7.2 Best Practices

7.2.1: Describe two best practices successfully implemented by the Institution as per NAAC format provided in the Manual.

Best Practice1:

Title of the Practice:Preserving Nature's Symphony through Biodiversity and Environmental Awareness Programmes.

The context:The institution recognizes the critical importance of biodiversity and the urgent need to address biodiversity loss. Understanding the grave threat, it poses to the delicate balance of ecosystems and the well-being of all living organisms, the institution has wholeheartedly embraced Sustainable Development Goal 15 as a guiding principle in its endeavours. With a deep sense of responsibility, the institution actively engages in a range of practices and initiatives, firmly committed to the preservation of biodiversity and the promotion of environmental awareness.

Objectives of the practice:

1. To raise awareness among students and the community about the imperative need to combat   biodiversity loss.

2. To cultivate environmental awareness among students.

3. To empower the students and the community to understand, appreciate, and take responsibility for the protection and preservation of our natural resources and ecosystems.

The Practice:By aligning its practices, initiatives, and policies with the aim of halting biodiversity loss, the institution seeks to make a meaningful contribution through a range of activities and initiatives.We aim to foster a deeper understanding of the importance of biodiversity, highlight environmental challenges, and empower students as well as the community to take positive actions towards a sustainable future.

The initiatives and activities include.

• Conducting Wildlife Week: The Department of Zoology has shouldered the responsibility of raising awareness about the importance of wildlife and its conservation. In this spirit, the department proudly celebrates Wildlife Week, a significant event that took place from 2nd October to 8th October in both 2021 and 2022. Throughout this week-long celebration, the department organized a series of engaging activities to enlighten students and the community about the significance of wildlife conservation. These activities included elocution and essay writing competitions, as well as an eco-friendly endeavour of Clay Model Preparation, where students were recognized for their active participation of students in these activities. To reward their dedication, saplings were distributed as a symbol of encouragement and appreciation. By gifting saplings, the department aimed to inspire students to continue their involvement in wildlife conservation and emphasize the significance of their role in shaping a sustainable future.

• Celebrating World Environment Day.In celebration of World Environment Day, the NSS coordinator, alongside dedicated students, took a proactive stance to address environmental challenges. Recognizing the pressing need to protect the environment in the face of global warming, they organized a rally that aimed to sensitize the community about the importance of environmental conservation. This rallying effort served as a powerful platform to raise awareness, engage the community, and inspire collective action towards a sustainable future.

Rally participants carried vibrant banners, displayed thought-provoking posters, and chanted impactful slogans to captivate attention and foster meaningful conversations. By interacting with community members, the participants effectively communicated the importance of protecting the environment and highlighted the consequences of global warming.

• Green Practices:

Vehicle-Free Campus:The college administration has taken a noble initiative to contribute its share in reducing carbon emissions in the environment. Every Friday, they have implemented a vehicle-free day to promote this cause. As part of this initiative, both faculty and students are encouraged to commute to campus without the use of any motor vehicles.

Plantation:To uphold the greenery on campus, in accordance with the recommendations from the previous peer team of NAAC Cycle-2, we have initiated a sapling planting program and Vanam Manam Students actively participate in planting saplings, and we extend the opportunity to special invitees of the college as well. As a symbolic gesture, these invitees are invited to plant a sapling upon their departure, contributing to the flourishing green environment of our campus.

• Observation of theavailable Medicinal Plants:A field visit was organized to explore and observe the abundance of medicinal plants in the vicinity of Salur. The objective of this visit was to provide participants with an opportunity to learn about the diversity of medicinal plants, their therapeutic properties, and their cultural and ecological significance. By observing these plants in their natural habitats, participants gained a deeper understanding of the local biodiversity and the traditional uses of medicinal flora.

• Guest Lecture on Exploring the Transformative Potential of Millets:To commemorate the International Year of Millets, our college organized a guest lecture featuring esteemed personalities like Senior Scientist Dr. T.S.S.K. Patnaik and representatives from Krishi Vigyan Kendra Rastakuntubai, Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh. The lecture shed light on the cultivation of millets with minimal inputs and maintenance, emphasizing their adaptability to climate shocks. Expanding millet production can bring about transformative changes in local agrifood systems, making them more efficient, resilient, and inclusive. Furthermore, the ability of millets to thrive in poor soils contributes to land cover in arid regions, reducing soil degradation and supporting biodiversity. The lecture provided valuable insights into the potential of millets for sustainable agriculture.

