The Govt. of India has introduced and implemented various development programmes and scheme for the welfare of the deprived (Dalit) section of the society. The aim is to uplift them economically and socially. Inspite of this section is still deprived of the benefit of there programs and schemes. Keeping this in mind the college came up with the idea of “Amhi Doot Samteche :Dalit Vasti Bhet’’ (We the Ambassadors of Equality : Visiting the Dalit Community) on the guidelines provided by Social welfare Department, Maharashtra (Samaj Kelyan Sanchalanelay, Pune) to the Social Work college and other related Social welfare department. Accordingly, Orange City Collegeof Social Work initiated this scheme by organizing “SAMATA MELAVA” at Khedi village in Saoner district which is a 100 % Dalit Community. The Orange City College of Social Work adopted Khedi village on 14th November 2009 which also happens to be Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary. The NSS department of the College organized village camp to spread social awareness among the people. The project successfully took off resulting into Social equalityand awareness in the village. The field action project was initiated for the empowerment of the Dalit of the village through different economical & Social Programmes. Accordingly, 10 student from BSW & MSW as well as 2 lectures are working in the Project.
Introduction :
Orange City College of Social Work, Nagpur is always in effort to contribute in the field of social development. The various routine work of the institution and different innovative and best practice adopted by the institution proves the same. The institution has molded the service to mankind & society in its core values & makes sure that the respective ideas are delineated in its day to day activities. In the same light, of transforming its theoretical principals in to practice, the institution had adopted Khedi, TalukaSaoner, Dist. Nagpur &Rajulwadi, TalukaUmrer,Dist. Nagpur in the past. The institution has tried to bring positive change in the life of residents through different development activities done in these areas. The institution has presently adopted Sheshnagar, Erangaon, NagazariTalukaHingna, Dist. Nagpur in collaboration with Comprehensive Rural & Tribal Development Program. (CRTDP)
Whenever, an institution adopts certain community, the development activities adopted in the respective community is limited to only the faculties involved in the institution. However, the college decided to invite the participation of the respective students as well, since the student are the future of the nation. Moreover, the student participation also paves way to new, young and energetic ideas of the young student minds. This eventually accelerates the progress of the work & also brings in new & innovative ideas and directions for the any given problems.
The students from BSW & MSW were placed in the respective villages for the purpose of field work. Initially, the student conducted a survey comprising the information regarding the residents of the village. The data so collected was analyzed and interpreted. After the interpretation of the data, various problems coming into focus through these interpretation were lined up. The exercise provided various problems existing in these communities that needed urgent attention.
While working in these communities, it was found that the local residents did not have Aadhar Cards, Ration Cards. The institution intervened in this and provided help to the local people to get access to Aadhar card & Ration cards. Because of the untiring efforts of the institution & its students, the local people of the community now had Aadhar card & Ration card to themselves, the most important identity proof of the present time.
As far as the health conditions are concerned, it was found, especially at Nagazari, that the residents were anemic and underweight. The problem of anemia & underweight looms large in Nagazari. With the perspective of dealing with these problems, the institution organized a health check up camp in the community. During the camp, the doctors counselled the parents & teachers of the children to adopt necessary measures to overcome the problem of underweight & anemia among the children. Besides, the institution also organized an eye checkup camp for the people, where various problems regarding eyes & vision were addressed and solutions for the same were provided. Besides, the guidance regarding healthy practices related to the up keeping of the eyes was also provided. A dental check up camp was also organized for the common residents. During this camp, how various faulty practices affect the dental health was told to the participants.
At different points of time, the institution organizes the meeting of the local residents, where the different problems of the residents are addressed. These meetings provides platform to the localities to express their problems & come up with the possible solutions of the same.
Rajulwadi is a Pardhi-Adivasi Beda (Tribal village) of Nagpur district of 40-45 families, type-casted for involvement in theft. The traditional occupation of the community is hunting. The community is considered as a socially extricated community. The Umred Police one day raided this community and alleged to one civilian, Mr Pannalal Rajput for hoarding kerosene oil illegally. The police bashed him and his wife inhumanly for the crime he has not done. The threat and fear among the villagers was such that they had to retire in the adjacent forest for their life. The police divested the houses of the villagers; the properties of the villagers were destroyed. The innocent women were arrested by the police.
Thus, to help and provide comfort and legal & social justice to the affected people, the institution started a social action.
