from time to time by the National Coordinating Committee.

Section 4:3
Other Members : Other classes of members, including honorary, patron, life, associate, or otherwise, may be created from time to time by the National Coordinating Committee, which shall prescribe the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

CHAPTER V : NATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE (NCC)

Section 5:1
The affairs of the corporation shall strictly be governed by its National Coordinating Committee (sometimes referred to as NCC), which shall consist of not more than fifteen and not less than three Coordinators.

Section 5:2
Coordinators other than the President shall continue to serve until their death, resignation, or removal by the President, with or without cause, or until the expiration of the term for which elected or appointed.

Section 5:3
The National Coordinating Committee, shall appoint all the Coordinators from a list submitted by the Executive Committee and designate National Convenor, National Coconvenor, National Public Relations Coordinator and National Finance Coordinator.

Section 5:4
The NCC would diligently strive to distribute the membership of the Executive Committee across several Chapters of the India Literacy Project, and in particular at least shall designate the National Convenor and the Finance Coordinators from different approved Chapters in existence.

Section 5:4
Any vacancies of Coordinators arising out of death, resignation or any other reason shall be filled by the Executive Committee subject to the approval of the NCC.

Section 5:5
Unless sooner terminated, Coordinators other than the President shall serve for a term of two years or as designated by the President.

Section 5:6
Any Coordinator, except the President, may be terminated, with or without cause, by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the National Coordinating Committee.

CHAPTER VI : PRESIDENT

Section 6:1
Bhagavatula Venkata Parameswara Rao of India shall be the President of the National Coordinating Committee, and shall serve as such until his death, resignation, or retirement.

Section 6:2
The president shall appoint his successor, and in absence of such appointment, there shall be no President.

Section 6:3
The President shall preside over the NCC meetings.

CHAPTER VII : NATIONAL CONVENOR

Section 7:1
The National Convenor shall preside over the NCC meetings in the absence of the President.

Section 7:2
He/She shall make appropriate decisions for the maintenance and day to day administration within the policies and directives of the National Coordinating Committee.

CHAPTER VIII : NATIONAL COCONVENOR

Section 8:1
The National Coconvenor shall preside over the NCC meetings in the absence of the President and the National Convenor.

Section 8:2
He/She shall assist the National Convenor in the day to day administration and maintenance.

Section 8:3
He/She shall be the National Projects Coordinator and shall give final approval for all the projects; projects advised to be funded and projects advised to be rejected for funding.

CHAPTER IX : NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

Section 9:1
The National Public Relations Coordinator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all records, documents, registers, and other official papers.

Section 9:2
He/she shall prepare agenda in consultation with the President or National Convenor for the meetings and send notices.

Section 9:3
He/she shall prepare necessary progress reports, bulletins etc., and act as a public relations liaison.

Section 9:4
He/she shall be the custodian of the Seal. ( Deleted 1994)

CHAPTER X : NATIONAL FINANCE COORDINATOR

Section 10:1
The National Finance Coordinator shall receive dues, and donations, keep all accounts of receipts and expenses, and funds received.

Section 10:2
He/she shall always be one of the co-signers of the checks, and make payments as may be authorized by the National Convenor or his designee, subject to the approval of the NCC.

Section 10:3
He/she shall prepare unaudited annual financial statements and present for review to outside independent Certified Public Accountant.

CHAPTER XI : REMAINING COORDINATORS

The remaining coordinators of the National Coordinating Committee shall undertake duties and responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the NCC from time to time.

CHAPTER XII : POWERS OF NATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE

Section 12:1
The National Coordinating Committee shall exercise all corporate powers, directly or under its authority, and control the business and affairs of the corporation, subject to the Articles of Constitution, these Bylaws, and applicable law.

