Society146;s flag-bearers

They may be rash in thinking, but they think not only for themselves but also for the society. During college one tends to participate on many good and not-so-good activities. College goers have not only contributed their bit to the society but also set examples for elders to follow.

From awareness campaigns to blood donation camps to adopting slum children, college students have all possible and not possible things to make society a better place to live in.

Express Youth Forum: A body of college students coming together under the banner of Indian Express has taken up many social issues and have been participating in social activities such as visiting NGOs Orphanages like Deepgriha, Maher and conducting awareness programmes like road side plantation. Apart from organising the biggest youth festival, the body also stresses on complete development of students from all background. Ankit Shah, committee member, EYF, says, 8220;Anybody who is interested in giving their bit to the society and also grow in all terms is welcome to join the group. We are right now concentrating on Verve, the youth fest. And we have an array of social activities lined up in coming year.8221;

Taking up the cause of human trafficking students of Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development SCMHRD floated a body, Shapath. The body took all efforts to spread awareness regarding the plight of sex workers and their children. They also told people to be more aware and help anyone they feel is dragged into flesh trade.

Students of Symbiosis Infotech Campus SIC comprising SCMHRD, SCIT and SIIB are successfully running a project, Prayatna that looks after the educational need of slum children. Under the programme, students of SIC generate fund from various activities like film festival and use the fund in educating the underprivileged children of the nearby slum area. To ensure holistic growth of the slum children, SCIT students also gave computer education to them. During the project around nine slum children have been admitted into renowned English medium schools and the fee and other expense is taken care of by Shapath team. They have also conducted art and craft workshop for the children.

Apart from this, there was another programme, Sparsh, taken up by the students of SCMHRD wherein they take up various issues like traffic regulation, nature and so on. Under the programme they conducted Disha, a traffic awareness drive. They also conducted a money collection drive to help a lady whose makeshift stall was destroyed.

Students of SIIB Symbiosis Institute of International Business have contributed their bit to society by running a cell in college called Sangharsh, that supports Pryatna by conducting old books and cloth drive and helping the slum children with the same.

Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication SIMC has it in their curriculum, wher their students go for one-month internship with various NGOs. This not only helps them understanding various methods of communication but also make them a responsible citizens.

The University of Pune had organised a blood donation camp the year post the terror attacks on Mumbai on November 26. The response was good as almost 1200 students gathered immediately to donate blood. They had also organised a 600 kms cycle rally starting from Pune and covering various villages across Maharashtra, where they interacted with the villagers and told them the importance of cleanliness and importance female education. They also organised street plays and other programmes for the villagers.

Wadia College has been into the social work since long time. Through NSS camps, they have been actively participating in improving the villages.

8220;We have decided to build good toilets in Dongargao, on Pune 8211;Nagar road. We want to achieve the aim of seeing one toilet in each house. We have also organised a blood donation camp in Dongargao. Apart from this, we have also conducted tests to find out iodine deficiency. Here 110 girls and boys were tested upon.8221; Says Shyam Wadetwar, who conducts the NSS camps of Wadia College. He further adds, 8220;This year we are also planning to have the water tested from the village.8221;

After the Ganesh Chaturthi, Maharashtra Institute Of Technology MIT had organised a blood campaign for the needy people. After that, they had organised a clean Pune campaign where the students had taken part in cleaning up the drains and roads of Pune. They also had taken this opportunity to create awareness among the public to keep the city clean.

8220;Students happily swept the roads and we also gave up pamphlets to the public to make them aware of how important keeping your city clean is.8221; Says Sheenitha a student of this college.