Best Practices 1
Title of the Practice:
TO PROMOTE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ADOPTED VILLAGES
The college has adopted three villages from the surrounding areas, namely, Garh Kamalpur, Rangibasan, Jagannathpur. These villages 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, health literacy, and environmental literacy 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 meagre savings by conmen. Moreover, they were unaware of the health hazards caused by the practice of open defecation. 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.
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 build washrooms using funds allocated by the government. They were taught the benefits of practicing health and environmental hygiene, resulting in better health and a control in the spread of diseases.
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 have 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.
Best Practices 2
Title of the practice:
DEEN DAYAL UPADHYAY KAUSHAL KENDRA
MAHISHADAL RAJ COLLEGE,
(A Centre of Excellence for Vocational Studies)
Skill Development Programme Sponsored by Ministry of Human Resource & Development, Government of India, under the supervision of University Grants Commission.
Objective:
To create skilled manpower for industry requirements at various levels and act as finishing school by providing supplementary modular training programmes so that a learner, irrespective of his/her training background, is made job ready with necessary work skills (soft, communication, ICT skills etc.) and fill the gaps in the domain skills measured against QPs/NOSs.
Context:
Despite with over 50% of population under the age of 30 years, India is facing a demand-supply mismatch as the economy needs more ‘skilled’ workforce as well as managers and entrepreneurs than produced annually. This programme aims to provide formal training to school dropouts and XIIth pass candidates (constituting almost 59% of total job seekers in East Midnapore), thereby increasing their employability. The Mahishadal Raj College, DDU Kaushal Kendra will focus on providing vocational training at the Higher Secondary and University levels that will be dovetailed into the National Vocational Educational Qualifications Framework.
Practice:
Courses have been selected following detailed survey of the economy, demography, and industrial opportunities in surrounding areas. At present, DDU Kaushal Kendra offers B.Voc. in Automobile, Health Care, Medical Laboratory Technology, Hospitality Management, and Retail Management and Operation.
Evidence of Success:
Approximately 70% students from the B.Voc. courses secure jobs through campus placements in reputed companies such as Hero, Royal Enfield, Maruti Suzuki (for B.Voc. in Automobile); Max Fashion, Pantaloons, Reliance (for B.Voc. in Retail Management and Operation); Organ Diagnostic Centre, Sanjiban, Micro Lab (for B.Voc. in Medical Laboratory Technology); AMRI, Institution of Neuro Science, Rubi Hospital (for B.Voc in Health Care); Hyatt Regency – Kolkata, The Fort – Raichak, Shiv Vilas – Jaipur (for B.Voc. in Hospitality Management). There has been a growth of 25% in campus placement since the last academic session.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required:
There is a mental inhibition among the masses against vocational training. It was a challenge to acquaint them with the emerging market structure and the job roles in demand. Lack of governmental effort in spreading vocational education specifically at secondary and higher secondary level added to the reluctance of the candidates for vocational training.
Vocational education requires elaborate laboratories, appropriate equipment, and modern technologies to facilitate the production of readily available workforce in the job market. The DDU Kaushal Kendra has managed to establish a state-of-the-art centre with all these facilities, aiding students in up-skilling themselves.
