Report on 05 Days Faculty Development Programme on “Rural Immersion and Community Engagement”

From June 26th to 01st July, 2019

Organized by: Department of Social Work, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University,

Bhiwani

In Collaboration with: Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education

(MGNCRE) Hyderabad, Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD)

Report on 05 Days Faculty Development Programme on “Rural Immersion and Community Engagement”

Department of Social Work, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University Bhiwani in collaboration with

Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE), Hyderabad organised 05

days Faculty Development Programme on “Rural Immersion and Community Engagement”

from June, 26 to July 01, 2019 in the university campus. The programme was sponsored by

MGNCRE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, GOI.

The programme was organised for 30 faculty members from University Teaching Departments

(UTDs) and colleges affiliated with Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani.

The programme started with welcome address by Prof. Vikas Kumar, Incharge, Department of

Social Work followed by speech of Prof. H.D Kaushik, OSD to Vice Chancellor. Prof. H.D.

Kaushik talked about holistic development of rural area. The programme was inaugurated by Dr.

Manoj Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, District Bhiwani at approximately 10:30 am.

Additional Deputy Commissioner addressed the participants on various aspects of Rural

Development. Dr. Manoj Kumar shared his views on various rural development programme and

initiative taken by district administration for the promotion of Rural Immersion. He discussed on

social aspects of rural developmental too. He urged to the participants to participate actively for

ensuring Cleanliness, Hygiene and Waste Management. Prof. H.D Kaushik, OSD to Vice

Chancellor felicitated Additional Deputy Commissioner with a Shawl. State Programme

Coordinator from Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE),

Hyderabad Dr.

Shatrugan

Bhardwaj,

deliberated on

the role of

Higher Education

in Rural

Immersion and

Community

Engagement. He

added that Ministry of Human Resource Development has proposed to include Curriculum of

Rural Community Engagement of minimum 02 and maximum 04 credits at Undergraduates and

Post-graduates level courses.

Interacting with the participants, Dr Shatrughan Bhardwaj started second session with

importance of women development through Rural Development. He emphasized on the

participation of women in rural developmental activities. He discussed on socio-cultural,

economic and political aspects of rural development in details.

In the post lunch session, Resource Person Ankit Rahar from Haryana Institute of Rural

Development (HIRD) talked about various rural development schemes. He discussed about

“Gaurav- Pathh”, 07 Star, Gravit, Pradhanmantri Khetihar Majdoor Jivan Suraksha yojna, e-

panchayats, Swaran Jayanti Maha Gram Vikas Yojna, setting up of gram sachivalay, sports

schemes for rural women etc in details. All the participants were very curious to learn about the

rural development programmes. Last session ended with the discussion on queries raised by the

participants.

On July 11, 2019, Second day of the Faculty Development Programme, Mahant Shri Rajender

Dass from Tapobhumi Jetla Dham talked about significance of medicinal and aromatic plants in

curing dreadful diseases. Mahant Rajender Dass made an appeal to plant more and more

medicinal and aromatic plants in and around their surroundings to preserve the environment at

one end and improve the health of populace at other hand. “Due to lack of awareness, we most

often fail to ensure optimum

utilization of our natural

resources,” said Mahant Rajender

Dass. He also insisted on

participation of each citizen in

Drug Free India campaign. Worthy

Vice Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar

Mittal chaired the session. Vice

Chancellor advised the participants to take part in social awareness activities with full devotion

and dedication. He further added that development of a nation is not possible without rural

development. Registrar Jitender Bhardwaj expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest Mahant

Rajender Dass to share his valuable knowledge with the participants. On the behalf of

university, Vice Chancellor felicitated Chief Guest Mahant Rajender Dass with a shawl. Mahant

Rajender Dass presented books to Vice Chancellor, Registrar Jitender Bhardwaj and Dr.

Shatrughan Bhardwaj.

Project Officer Manoj Jain from District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Sirsa was the

resource person was second session. He talked about Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Renewable

Enegy, Solid- Liquid Waste Management, Bio-gas and Vermi-composting etc. Through the

Power–Point Presentation,

he highlighted the

innovative initiative taken

by few gram panchayats

with the help of community

participation on biogas

formation and vermi-

composting. Project Officer

also explained about the

structure and functioning of

District Rural Development Agency. He also put an emphasis on applying Community Led Total

Sanitation (CLTS) techniques in spreading awareness on Swachhta. He also advocated for

implementing Community Led Approach for Sustainable Sanitation (CLASS) devised by him.

Dr. Shatrughan Bhardwaj motivated the participants by screening out a documentary on

Community Participation by Villagers of Hivre Bazar, Ahmadnagar in Maharashtra. He also

screened out 02 such other documentary on model villages of India.

