Dept. of English: Institutional Social Responsibility: Support the Slum

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

(2017-2018)

Title

Institutional Social Responsibility: Support the Slum

Principal Investigator

Dr.Annie Sunil

St.Pious X Degree and PG College for Women.

Snehapuri colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad.

INTRODUCTION

The following report is a project on institutional social responsibility and the extension activity of visiting the slum in Nacharam which was given and guided by Dr.Annie Sunil , and is done by Anagha Joy (Lecturer, Dept. Of English) and the students of B.A ML. The main aim of this project is to make the students effectively competent, socially committed and to instill a sense of responsibility in their minds and also to prepare the students to lead a life of truth and to follow ethical behaviour and care for others and to achieve integrity through excellence in teaching and learning. It was an activity to involve students in community service and effective communication.

FOREWORD

The following project is a report on ISR Institutional Social Responsibility , which was assigned under the guidance of Dr.Annie Sunil Madam, HOD, Dept. Of English. The report is about ISR and how the students with the help of the college , St.Pious X Degree and PG college for Women raised a fund and extended its hand to support the slum “Murukula basti” and also, it helped instilling a sense of social responsibility in the minds of the students.

1.MEANING:

ISR is a community based development initiative which plays an active role in social change. The commitment of social responsibility by the college is achieved through adopting and supporting the slum.

2. IN CONNECTION WITH THE COLLEGE:

As an institutional social responsibility, St. Pious X Degree College for Women has adopted a nearby slum which is located in Nacharam known as "MurukulaBasti". In this slum there are about 160 families and our institution will working for its betterment.

3.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF ISR:

i) ISR helps to promote and develop college-neighbourhood network and student engagement.

ii) Community service could inculcate the spirit of student participation.

iii) To reinforce ethical and social responsibility.

iv) It creates a kind of awareness involving many social activities in the minds of the people.

v) It takes up the initiative to support the less privileged people in our society.

vi) To provide support to people who, for whatever reason are not able to fulfil their basic and secondary needs and to participate fully in social life.

4.INITIATIVE TAKEN BY OUR COLLEGE:

I) HOW: An announcement was made on the college intercom to all the classes by the student council president, Ms. Catherine Chelsea on the significance of this extension activity.

II)WHERE: The collection of funds were done in the college itself. The students used the carton boxes and painted them with the theme written on top. "BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE TODAY".

III) There were four boxes placed near different places in the college campus and the students and faculty were free to donate what they wanted.

5.HOW WAS OUR COLLEGE HELPING THE SOCIETY BY SUPPORTING THE SLUM AS AN EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

i) By encouraging the children

ii) Giving them a hope by providing basic necessities.

iii) Instilling a sense of responsibility in the students towards the society.

iv) By providing stationery to the children, they were motivated to concentrate more on their education and EDUCATION is a very important part of a society because, EDUCATION is the backbone of the society.

v) the college, through their commitment brought about a kind of positive social change and helping the individuals especially the children to lead a proper and fulfilling life they deserve.

vi) "Encouraging Education" was the key motive and this can help the society to instill the values of cooperation, fairness and justice into the hearts of the students.

6.PLANNING AND EXECUTION:

The ISR of St.Pious X Degree and PG college for women is supporting and extending our hands and helping. The Department of English has taken the initiative to sponsor the stationery required for the schooling of the slum children.

The students from B.A(ML) final year, collected an amount of Rs.4,698 by raising a fund from both students and Faculty. The students estimated a particular theme, "BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE TODAY" and the students- TabuSoungandhika, Beryl, Stella, Rohini Edward, Catherine Chelsea and Rachel Roach, decided to place four carton boxes, painted them with the theme written on top. The boxes were placed respectively, one near the principal's office, one near the Library, one near the canteen and one in front of the auditorium, basically covering all the places where the students and Faculty usually gather the most. We encouraged the Piousians with the theme and collected the amount.

I) PLANNING OF PURCHASING THE STATIONERY:

Three students(Catherine, Rohini and Manasa) from BA(ML) final year were sent to buy the stationery from Begum Bazar. As Begum Bazar is a wholesale market and more quantity with good quality is given for the lesser price. The amount spent was Rs.4094.

II) IMPLEMENTATION:

On 15th August 2017, after the independence day celebration in our college, we then decided to visit the slum, "MurukulaBasti" , and celebrate the day with the slum children, The whole pf English Department and Second Languages Department along with the Student Council, Executive Members and IQAC Members of the college left to the slum on bikes and few hired an auto. There were also students form II and III B.A who came along. It was a 20-25 minute distance ride from our college to the MurukulaBasti. Finally we reached there and carried on the activities that we had planned for them. The activities included:

1) We began the celebration by singing the National Anthem.

