Best Practices 1
Title of the Practice:
DISTRIBUTION OF MASKS AND SANITIZERS TO COMBAT COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated maintenance of social distance, usage of masks, frequent washing of hands, and usage of hand sanitizers. However, for the financially backward residents of society, it is a challenge to afford masks and sanitizers, after managing their basic sustenance.
Objective:
To distribute masks and sanitizers among the villagers and to train them to use those so as to check the spread of Covid-19 as far as possible in these villages.
Context:
The sudden outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic put the villagers at immense health risk. With limited means of livelihood, these villagers faced immense problem to combat such a deadly disease. In addition to lack of means for buying masks and sanitizers, these villagers were also not aware of the importance and correct usage of these products. The college took initiative to make them aware of the products, distribute the products, and monitor closely to ensure constant and correct use of them by the villagers.
Practice:
The college raised funds to buy disposable masks for the villagers of the adopted villages. The Chemistry department prepared sanitizers in the laboratory and distributed them among the villagers. The villagers were made aware about the severity of Covid-19 and were told the significance of masks and sanitizers in tackling the spread of the disease. After the distribution of masks and sanitizers, a team from the college regularly visited the villages to monitor the correct usage of masks and sanitizers by the villagers. They also kept a tab on villagers complaining of fever, post which the diseased was advised to maintain a quarantine period so as to check the spread of the disease. More than 300 villagers, especially women and the poor were given masks and sanitizers.
Evidence of Success:
Due to the constant monitoring, the adopted villages reported a limited number of cases and a large section managed to evade a contraction of the disease.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required:
The villagers were initially reluctant to use both masks and sanitizers. They were also not serious about self-confinement during the disease and did not prefer to get themselves tested for Covid-19 in case of occurrence of symptoms. However, with persistent efforts and constant counseling and monitoring, the villagers finally developed the habit of using masks and sanitizers. They also got themselves tested and quarantined, which eventually led to a curb in the spread of the disease in the villages.
Best Practices 2
Title of the practice:
TO PROMOTE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR ADOPTED VILLAGES AS PER OUR CAPACITY
The college has adopted two more villages in addition to the three existent adopted villages from the surrounding areas, namely, Ektarpur and Purba Srirampur. These two villages, like the other adopted villages, Garh Kamalpur, Rangibasan, and Jagannathpur, were financially backward, lacked knowledge about health hygiene, and had a dismal adult literacy rate which reflected in their reluctance at enrolling their children for formal education. In keeping with the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission and Adult Education Programme, the college strives to instill a sense and practice of hygiene in the residents of the villages, and make them literate in the different aspects of life.
Objective:
To promote financial literacy (safe investment options), health literacy (menstrual – sanitary napkin), and environmental literacy (open hay burning is bad) amongst the residents of this village to make them socially aware residents of the country, and enable them to have better living conditions, thereby uplifting their quality of life.
Context:
There was a general lack of literacy in the residents of these villages. This led to ignorance in finances, financial growth, and safe investment options. As a result, they were often duped of their meager savings by conmen. Moreover, they were unaware of the health hazards caused by the practice of open defecation and unsafe hygiene practices during menstruation. This led to frequent outbreaks of diseases in the villages. Despite the launch of the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ by the government of India in October, 2014, the villagers were still unaware of the benefits of cleanliness and hygienic lifestyle. The open burning of hay causes damages to the environment which the villagers were not aware of.
Practice:
The college took measures to promote adult literacy amongst the villagers. This made them aware about the necessity of education and led them to send their children to schools regularly. The college also conducted classes to make them financially literate. They were informed about the risks of chit-funds, alternate safe investment options, and insurances for their crops. They were also informed about the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, and the marriageable ages for boys and girls. They were also encouraged to use washrooms for defecation instead of open spaces. In addition, the women of the villages were taught the benefits of adopting appropriate sanitary measures during menstruation. Volunteers from the college conducted sessions with the villagers to inform them about the environmental repercussions of burning hay openly, and were advised alternatives for hay disposal. All of these resulted in better health, a control in the spread of diseases, stable financial savings, and a less polluted environment for the villagers.
Evidence of Success:
There has been a considerable rise in the number of children enrolled in schools from the villages. The number of drop-outs of female students has also decreased and the villagers are not forcing their daughters to get married before the age of eighteen. The villages are now free of open defecation, spread of diseases has been curbed, and the villagers have opened bank accounts to save their hard-earned money and investing their money in safe schemes.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required:
Initially the villagers were reluctant in acquiring literacy and it was difficult to convince them to not marry their daughters off before they reach the marriageable age set by the government. It was also a challenge to make them aware about the importance of banks as safe saving and investment options.
However, with persistent efforts, these hurdles were overcome and the volunteers from the college were successful in bringing about a holistic change in the living condition of the villagers.