Obstacles faced, if any and strategies adopted to overcome: Financial limitations pose significant challenges to organizing these events; however, we manage them through the NSS and CPDC funds. The consistent and commendable support from personal contributions made by the college staff and the principal has also played a vital role in motivating us to carry out these programs successfully.

Impact of the Practice:Through the aforementioned initiatives, we take pride in our contributions towards halting biodiversity loss, promoting environmental awareness, and striving for a sustainable future. Each step we take from Wildlife Week celebrations, vehicle-free campus, sapling plantations, and field visits to observe medicinal plants, plays a part in creating positive impact. By actively engaging in these practices, we are making a difference, however small, in preserving biodiversity and fostering a greener and more sustainable world.

Resources:Resources such as NSS and CPDC funds, along with personal contributions from the college staff and the principal, have played a vital role in providing both financial and human resource support.

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Best Practice 2:

 Title of the Practice: The admission campaign to implement an inclusive student admission process, covering all sections of society and ensuring equitable opportunities for all.

The context:The education serves as the cornerstone for marginalized and economically disadvantaged individuals, who often lack other resources to improve their lives and achieve equality with privileged communities. The national education policy emphasizes the importance of equitable and inclusive education, promoting learning for all. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Goals, the pursuit of inclusive and quality education for all reaffirms the belief that education is a powerful and proven vehicle for sustainable development.

Objective of the Practice:

a.To facilitate the enrolment of students from rural areas, particularly those residing in tribal zones, in undergraduate courses.

b.  To enhance the gross enrolment ratio in higher education institutes.

The Practice:

Before the admission process begins, the principal takes on the role of the chairman and organizes a meeting with the lecturers. During this meeting, the principal forms teams consisting of 3 to 4 lecturers and assigns them the task of initiating an admission campaign. This approach demonstrates the principal's proactive stance towards admissions and aims to ensure a successful and inclusive enrolment process.

One significant aspect of this proactive approach is the decision to have the teams visit nearby villages. Recognizing the potential talent and untapped resources in these rural communities, the principal believes that reaching out directly to the villages will contribute to a more comprehensive and inclusive admission process.

By venturing into the nearby villages, the teams ensure that students who may not have easy access to information or resources are not excluded from the admission process. This proactive approach emphasizes the institution commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities in education, as it enables students from diverse backgrounds and locations to explore and benefit from the institution's offerings.

Understanding the importance of increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education, the principal directs the teams to visit various government and non-government/private colleges as part of the admission campaign. These visits serve multiple purposes. Firstly, the teams can engage in fruitful discussions with the faculty and staff of these institutions, sharing insights, best practices, and experiences related to the admission process. This exchange of knowledge can foster a collaborative environment, benefiting both the visiting teams and the colleges they visit.

Additionally, the teams have the valuable opportunity to engage in direct interactions with students who are already enrolled in these colleges. During these interactions, the teams can serve as representatives of their institution, sharing comprehensive information about the educational programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and unique opportunities available to students. By effectively highlighting the advantages of pursuing higher education at their institution, the teams aim to inspire and motivate these students to consider applying and thereby contribute to the overall goal of increasing the gross enrolment ratio.

Obstacles faced, if any and strategies adopted to overcome: Financial limitations pose significant challenges to organizing these events; however, we manage them through the CPDC funds. The consistent and commendable support from personal contributions made by the college staff and the principal has also played a vital role in motivating us to carry out these programs successfully.

Impact of the Practice:To bridge the gap between national interests and society, and to address the lack of awareness among tribal and marginalized students, especially female students in the town, surrounding villages, and tribal hamlets the institution initiates an admission campaign aimed at raising awareness among potential students. This campaign also seeks to empower the community, particularly parents, to encourage their children to pursue higher education and increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio, as emphasized in the New National Education Policy.

Resources:Resources such as CPDC funds along with personal contributions from the college staff and the principal, have played a vital role in providing both financial and human resource support.

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