NAAC SSR DOCUMENTS
Recognition of Noble Social Contributions through Panchavati Ratna Award
Objectives of the Practice
The Context:
There is nothing nobler than helping out others. Service to mankind is next to the service of God. There are many good people around us. They are continuously engaged in social work. Helping others is their inspiration. They may not be familiar with concepts like social welfare, social reformation, or charitable deeds. They feel happy and content when they help others. They never expect any material gain for the work they do or publicity of their work. They are self- motivated and philanthropist in nature. They can go to any extent to help out others. They may serve the poor and needy, the patients, the old people, and whoever is in need. Their little, timely help can be of greater value as it can change and transform the lives of many. Every year the institute tries to identify the noble social contribution of the good people and gives it recognition through Panchavati Ratna Award.
The Practice:
The Panchavati Ratna is a distinguished award sponsored by the institute. It consists of a bouquet and Memento. The Panchavati Ratna Award is conferred on social workers with exceptional work that has a positive impact on society. The college is situated in the area called Panchavati. It is a sacred place on the bank of the river Godavari. It is also a part of old Nashik with a collection of temples and antique buildings. The award is named after this area and is called Panchavati Ratna. This part of the city seems to be away from the impact of modernization. The people from this area believe in traditional and basic human values. Therefore, they undertake many welfare activities. Unfortunately, their activities remain unnoticed and their work unrecognized. There is a provision of recognition for such activities at the state /central level. But it requires a long procedure. The people working at the ground level are not even aware of it. As a result, many philanthropists remain unnoticed and their work unrecorded in the course of history. Their work is very significant. It has played a crucial role in a particular span of time. The institute makes an attempt of mapping the dedicated work of these people and recognizes it through Panchavati Ratna Award. Some of the recipients of the Panchavati Ratna Award are as follows.
Mrs.Sunita Rajendra Patil is the recipient of Panchavati Ratna for the year 2016-17. She is a female curator of Panchavati Amardham a Hindu crematorium in Nasik. Indian society is still an orthodox one and does not allow females to participate in funeral rites. Despite of this Sunita Tai has continued her work and now she is well accepted for her work. She does all the necessary rites and rituals of the dead body till the last rites of the cremation. Panchavati Amardham is adjoining the institute; the institute decided to recognize this work going on in the proximity and felicitated Sunita Tai with Panchavati Ratna Award for her noble work.
Mr. Vilas Shinde, the Founder of Sahydri Farm has remarkable contribution to the field of agriculture. Sahydri Farms is popular for its organic products. Mr. Vilas Shinde has given a sustainable model of farming to the farmers with the assurance of safe and quality food to the customers. Mr. Shinde introduced the concept of organic farming and inspired youth to undertake the job of farming. At the same time, his organic farming has stopped the migration of the farmers in the urban areas and extended dignity to their work. Taking into consideration the radical work of Mr. Shinde the institute has felicitated him with Panchavati Ratna Award.
Mr. Arun Ingle is a former student of the institute and the recipient of Panchavati Ratna award for the year 2018-19. Mr. Arun Ingle is a celebrity in Marathi cinema. He has a multifaceted personality with a number of talents. He is an orator, composer and singer, painter, actor and social worker. The youngsters have a fascination for celebrities. With his multifaceted talents, Mr. Arun Ingle served a very good role model for the students.
Mr. Ravindraji Naik, the alumni of the institute and District Sports Officer has a unique contribution to the Sports Facilities and availing Sports grants for the Nashik District. He has totally changed the Sports Scenario of the Nashik region through various initiatives. Mr. Balasaheb Sanap is also one of the recipients of Panchavati Ratna Award. Mr. Sanap is political personnel notable for his contribution to the socio-political fields and undertaking many welfare activities for the native society. Thus, the institute recognizes the noble work going around and brings these social workers into the limelight. By identifying their social services, the institute tries to set a role model for our students. The practice has far reached significance as we wish to shape the young minds for social services.
Evidences of Success
Every year Panchavati Ratna award is given away to the social workers engaged in noble work. The role models recognized by Panchavati Ratna Award are specifically inspiring for the students engaged in the extension activities of NSS, NCC and Board of Student Development. The students of the National Service scheme directly work on the social field. They get sensitized to the various social issues for which Panchavati Ratna Awardees have worked. Thus, they work with great commitment on NSS front whether it is Cleanliness Champaign or any other mass education program like health and hygiene, drug addiction and eradication of superstition. It needs an inspiration and role model to carry out any social activity successfully. In this respect, students follow the footprints of the awardees. With the help of these role models our NSS activities do not become prescribed mechanical ones but at once get meaning in the true sense of the term. Similarly, the awardees do serve to add to the spirit of patriotism for NCC students. For the Board of Student Development, the awardees serve as an illustration of hard work. The award of Panchavati Ratna also creates a sense of belonging among the students.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
The main problem that we faced is to evaluate and identifying the noble social work. For this every year we undertake a survey to be able to know the noble work done by the people. As this work is not a recorded one, we need to collect data orally and visit the concerned people personally which seems to be a challenge. Every year we get a surprising number of people engaged in different social activities. In this case, shortlisting and evaluating the activities is again a challenge. However, a team of faculty does this work impartially and takes every care so that the right person should be selected for Panchavati Ratna Award.