2) Sang and taught them songs

3) Spoke about moral values on: Patriotism, Cleanliness, Obeying the elders and Essence of Prayer.

4) Focused mainly on the need for education.

5) Finally, at the end of the program, we distributed the stationery that we brought for them by the collected fund.

The students interacted with the children in the slum for three hours on the whole. 160 families were living there and most of them are illiterates and they work on daily wages.

7. WHAT IS THE DECISION OR ACTION TAKEN BY THE MANAGEMENT, HODs, IQAC etc.,?

i) They had a meeting to help and give support.

ii) They encouraged the children especially the dropouts.

iii) And also encouraged and motivated them to go ahead with their learning.

8. THE STATIONERY THAT WAS GIVEN:

The amount that was collected by the fund that was raised by the students and Faculty was Rs.4,698.This amount was used to purchase the stationery for the slum children. The stationery included:

1) 5 STYLO compass boxes.

2) 30 note books

3) 30 Flair pens

4) 80 Pencil boxes

5) 40 Crayon sets

6) 40 Color pencil sets

7) 80 Erasers

8) 80 Short rulers

9) 100 Sharpeners

10) 100 Pencils

Excluding these we also bought few goodies, 2 boxes of wafers and two boxes of chocolates.

9.INDEPENDENCE DAY AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:

As we all know, Independence Day is the most important and auspicious day for all of us in India, the significance of this day is to celebrate the independence from British rule and to pay our gratitude to the struggles and sacrifices made by our freedom day.

Being the most remarkable day in the history of India, we decided to choose this auspicious day to celebrate with the children who are in need of basic necessities especially, Education. On this day we went to the slum Murukulabasti and celebrated with them by singing songs, encouraging them to study and at last distributed the stationery among them. It was the best time because we got to see their smiling faces and we Piousians were happy and content with our fulfilled motives.

10. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE TAKEN UP BY VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF OUR COLLEGE REGARDING THIS PURPOSE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

i) II part of ISR was taken up by Arts Department:

The Arts Department along with few students from BA(PPML) decided to provide some type of relief to the slum area that is MurukulaBasti because that area was affected with floods.

So, the students placed carton boxes yet again in the college and encouraged the staff and students to donate what they could and this time the motive was to collect basic necessities like clothes, groceries etc.

And the end result was tremendous as there was plenty of clothes, biscuits, soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpastes and hair oil bottles.

The students along with the Arts Department went to the slum on bikes and autos and even there, we sang songs and later distributed the items, this time it was nit only confined to children but also to the elders of the slum.

ii) UPCOMING ACTION WILL BE TAKEN UP BY:

1)MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT: They will be conducting a medical camp in the slum.

2)LIFE SCIENCES DEPARTMENT: They will be conducting a hygiene and vaccination camp in the slum.

3)PHYSICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT: Adult education.

11.Proposal by the college was given that, they need toilets, water facilities etc to the collector.

12.FEEDBACK OF STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1) Catherine Chelsea (President of the Student Council, Final year B.A):

"It was a great exposure to us all being a part of their little world. We shared love and happiness and experienced the joy of giving."

2) Rachel Roach (Executive Member of the Student Council, Final year B.A):

"Going to a slum and fulfilling the social responsibility was a great honor and the best experience for me. Being there and seeing the innocence of the children, there was one thing that I learned from them and got a wonderful message that, Happiness is the key to life."

3) V Maanasa (Final year B.A MPML):

"It was a nice experience with children. The dance performance that I gave was kind of funny and the children enjoyed my performance. Spending time with those children was a great memorable day in my life."

4). Anagha Joy (Lecturer, Dept of English):

If you want to ask one question, ask yourself, what you are giving to the universe, when you start giving you give a warm smile, your attention, your time and your love. Giving is bliss and a blessing. This experience made the students as well as lecturer feel an immense love towards our fellow being in sharing- love, happiness, positive vibes and kindness.

5). Sheila Keziah (Lecturer, Dept of English):

It was a wonderful experience with the slum children and was awestruck with their curiosity to learn good habits, to answer the questions and to participate in various games conducted by the council members and volunteers. The children were well disciplined throughout the programme and were excited. They were very happy to receive gifts and chocolates at the end of the programme.