Cover page

Contents Create table

From EDs desk Copy from the note

About the organization Copy from Ethiopia Document

Vision Copy from Ethiopia Document

Mission Copy from Ethiopia Document

Objectives Copy from Ethiopia Document

Thematic areas Copy from Ethiopia Document

Bank and legal status, CA also Copy from Ethiopia Document

Board of Directors Copy from Ethiopia Document

Activities of 2011 12 Quality Education: Copy executive summary

Research Studies, Learning and Advocacy Saral Services undertook two studies during this year, one for Safal Solutions and other for The Livelihood School.

Safal Solutions, one of the prominent software developing companies that are involved generating software products for government agencies, NGOs, microfinance institutions, World Bank supported projects, etc. has taken support of Saral Services to undertake a customer satisfaction survey for its clients. The basic objective of the survey was (copy from contract).

Under this survey, a standardized format was developed keeping, financial, technical aspects of the product as well as usability and overall satisfaction. The survey tried to understand product in use, how it is in use, its user friendliness, ability to generate required reports, response time etc to measure users overall satisfaction level. Also the survey covered maintenance and support provided from Safal after product handed to the client. The survey in overall raised strengths and areas of improvement for the Safal Solutions in respect to the products used by its clients.

Besides the customer satisfactions survey, Saral Services undertook a field research with The Livelihood School in designing monitoring and evaluation indicators for the project they are implementing for poor. The project aims for economic empowerment of the ultra poor by linking them to self help groups and provide training on livelihood activities. The objectives of the survey were (copy from contract). Saral Services helped TLS to find monitoring and evaluation indicators of development that is expected out of the initiative done with these poor families. Based on the indicators, Saral Services conducts monthly as well quarterly data collection, analysis and report generation. These reports are developed on the basis of analysis done after comparison with baseline data collected by TLS.

Quality Control and Assurance Saral Services has a Quality Control and Assurance Team that provides certification for software. The team of professionals adheres to strict testing process and best practices to make the software bug free and user friendly. NGOs and cooperatives that operate on subsidies and grants need robust IT solutions in terms of software, training and human resources. Saral Services contribute in creating IT solutions for NGOs and cooperatives that help them in reducing cost of delivering services to the needy poor, increasing their outreach, broadening their services to the poor and enhancing capability.

Saral Services provides professional input to such agencies in testing the software. Software testing is a technical task and at the same time it should adhere to the norms and be socially relevant. It should understand the social context where the software is to be implemented.

The major projects handled by Saral Services were SafalFinWeb for SHGs in Gulbarga district of Karnataka, MIS application for SHGs and community in Bihar and Orissa, application for cable operators, etc.

Training Sarals training academy, SaralTA, has unique training programme on ICT for rural youth that builds their analytical skills and help them to get engaged in the community of ICT development. The programe is loan based and provides guaranteed employment. It is a four months long residential training programme on IT as well as life skills and soft skills. Curriculum not includes software and hardware but also yoga, spoken English, field visits and education trips. The youth are trained in providing software and hardware maintenance services in rural area, coding and testing of software and teaching basic computer applications. Through SaralTA we helped create livelihoods for 50 rural youth and are all successfully deployed with many agencies across the country. They work as field technicians, human resource assistants, system maintainers, testers, coders. A significant percentage of them are also pursuing further studies from intermediate to graduation level courses. There are two levels of courses being offered, SaralTA 101 and SaralTA 201. (Attach course breakup here). The curriculum includes fundamental programming concepts, PHP, MySQL, etc. Two students of SaralTA 201 course graduated this year out of four people joined. The selection process of candidates is quite disciplined as it consists of an aptitude test, interview and final screening. All these trainings were possible with support from BASIX, a microfinance company that extend the Vidya Loan to the trainees.

Saral Services also provides training to NGOs, government departments, agencies to use the MIS applications or software being used by them. Saral Services has provided training to the block, panchayat and district level staff of Gulbarga district, Karnataka on the SafalFinWeb application used for tracking Self Help Groups. Other activities: A team from Saral Services participated in the boot camp organized by Indian School of Business. The camp know as iDiya is a melting point for idea bearers and idea supporters. The boot camp is a place where NGOs, companies, corporate meet to discuss innovative business ideas that involves community at large and could be scalable. Saral Services showcased its concept of TRYIT (Training for rural youth in information and technology) that aims to provide employability to rural youth and providing assured placement. The concept was well placed and highly acclaimed by the participants there.

Saral Services believes its human resources as biggest assets so conducts weekly counseling services for its staff. This services is provided free of cost to staff by one of our Directors, Mrs. Lavanya Chandra and the opportunity is used by staff to get released from their anxiety, stress and concerns.

Saral Services promotes innovativeness among its staff and sharing their experiences by writing articles, poems etc and compile it to give a shape of newsletter. This newsletter, Darpan, is truly a reflection of thoughts and experiences of Saral Services team.

Saral Services has taken conscious effort to recognize its hard working staff and felicitates accordingly. Annual events were conducted to give recognition to best performing staff that creates motivation among all. The felicitation generates a positive and competitive environment within the organization where people feel high spirited.

Annual Audit