Section 12:2
Without limiting the foregoing general powers, the National Coordinating Committee shall have the following specific powers:
a) To select and remove all other officers, agents, and employees, and prescribe their powers and duties.
b) To conduct, manage, and control the business and affairs of the corporation.
c) To remove any member, other than the President of the National Coordinating Committee.
d) To borrow money and incur indebtedness for the purposes of the corporation, and to execute instruments of indebtedness and hypothetication of assets.

CHAPTER XIII : DUTIES OF NATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE

Section 13:1
To perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually by law, by the Articles of Constitution, or by these Bylaws.

Section 13:2
To appoint and remove, employ and discharge, and except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and authority and fix the compensation, if any, of all officers, agents, and employees of the corporation.

Section 13:3
To supervise all officers, agents and employees of the corporation to assure that their duties are performed properly.

Section 13:4
To meet at such times and places as required by these Bylaws.

Section 13:5
To register their addresses with National Public Relations Coordinator, such that notices of meetings mailed or telegraphed to them at such addresses shall be valid notices thereof.

CHAPTER XIV : MEETINGS OF NATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE

Section 14:1
Time and Place of Meetings : Meetings of National Coordinating Committee shall be held upon reasonable notice at such time and place as designated from time to time by the President, or in his absence or in the event of his disability, by the National Convenor. The transactions of any meetings, however called, shall be valid if a quorum is present, and all coordinators not present, either before or after the meeting, sign a waiver notice, or on approval of the minutes. A quorum shall consist of the President and two other coordinators. In the absence of the President, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the National Coordinating Committee.

Section 14:2
Action Without Meeting : Any action by the National Coordinating Committee may be taken without a meeting if all members of the NCC individually or collectively consent over a telephone and later endorse by writing thereto.

Section 14:3
Voting : Any action taken by the National Coordinating Committee shall be by majority of those present, each coordinator having one vote. In case of a tie vote, the National Convenor may cast a tie breaking vote.

CHAPTER XV : COMMITTEES

Section 15:1
Executive Committee:
15:1.1 National Convenor, National Coconvenor, National Public Relations Coordinator and the National Finance Coordinator shall constitute the Executive Committee.

15:1.2 National Convenor shall preside over the Executive Committee meetings.

15:1.3 Executive Committee shall carry on the policies, proposals, projects and directives of the NCC.

15:1.4 Executive Committee may appoint Subcommittees as needed and the Chairpersons of such subcommittees shall report to the Executive Committee.

Section 15:2
Other Committees :
15:2.1 National Coordinating Committee may appoint appropriate committees to facilitate functioning of this corporation.

15:2.2 The Chairperson of each committee shall report to the National Convenor and the National Coordinating Committee.

15:2.3 The committees shall implement proposals, policies, and projects approved by the National Coordinating Committee.

15:2.4 Any committee appointed by the National Coordinating Committee shall continue to serve until otherwise directed by the NCC.

CHAPTER XVI : AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may only be amended or repealed and new Bylaws adopted by the President or by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the NCC.

CHAPTER XVII : CERTIFICATION OF NATIONAL CONVENOR

I, Venkateswara Rao Veluri, hereby certify that the foregoing Bylaws are the current Bylaws of the India Literacy Project duly adopted and in effect in accordance with the provisions of its Articles of Constitution.

India

ILP has chapters run by volunteers in the following cities in India.

USA

We have our volunteers in the following places in USA.

About Us

What is ILP and what are its goals?

ILP is a registered nonprofit organization of enthusiastic volunteers passionate and dedicated to make India 100% literate. ILP’s vision is to be a catalyst in making India 100% literate.

ILP’s goals are to:

a) Spread awareness about literacy and its importance

b) Identify and partner with organizations in India working for the cause of literacy

c) Raise funds to support these organizations in their literacy-related projects.

d) Develop and execute successful and sustainable projects to increase literacy rates in India.

e) Scale successful ‘model projects’ geographically to help achieve 100% literacy in India

f) Create a knowledge repository to capture our learning and cross-pollinate the best practices across like-minded organizations.

g) Promote advocacy at the micro-level to ensure the local communities are aware of opportunities and are positioned to maximize them.

h) Promote advocacy at the macro-level to bring about systemic changes and to influence government policy to increase its investment in education.

