STEP UP and LEAD: Education as an instrument of change for transformation
Author(s): City Air NewsChandigarh, February 6, 2018: The Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh started an initiative "Step up and Lead" under the aegis of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, as conveyed by the chairperson,...
Chandigarh, February 6, 2018: The Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh started an initiative "Step up and Lead" under the aegis of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, as conveyed by the chairperson, Professor Archana Bhatnagar. She emphasized that social responsibility has become an increasingly important concept and initiated this to foster personal development in students, help them find their role in society and stimulate social progress. Our students are so primed because of good education, hence they can go on to became active change makers in society. Professor Seema Kapoor,
Coordinator Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, PU felt that one cannot be sustainable without being socially responsible and appreciated this idea.
The first interactive session was held in coordination with an "Chhoti si Asha", a non-profit organization working towards betterment of underprivileged children and women in the slums of Chandigarh. From Chhoti si Asha, Mr. Jatinder Maan and Mr. Gurjinder (both alumni of PU) apprised the audience about the problems of children living in Khuda Lahora and what needs to be done in this direction. They requested the students to volunteer for mentoring the underprivileged school going children. They gave an example of an experiment initiated in Delhi where learning in underprivileged school going kids
could be improved by involving students from University and colleges as mentors.
The students of the department showed keen interest and were happy to be a part of this activity. They had queries about activities that needed attention where they could contribute. Ms. Palkin Arora, a student commented "we want to undertake such activities as it is going to be learning for us too!" Another student remarked "what appealed was that it was not based on sympathy alone. The disadvantaged population wants their children to do better through education". Excited students have already come up for volunteering enthusiastically as mentors of the deprived students.