On 03rd Day, Assistant Professor Jitender Kumar performed the role of facilitator in forming 04

groups of Faculty Members. He assigned

them the activities of charts preparation

on social problems and resources

available in the villages. He also

discussed about various dimensions of

rural development. In the second

session, Principal P.K. Yadav from

Regional Institute of Panchayati Raj & Community Development (RIPR&CD) Bhiwani

delivered lecture on “Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Development”. The

lecture was very interactive and enlightening. Principal P.K. Yadav explained key features of

Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 2015 and 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1993). He

discussed in details about 29 functions and duties of Gram Panchayat under Panchayati Raj Act.

Principal P.K. Yadav also shared his vivid experiences of community participation and rural

development.

In the last session of the day, State

Programme Co-ordinator Dr. Shatrughan

Bhardwaj spoke about Participatory

Learning and Action. He also trained the

participants about various tools and

techniques such as Social Mapping, Area

Mapping, Transact Walk, Rapid Rural

Appraisal (RRA), Participatory Rural

Appraisal (PRA) etc. Assistant Professor Geetika Malhotra discussed about Community Led

Total Sanitation (CLTS) techniques and its implication. All participants were keen to learn about

various techniques of participatory learning. At the end, planning for field visit was done.

On 04th Day, All participants gathered at the university in the morning at approximately 09:00

am before visiting local village Tigrana. Assistant Professor Geetika Malhotra provided practical

demonstration on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) techniques. She directed the

participants to practice the techniques in the field in 02 groups. Participants were asked to

prepare and present their reports based on the fieldwork activities on the next day.

At 10:30 am, all participants moved to the field at Tigrana village. After reaching at Baba

Paramhans Temple of Tigrana village where

villagers particularly women were

gathered, an interaction of faculty

members were held with them. Deepa

Tanwar, District Coordinator of Nehru

Yuvak Kendra (NYK), a local village leader

mobilized the women for the meeting. Villagers were curious to interact with the faculty

members. Two groups of the villagers were formed and faculty members of each 02 group

performed the role of moderator and asked the villagers to prepare map of their village in the

specific place. Faculty Members of both groups tried to involve all the participating women in

preparation of the village map.

Despite putting best efforts by faculty

members, many women were hesitating

to participate in the preparation of

village map.

Figure 1 Villagers posing Group Photos with Faculty Members

Various problems and needs identified by the faculty member through village mapping were as:

Problems Identified Needs Identified Suggestions

Problems of Domestic violence

Location of Liquor shop near

educational institutes

Poor drainage system in the street

Lack of drinking water facilities

Non- availability of college in the

village

Lack of livelihoods opportunities

for Self Help Groups

Poor electricity supply

Poor implementation of

government run schemes

Poor participation of women in

Gram Sabha

Poor functioning of Panchayati Raj

representatives

Poor Medical facilities

Lack of awareness about various

schemes and programmes run by

state and central government

Need for one Degree

College

Need for generating

livelihoods to

Women Self Help

Groups

Proper disposal of

Solid- Liquid Waste

Implementation of

Indira Awas Yojna

Drug Free Village

Need to improve

medical facilities

Need to improve

transportation

facilities

Crop Insurance

Need to promote

sense of ownership

and “we feeling”

among villagers.

Social Worker/ Counselor from

Women Cell Bhiwani should

address the problems of domestic

violence

PRI representatives should be

trained properly

Routine Health Camp need to be

organised

Committee on Health and

Hygiene should be formed and

trained properly.

Awareness session on social

issues, government programmes

etc. through awareness camp,

meetings and door to door visits

should be spread.

Kisan Mela with the help of

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

should be organised.

Collaboration of Self Help

Groups and Youth Club needed

for addressing social issues.

On the last day of the Faculty Development Programme (FDP), Faculty Members of all 04

groups presented their reports on fieldwork activities and over all learning from the faculty

development programme through power point presentation. Resource Person R. C Punia

appreciated the efforts of faculty members and suggested to add group dynamics of the villager.

Resource Person from Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD) R. C. Punia delivered a

lecture on social and culture dimensions of the rural development. He shared practical

experiences of community participation. He suggested to practice innovative ideas such as

“Shramdaan”, Role-Play, Bal- Sansad, Yuwa Sansand, Balika Sansad, award system to the

outstanding community leaders etc. to promote community engagement.

In the valedictory session, Worthy Vice Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal motivated faculty

members and encouraged them to contribute for the betterment of rural society. Vice Chancellor

also took feedback from all the participants. Vice Chancellor desired that faculty member should

come forward to bring social transformation in at least one of the five adopted villages. He

assured all necessary financial

support for this cause. Vice

Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar

Mittal presented certificates

to all the participants. At the

end, Prof. Vikas Kumar

Dean Faculty of Commerce

and Management cum-

Incharge, Department of

Social Work extended Vote of

Thanks to the Dr. Shatrughan Bhardwaj, State Programme Coordinator, Mahatma Gandhi

National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE) Hyderabad, Worthy Vice Chancellor Prof. Raj

Kumar Mittal, Registrar Jitender Bhardwaj, Faculty Members of Social Work Department and all

other participants.

Report Prepared by: Department of Social Work, CBLU Bhiwani