Is ILP a registered non-profit charitable organization in the USA? In India?

India Literacy Project is a registered non-profit organization in the USA. Donations to ILP in the USA are 100% tax-deductible under Section 501(c)3 of the IRS Code in USA.

ILP is a registered Charitable Organization in India. Donations made in India are 50% deductible under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

How does ILP work with / support partner organizations in India?

ILP partners with grass-roots organizations working on literacy initiatives by providing both financial and program-management support. Our financial support is typically used to provide learning materials, create innovative teaching methods, fund teacher salaries and to support community mobilization efforts and enrolment campaigns. Through our program-management support, we guide our partner organizations to improve their operational efficacy, conduct partner workshops to share best practices, introduce linkages to other institutions and tap into government resources to amplify the impact of our projects.

How does ILP ensure that disbursed funds are properly utilized?

We select projects carefully through our Participatory Evaluation Process (PEP). We monitor projects in a consistent and ongoing manner. Monitoring to specific metrics is a critical reason for our project successes and is our core strength. The ILP India team, comprising of staff and volunteers with over 15 years of experience working at the grass roots level, plays a key part in this process. We also consult with outside experts whenever needed. Such expertise helps ILP to not only to manage the funds disbursed to our partner organizations, but also to build their capacity to manage future projects.

Do ILP volunteers directly train children, youth and adults on your projects?

ILP partners with and funds organizations that implement the literacy programs. ILP-USA primarily focuses on spreading awareness of the cause, raising and disbursing funds to our partner non-profit organizations in India. Volunteers in India help us identify and monitor projects. In some cases, ILP may work directly with the children. Example is our Prathibha Mitra program started in 2005, through which volunteers in India conduct weekly study sessions and mentor high school students and young adults to help them achieve their full potential.

What are ILP's administrative costs?

Zero in the USA - All operational expenses are borne by volunteers or through special donations for admin purposes. Our operational expenses for project monitoring and evaluation are less than 1% of the total project funding - our India office covers these expenses by raising funds in India.

Helping & Volunteering

How can I help?

There are various ways in which you can help:

• Volunteering: By lending your time and skills to help realize ILP’s vision.
• Monetary Support (tax exempt): 
  • Donate online 
  • Donate online via our “Ten Dollars for Literacy” program -http://www.tendollarsforliteracy.org/ 
  • Donate by mail 
  • More details here

If I become a volunteer, is that the end of my social life? Will I have time to do anything else?

You volunteer your time to the extent you can. All our volunteers are people like you. We come from all walks of life - students, children, professionals, doctors, engineers, housewives, etc. Volunteering at ILP has not had an adverse effect on our social lives. On the contrary, it has enriched our lives by providing opportunities for personal growth and the satisfaction of working with like-minded people for this great cause.

Literacy

What is Literacy?

At ILP, Literacy = Education, Earning Potential and Empowerment!

This definition is based on our years of learning that literacy cannot just be measured by one’s ability to read, write and perform arithmetic.

Education: Development of knowledge, skill and character in the 0-14 years age group.

Earning Potential: Education of youth (15 to 24 years) with a focus on income generation, economic mobility, life coping skills, cultural and social responsibility, etc.

Empowerment: Equip individuals and communities with the ability to make choices by promoting an understanding of their basic rights and social responsibilities.

 

Why is Literacy important?

The importance of literacy can be stated at two levels: National and Individual.

 

At the national level, in a participative democracy like India, a literate population is required to build a nation with strong social, economic and political foundations. Literacy is an important starting point that brings awareness in people to work towards a better living. It helps them to break free of shackles of ignorance, avoid getting manipulated, and being left out of the mainstream.