Developing R& D Culture Through Research-Oriented Activities
Objectives of the Practice:
The Context:
In an age of science and technology research has a unique significance. R & D stands for the creation of new knowledge. we continuously need new knowledge for growth the development. The existing knowledge gets outdated very soon and it does not meet the requirement of the new age. It is the research that has solved our problems and given us ease and comfort. We need socially relevant research to find out solutions to the issues of modern life. Research is very much associated with higher education. Even NEP 2020 has underlined the significance of research in higher education. For the students at UG, and PG levels research appears to be an abstract idea. To explain to them the concept of research the institute undertakes research- oriented activities to cultivate the research aptitudes of the students. Thus, the mindset of the students is prepared gradually by making them think critically and analytically.
The Practice:
The institute at large as well as various departments undertake different research-oriented activities to develop R&D Culture. To develop critical and analytical thinking in the students the Department of Mathematics has undertaken an activity of book review. The students were asked to write a review of the books that they have studied. Since the book review is evaluative in nature and brings out the full meaning and significance of the given work, it requires a lot of effort on the part of the students. As the National Eligibility Test is mandatory for employment and research in higher education, the department has conducted a NET-SET workshop for the students and compiled the notes of the workshop in book format. It is also a motivation for research in higher education.
Exposure to Research Journals is the first step toward research. The Department of Mathematics conducted a survey of the Journals. The survey has exposed students to quality research articles. They came to know what goes into the making of a good research article, how to frame a research problem, how to introduce and develop it, and how to acknowledge the references, bibliography and other technicalities of the Research. The faculty in the Department of Physics guided students in the publication of articles in reputed Journals.
The Institute has organizes seminars and webinars on Research Methodology. These seminars and webinars are for the targeted group. Many renowned research scholars and Scientists contribute to these seminars as Resource Persons. They acquaint students with the discipline- specific research methodology, the recent research trends and relevant research areas in the respective subjects. At the same time, the Institute conducts webinars on Intellectual Property Rights. Thus, the students are sensitized to the concept of Patents at an early stage. The seminars on Research Methodology and Intellectual Property rights lay down the foundation for the future research endeavor of the students. The institute also motivates students’ participation in Avishkar , the research project competition conducted by affiliating university.
In the academic year, 2021-22 the institute organized the late Loknete Vyankatrao Hiray Innofest competition. In fact, Inno-fest was a platform availed by the institute for innovation, incubation and linkages for a start-up in all fields. It was also an attempt to engage scholars, inventors and innovators in dialogue for the effective solution to our problems. The college has a tie-up with C- MET Pune which is a government project for R&D. Through this tie-up various seminars, workshops have been arranged in collaboration for the promotion of R&D culture.
Evidences of Success
The practice has its outcome as the students got the concrete idea of research. They are trained in writing the book review. They are exposed to research journals through surveys of journals. Their mindset is cultivated for the research work and they can undertake research activities like writing a research article or presenting a research paper in seminars and conferences. Five students in the Department of Physics could publish their research articles in international journals and UGC Listed Journals. Another four students from the Department of Physics attended International Conference and presented their Research Papers. Late Loknete Vyankatrao Hiray Innofest competition was responded to spontaneously by the researchers and innovators. There were 460 students who participated in the competition from all over Maharashtra Due to the promotion of R&D Culture there are 11 Research Centers functioning in the college in which more than 112 scholars are pursuing research. There has been a considerable increase in research publications by the faculty as well as the students. The research of these scholars is going to contribute substantially to society by resolving a number of challenging issues. Students participate in the workshop organized by C-MET and got an opportunity to do internship in C- MET Pune.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
The students admitted to the institute are from rural and tribal background. Their target in higher education is limited only to acquire degrees in the respective discipline. It seems to be difficult to make the students think beyond the traditional syllabus and evaluation patterns. Some of the students even believe that it’s too early to think about research while others take it as if research is not their area of interest It seems to be difficult to convince them about research and development. Most students pursue higher education while doing some part-time jobs. Naturally, research becomes their secondary priority. As there is no prescribed syllabus for research students are confused and hesitate to pursue research. As an impact of the pandemic students seems to be scattered and distracted from higher education. Due to a lack of job opportunities earning a livelihood has become their priority. On this background, it has become challenging to inculcate and promote research culture among the students.
Notes (Optional)
The institute has appointed Academic Research Coordinator (ARC) who works as a mediator between the affiliating University and the institute and updates the faculty about different research schemes and projects. The institute has a Research Advisory Committee and renowned scholars from various disciplines and scientist are the member of the Research Advisory Committee. The college is going to organize the late Lokenete Vyankatrao Hiray Inno-fest every year to get new ideas for research and development. The college is going to compile Inno-fest Magazine and the best 100 shortlisted innovations and projects from the inno-fest competition will be published in it.