For capacity building of managerial personnel of NGO functionaries, a general annual 2-3 day workshop is conducted (e.g. Strategic Planning). For other functionaries, training progammes are organised on project or need based (e.g. Life skills training for school teachers). Customised training workshops for specific project(s) are also arranged on request. Sharing of manuals and other teaching aids developed, setting up networking meetings to share best practices and disseminating project learnings are other ways used to build NGO capacities.
Medical assistance to those in need has been possible through ‘The Major Khushru Mistry Medical Relief Fund’ set up in BCPT in 2008 by Mrs Homai Mistry and Mrs Pearl Tiwari, in memory of their son and brother respectively.
Disaster relief work began in 2003 in the post Babri Masjid riots. For this cause we work with NGOs, companies and directly with those affected. At the time of the bomb blasts of August 2003, the floods of July 26, 2005, the serial train blasts of July 2006 and the terror attacks of November 2008, BCPT conducted needs assessment and verification. Based on these, grants in cash and kind were given either on a one time basis or on a more sustained basis. In almost all cases we prefered to provide educational, medical support or livelihood training.
In some cases BCPT has taken up the task of implementing projects. Sometimes these were sections of larger projects (e.g. preparation of a film on life-skills, as part of the JRD Tata Grant for promoting Mental Health in Schools); in a few occasions, it is the actual implementation (e.g. E.Teach)