 

At an individual level, the increased confidence of every newly literate person to achieve the impossible bears heartwarming testimony to the power of literacy.

 

Projects

What types of projects does ILP fund?

Your contributions are utilized to fund such projects in four key areas:

1) Functional Adult Literacy: Primarily focused on women's education and skills training.

2) Back to School: Residential & non-residential 'bridge' courses that bring children up to speed before putting them back in government schools.

3) Strengthening Mainstream Schools and improving quality of education: Working together with the local community and government to ensure that there is self-sustenance. Development of innovative and effective teaching methods.

4) Mass Literacy Initiatives: Raising literacy levels over a large geographic area (block/ district/ state) by effective utilization of government resources & applying successful intervention models

Where can I get information about all the projects ILP currently funds?
Detailed project information is available here

What criteria do you use to fund a project?
Project evaluation is done based on

1.      Whether the project is in line with ILP's mission.

2.      Whether the organization has a valid FCRA Registration from the Government of India to receive foreign funds.

3.      The resources and experience of the project coordinators.

4.      Evaluation by experts/consultants of the credibility, secular and non-partisan nature of the organization.

5.      The organization's project plan.

What metrics do you use to track project success?

ILP projects’ performance is tracked against quantitative metrics and for qualitative impact.

 

Quantitative Metrics

These are defined based on the type of activities (also referred to as methods of intervention). Some examples of interventions and the corresponding metrics are listed below.

1) Intervention: Enrollment Campaigns

a. Balwadi / Anganwadi Enrollments

b. Out of School children

2) Intervention: Supporting a Balwadi / Anganawadi

a. Attendance Tracking

3) Intervention: Bridge Schools/Retention Programs

a. Drop out Numbers

b. Out of School Children

c. Attendance Tracking

d. Children enrolled into main stream schools

4) Intervention: Adult Literacy Programs

a. Literacy Class Attendance

b. Skills training coverage

Qualitative Impact

We ensure that our interventions bring about social change, create awareness, and empower the community. Examples of some qualitiative metrics are:

1) Community mobilization including empowerment of School Development and Monitoring Committees, Self Help Groups, Youth groups etc.

2) Working with networks, specific activities, issues highlighted with the network etc (Advocacy)

 

Does ILP fund regular (government/mainstream) schools?
ILP's primary mission is to provide non-formal education to women, adults and children. Where regular formal schools are available, ILP funds initiatives that supplement mainstream schools, by supporting services like para-teachers and after school support. We have seen that this methodology helps immensely to improve attendance at government schools.

How do you find your organizations to partner with?
Most often we find them with help from people like you who are familiar with the work of the organization and make a recommendation to ILP. We also seek out organizations that are serving in underserved areas.

Is there a document about ILP that prospective partner organizations can use?
Please contact projects@ilpnet.org for a synopsis of ILP and a project application form.

Are these organizations confined to rural areas only?
No. Our goal is to partner with any organization dedicated to the cause of literacy.

In my village, we have an organization. Will ILP support this organization?
If the project proposed and the organization meet ILP's criteria, it will certainly be considered for funding. ILP evaluates whether funds should be sent, depending on the project's scope and goals, and availability of funds.

Does ILP support funding of programs that run daycare centers providing care for children of rural working women?

Recognizing the role of Early Childhood Education in a child's education, ILP does support balwadi and anganawadi centers. These centers also ensure that older siblings do not drop out of school to take of their younger brothers and sisters.

Will ILP provide functional, formal, informal, vocational training/education for abused and neglected children/women? What about men?
Yes. ILP supports alternate formal schools that promote self-sustenance and become models that can be replicated / adopted by mainstream schools

Will ILP provide partial funds to groups receiving remaining funding from another organization/group?
Yes, if the project and organization align with previously mentioned requirements.

What is the time required to start funding a project once ILP receives an application from the organization?
If ILP has sufficient funds to take on a project, it usually takes up to 3-4 months to evaluate and approve the project before sending funds.