BEST PRACTICE -I

 

1. Title:

                  Eco-friendly, Green and Clean Campus

2. Objectives: 

a.       To promote awareness on environmental issues, protection of the nature and natural resources among students and the general public.

b.      To promote awareness among students about the need to reduce the usages of non-biodegradable products from their everyday life.

c.       To assist students in knowing their obligations for conservation of environment.

d.      To educate the students about eco-friendly way of life.

3. The Context:

The College has adopted Eco-friendly, Green and Clean Campus as a best practice based on Brundtland report of 1987 titled Our Common Future. In order to instill the very concept that we must aim for development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; the college has tried to focus on development with least effects on the environment. In order to reflect students on the present-day craze for run for development by hampering nature, the College has been trying to include eco-friendly initiatives like recycling, upcycling through DIY from waste materials, banning of single use plastics in the College campus, using of organic fertilizers, re-thinking on entrepreneurship by focusing on developing eco-friendly goods and services etc. The earth is the permanent space of residence for every living species whose existence is temporal. Hence, we as humans during our temporary existence, must preserve the earth and natural renewable and non-renewable resources for our future generations too. Students, through this best practice, are taught that by being responsible in adopting eco-friendly lifestyles and in taking developmental plans will help in keeping the environment green and clean.

4. The Practice:

The institution is devoted to managing its campus in compliance with sustainable environmental responsibility and the following areas are used to show these responsibilities:

 Green and Clean Campus: A gardener and appropriate number of supporting staff are assigned to keep the campus clean and litter-free. Students are strictly instructed to keep the campus clean. In the campus, there are several quotes about the significance of maintaining a clean and green environment.

 Waste Management: Dustbins are supplied to all Departments and classrooms for the disposal of dry waste. Waste is disposed off from the dustbins in specific areas, keeping the campus clean and eco-friendly. In the College campus, a vermicompost unit has been set-up with the goal to reduce trash, produce organic manure, and to demonstrate the benefits of composting and organic farming.

Conservation of water: To reduce water wastages, an effective and sanitary water storage system is adopted. Water leakage problems, leaky taps and showers etc. are repaired at the earliest on notice. The college has constructed a rainwater harvesting storage tank at the Girls’ Hostel to collect and store rainwater for all kinds of use except drinking.

Digital Operating Procedure (DOP): Digitalization is the process of converting documents and other materials into digital form. The College administration always believes that DOP can save money, increase productivity, reduce space, facilitate e-recording, secure personal information in cloud-based storage and enhance environmental protection. To a great extent, institutional data is stored digitally. Class-wise, Department-wise and Committee-wise groups in WhatsApp facilitates e-communication and lowers the consumption of paper otherwise used in notifications and circulars.

Minimum Use of Energy: The College has installed solar lights in strategic locations with security concerns where consumption of energy is maximum. LED lights are used in the classrooms and in other locations of the campus. When not in use, lights, fans, computers and all other electronic gadgets are switched off.

Trees and plants landscaping: The College celebrates World Environment Day on 5th June every year. Students availing free admission are to plant a sapling and take proper care of it with records of growth. The College fraternity has adopted various plantation drives during the last five years under various initiatives of NSS and other Cells and Wings of the College within and outside the College campus.

Awareness through Practical Initiative: The College has banned single used plastics within the College campus. Programmes such as DIY from Waste Materials by the Political Science and Philosophy Departments, Exhibition cum Sale of organic products and eco-friendly handicrafts etc are organized in the College to make students to reuse and think of alternatives to plastic or other materials that are considered harmful to the environment.

Restricted automotive use: Most of the students use cycles and public transport as modes of communication to college. Moreover, the staff too emphasizes on reducing use of personal vehicles hence use of public transport and car-pooling has been an accepted norm.

Bill-Boards within the Campus: The College authorities have displayed bill-boards for creating awareness among students and staff on eco-friendly practices and the importance of preserving nature.