After taking cognizance of the matter, the college team immediately landed to Rajulwadi. They talked with the people of Rajulwadi to know the actual reality and facts behind the entire incident. The institution provided financial assistance to the natives, food grains and other necessary commodities were availed to the residents. During the incident, the books of the children from Rajulwadi were burnt. The college team provided books and other necessary aids to the children. The women were medically examined and treated. The institution also appealed to the government & Human Right Commission to avail justice for the people of Rajulwadi. The police had filed forge complaints against the civilians of Rajulwadi. When they were demanded a copy of the FIR, they procrastinated to hand over the same. As a result, one of the faculty Mr. Mahendrakumar Meshram along with some other social activist and civilians of Rajulwadi gheraoed the police station and made them to submit the same. The faculty organized “Pardhi Adivasi Swabhiman Parishad” to create awareness among the people and boost their morale for the progress and social change. The institution supported civilian by making an argument in favor of the Rajulwadi civilians. The institution was always in correspondence with the government, leader of opposition, MLAs, etc. for the justice to Rajulwadi civilians. The civilians were benefited upto the amount of 25 lakhs through different welfare schemes of Tribal Development department and a cement road was constructed under the fund of Rs. 5 lakhs provided by Vidarbha Statutory Development Board after the initiatives taken by the faculty. The village was jointly adopted by the college, Maharashtra Officers Forum and Bodhi Foundation and different programmes for the development and awareness of the people were started. Every year a SAMTA RALLY is organized on the eve of the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The community has now gradually started to advance towards progress and welfare. The lives of these people have started to change gradually.
The institution has adopted Sheshnagar, Yerangaon, Nagazari and Kanholibara of Tah. Hingna Dist. Nagpur with the purpose of realizing the social, Economic, educational cultural and other related progress of the people of the community. The project is in the joint collaboration with Comprehensive Rural Tribal Development Programme (NGO), Nagpur.
The college has signed MoU with Regional Coordinating Institute (RCI) designated by National Coordinating Institute, IIT Delhi and represented by Chairman RCI and Hon. Vice- Chancellor, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati , Maharashtra on 19th June, 2020. It is a flagship program of Ministry of Human Resource Department, Govt. of India. Accordingly, the college adopted Babulkheda, Lonkhairi, and Gadmi, Kamptee and Kothurna, Tandulwani, Saoner, Dist. Nagpur. Accordingly, a survey was conducted with the help of the students through field work. The survey provided a panoramic view regarding the economic, social, personal, familial, occupational etc. status of the people. Later, the college organized meeting with the people of the village in order to orient then regarding various enterprises related with agriculture. Also training was given to develop skill on vocations like ironsmith, pottery, cobbler and such other vocations with the help of which they can start their own enterprise. Besides, special guidance was provided to orient the farmers regarding Maximum Selling Price of their agricultural products in the market. Prog. on women empowerment were organized as well.
The Teach India activity providing the students college was carried out with Indian Army for sensitizing young citizens about how Indian Army play a robust role in nation building by going beyond borders, for service of mankind. We would like to extend appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Kalpana Jamgade for effectively coordinating with Times of India and making the activity successful. We are happy that the students of your esteemed institution have proactively participated in this noble cause. We would like to appreciate your students for positively responding to the online training by cooperation and coordination. Your students have been proactive and responsive during the online training conducted by Times of India and adapted all the expected skills for the survey. The students have proactively participated for successfully completing the survey conducted by Indian Army through the Army Quiz 2023 on topics like Science and Technology, Art & Culture, Movies & Music, Environment, Role of Army in Nation Building, Women Empowerment, Millets, and many other aspects about India and its overall position in the world. We are overwhelmed to find that more than 60 students from your college has participated. The students diligently conducted awareness session on nation-building for more than two months. Similarly the collected data was promptly submitted to Times of India as instructed. This has eventually helped Times of India linked different of schools with the cause. The students from the age group of 10-16 years have actively participated in the initiative. The initiative by the students of your college has been able to connect the students of the different schools. The activity has proved a big step towards the national integration and your contribution has played a vital role in the same. We are certain that the participants have received the remuneration in the bank accounts mentioned.
The students and the faculties of the college created awareness and sensitisation regarding law by going door to door through the means of field work. The college collaborated with the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) and deputed the students and the staff for creating awareness regarding the fundamental rights and duties to the people. The initiative was carried out with DLSA, for creating awareness about the same. It is often found that the common people are ignorant or oblivious regarding the rights and duties. Often they are exploited economically and socially for their ignorance. In order to sensitise the people, the students of the college were deputed for the same.
The selected students were oriented by DLSA for explaining the nuances regarding the laws and advantages to the common people. The students got trained regarding the same and were deputed at different parts of the city. The faculties of the college also joined the students to create sensitisation. It was found that most of the people, not only the poor, illiterate but also the people from the middle and upper middle class were unaware regarding the legal provisions safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people.
As a result of the awareness initiative by the college, it was found that many people were ignorant about not only their rights but also duties. The feedback provided by the people and the students claimed that the college was taking a lot of pain for creating sensitisation. The faculties responded that they had been able to gain knowledge about end number of things. The students were also happy that through the means of the initiative they could know many things about the law.