MSU course focus widens

VADODARA, Feb 17: Poverty alleviation, besides other programmes for development of villages and individuals, will now be part of the rese...

VADODARA, Feb 17: Poverty alleviation, besides other programmes for development of villages and individuals, will now be part of the research and dissertation of the students of the Faculty of Social Work, M S University, unlike earlier when the projects were restricted to the welfare of the inmates of the Pensionpura home for the blind and the physically challenged. Students will now also work towards betterment of village schools and work in groups.

Talking to Express Newsline, Faculty Dean Anil Navle said, 10 villages had been selected where the programmes would be implemented. These villages include Samiala, Bhil, Bhayeli, Sangma, Gokulpura, Chapad and Talsad. He said while earlier students concentrated on individuals and their development, these programmes would now include families and their betterment.

This was decided at a recent seminar on poverty alleviation held at the faculty recently. He said there were a number of projects and funds earmarked for such programmes, which included IRDA, TRICEM and DWRCA, besides others.

The faculty students would act as a link between the residents of these villages and the programmes meant for them. According to Navle, this would also enable students to get better projects and contribute towards solving problems in the society.

He said earlier when students just concentrated on individuals their credibility suffered because the results were not tangible. 8220;Even in villages, students would just adopt a particular child and at the end of the year just one child8217;s problems would be solved,8221; Navle said.

The students would basically co-ordinate between the District Development Officer and the Rural Development Agencies to ensure that the programmes reached the masses for whom they were designed. They would also work towards the betterment of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe villagers.