SWACCH BHARAT, CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT AND INVOLVING STUDENTS

SWACCH BHARAT, Conservation of Environment and involving STUDENTS

Pradip Pujari

SWACCH BHARAT, CONSERVATION OF environment and involving STUDENTS IN higher classes of schools and colleges with the community

Sometimes we tend to forget or underestimate the role which can be played by our large number of teachers and students at different educational institutions in combating or contributing in resolving a number of social or other problems.

The teachers and students scattered across  the country is a  source of energy and talent and systematic and planned use of this great source of talent without compromising their study rather complementing their studies may lead to wonderful achievement in resolving many social problems.

This involvement is likely to benefit all- the students, the Government and the general public. The issues discussed below are only some of the many. 

SWACCH BHARAT :

In addition to undertaking Swacch Bharat Abhijan by Government offices, NGOs and other Organisations, this can be made a part of the curriculum of the High School particularly class IX, X, XI & XII. While of course the idea of cleanliness can be taught at lower classes of Schools mostly theoretically the same can be taught practically in the higher classes.

In fact a separate paper or subject can be introduced for the higher classes of the High School and H.S. schools in IX, X, XI & XII which may consist of both theoretical and practical side of cleanliness (theoretical-30% & practical-70 %) and a project work can be assigned to each and every student particularly for classes IX and X. In the project work every year all the students who are promoted to class IX can be given one particular village/ward where they will undertake the task of cleanliness under the guidance of their teachers in a planned way till they pass out class X exam.

During these two years the students will study the problems of cleanliness/sanitation of that particular village/ward and undertake measures systematically to bring about 100% cleanliness/ sanitation in their respective areas. In case some of the problems remain unresolved, the same village/ward can be taken over by the next batch of students.

While undertaking their activity they should not only concentrate on physical cleanliness of the area, but should also take into account measures to bring about awareness on cleanliness and sanitation amongst people of the area so that the cleanliness can be sustained.  

For students class XI and XII the same system can be continued with more emphasis on innovative ways for sustained cleanliness like organic way for disposal of wastes, keeping the water in the pond and river clean, stop open defacation and cheaper way to construct a latrine etc.

For maintaining cleanliness of public places in an area a system can be introduced by which general public/students visiting a public place can volunteer themselves to take part in cleaning the premises/area of the public place and for the purpose, the management committee of the public place will maintain a register and supply necessary equipments/utilities for use by the participants while undertaking the cleaning work.

For students of the classes as mentioned above there can be a system of giving mark/score by the concerned teacher for participating in the cleanliness drive of the public place as a part of assessment which will encourage them to take part in the cleanliness drive of the public places of their designated village/area on maximum numbers of occasions.

The students of class XI and XII as mentioned above may accordingly be asked to prepare a project report which they will submit at the end of their class XII and it will be linked to their overall assessment in the HSSLC examination along with other compulsory papers.

ONE STUDENT ONE TREE SCHEME  

A  system may be introduced in which a student admitted in a school or college will compulsorily plant a sapling and throughout his/her stay in the institution the student shall nourish the sapling till it matures.

In case where the student leaves the school the plant should be given under the care of some other student till it matures. The system shall be a part of internal assessment of the student so that it is taken seriously by the student.

The place where the saplings should be planted every year may be decided in consultation with the Forest department which will also be responsible for supply of sapling every time whenever required. This measure I think would bring about large scale transformation to the environment within ten years after initiation of the scheme as it is likely to cover all nook and corner of the state

INVOLVEMENT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT IS LOCATED

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) introduced by UGC since 2014 has emphasized on participation of higher educational institutions in the activities of the community with specific guidelines and has also put in place a system of monitoring and assessment of the institution on the basis of output in this regard.  This participation should be made mandatory so that its impact goes far and wide.

Before introduction of this system there was no system through which Our College students could involve themselves with the life of the village/community to which they belong. There was no system through which the College students could involve themselves with the developmental activity of the government departments and contribute/participate in proper implementation of government schemes while studying in College.

It is therefore, higher educational institutions may identify villages/area preferably near the institution and the students doing their graduation  will undertake study as regards Social, economic, health, environmental and other relevant problems of their area and about the steps taken so far by government departments, what are the hindrances towards implementation of the schemes, what additional measures/programmes can be taken up and also participate in the implementation of the programmes/schemes taken up by the government etc.

There is no denying to the fact that it is only by involving with the life of the community a student beome aware about the problems and requirements of the community  and start addressing them with the available ways and means and think of innovations and continue to work  on the issues even after he passes out from the institutions.

It needs to be mentioned that  the students has also the opportunity  to know about the different traditional ways of resolving different socio economic problems faced by the community from time to time and innovate upon it. We must agree that traditional knowledge and wisdom of the community is of utmost value because it forms the foundation of present day society.

These traditional wisdom and practices are found in almost every sphere of the life of the community which ranges from disease control, agriculture, weather prediction, pest control, conservation of wild life and what not. Traditional ways of tackling different problems can be researched and innovated upon by using scientific method and can probably be used for resolving our present day problems in a better way.

We need  to explore these traditional wisdom lying hidden in the  day to day life of the community  and innovate upon for a better life which is possible only by involving the students of higher educational institutions with the life of the community.

It is observed that the benefit of different Government Schemes in some of the cases do not reach to the deserving beneficiaries. It is also found that the beneficiaries who are mostly people from below poverty level and illiterate/uneducated are not aware of the Government schemes and therefore cannot take the benefit of the schemes.

As a result the benefits of the schemes introduced by the Government are enjoyed by a limited few who are close to the concerned government officers or the people who are members/supporters of the ruling party etc.

The students can undertake their study/participation as per their relevant stream or subject of study so that it can help them in preparation of project report for the purpose of relevant study subject. This can be made mandatory for all students of graduation level and arrangement can be made for grading/marking in the subject for each students on the basis of their work/performance.

This will benefit both the students as well as the people of the area and the students will feel the relevance of the subjects vis-a-vis the day to day working life of the common people.

The project work assigned to the students might be related to their innovative ideas concerning increased foodgrain production, irrigation, pest control, utilizing climate data for rotational crops organic farming, composite farming ,water conservation, afforestation, flood control, rain water harvesting, composite farming, ,solar energy or other non conventional energy sources, removing superstition, adult education, skill development, ,dairying, ,poultry, pisciculture, utilization of unutilized natural resources in the area keeping in view the natural conservation ,generation of employment in general, functioning of panchayat institutions etc. etc.

In other words, the students should be allowed to involve themselves in the day to day activities of the community and think about ideas freely so as to increase employment opportunities and provide a better life in an environment friendly atmosphere with an aim for overall economic wellbeing of the people in general .

The sole idea behind is to bring about improvement in the existing system and at the same time infuse new ideas for improvement in the unexplored sectors.

The government will also be benefited because this will be another way of monitoring the utility/implementation of the government schemes and based on the feedback/study of the student and improvement can be made in respect of future implementation of the schemes or may be by adoption of new schemes based on further study of the feasible project reports  submitted by the students .

This will make the students feel closer to their community where they live and the common villagers of the area will also feel the relevance/benefits of  the establishment of the educational institution  in their area. The establishment of a higher educational institution would not be meaningful if the people living beyond the walls of these institutions languish under poverty, deprived of the basic needs of life and development.

This will be a very wonderful way of contributing by each and every student to their own community while studying and by the time the student passes out from school or Collage he would feel or see the changes coming in to the respective village/area, as a result of his involvement. 

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