5. Evidence of Success:

 

The outcomes of this practice have been found to be extremely satisfying. It is explained as follows:

a.       The College authorities have installed bamboo dustbins all across the campus to keep the environment clean. There are personnels appointed and instructed to keep the campus clean.

b.      The college has a proper drainage facility to drain out the excess waste water so that water does not get stagnant which may otherwise cause hazardous health problems.

c.        The Girls’ Hostel has been using the rain water harvested in the campus for multi-purpose use other than drinking.

d.      A vermicompost unit is there in the campus from where the College gets the organic manure for the plants. Students are engaged to learn this method of vermicomposting as a part of their skill development.

e.       Another composting unit of natural waste like dry leaves, grass, peels of fruits and vegetables is installed and the manure from this unit too is used for plants and saplings.

f.        The Digital Operating Procedure implemented in the college has been effective. It has minimized the need of paper, resulting in less trash.

g.      The college's solar lights and minimized use of energy is also functioning effectively. It reduces the college's energy consumption.

h.      The planting of trees and flowers in the college campus has transformed it into a beautiful landscape. Files are uploaded to show the environment.

i.        Restricting automobile use in the college has resulted in a noise-free teaching-learning environment. It has also performed admirably.

j.        As single used plastics in the College campus is banned and students and staffs are encouraged to reduce the use of plastic, earthen filters are used to store water with glasses so that students are not mentally forced to buy expensive bottles.

k.      The College to grow flowers and plants use earthen tubs.

 

 

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required:

The following problems were encountered while implementing the Eco-Friendly, Green and Clean Campus as -

1. Eco-friendly products like dust-bins made out of bamboo, earthen tubs etc are non-long lasting.
2. Eco-friendly products are expensive in comparison to easily available cheap plastic products.

 

BEST PRACTICE II

 

 

1.      Title:

Yoga and Meditation

 

  2. Objectives:

a. Development of mental health and wellbeing of the students for the creation of a healthy society.

b. To spread/disseminate spiritual values and promote the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the country.

c. All round development of student personality to enable them to participate in the nation building process.

d. To promote democratic values and spirit of brotherhood among the students.

3. The Context:

Only a sound mind can lead to sound development of a person. In other words, mental peace is an essential component for the all-round development of our personality. Practicing yoga and meditation helps in the enhancement of our mental health.     

    The Government of India has laid extensive importance on mental health. As such, to highlight the benefits of yoga on our body and mind, every year 21^st June has been celebrated as International Yoga Day since 2015. This initiative has been acclaimed globally and a number of countries have encouraged its citizens to practice yoga. The United Nations General Assembly has given international recognition to the practice of yoga. Yoga has even contributed to our spiritual tourism sector too.

4. The Practice:

Every year International Yoga Day is celebrated with huge fan fare across the country. Educational institutions of the country play a vital role in making the entire program a grand success. The Practice of yoga and meditation is intricately related to the overall development of the human personality is body, mind and spirit. As such it is a matter of concern to include courses on yoga and meditation in the regular curriculum of our education system.

 Yoga and meditation also contribute to the inculcation of moral values, mental hygiene and emotional stability amongst the students. Yoga education enhances all the other activities of the students. It additionally leads to improved attention. The practice of yoga and meditation thus, improves mental faculties, positive health, inculcate higher values, provide peace and tranquility and build up moral character that can lead us to attain highest goal of life as well as education.

 Similarly, meditation also contributes to the increase in IQ level of students, reduces stress and anxiety, boosting self-confidence, increases efficiency of brain functioning, keeps away from diseases and maintaining an overall happy life. In Indian culture, meditation helps people in developing inner calm and tranquility. Meditation is also considered as a potent source of human and spiritual development technique since the days of ancient Indian education system. The practice of meditation helps in achieving equilibrium and mental peace. Additionally, meditation also influences physical metabolism. The body settles into profound relaxation during meditation.

Therefore, Panigaon OPD College has been successfully organizing International Yoga Day since 2015. It is organized under the banner of the NSS Unit of the college with the active participation of the college authorities, faculty members and students. Additionally, people of the local area, Self Help Groups and NGOs also actively participate in this initiative.

5. Evidence of Success:

·         A Yoga Centre has been set up in the college in 2021.

·         JoylakhiPayeng a student of the Department of History has won numerous awards in the field of yoga. Among these, National and International awards, State Government awards, Gold Medal in Inter college yoga competition 2022 etc are worth mentioning (His achievements also include records such as Most People Doing Cobra Pose Together, GISA etc.). He has successfully participated in numerous Yoga programmes such as in Lakhimpur Medical College Hospital as Resource Person. Additionally, he performed yoga in the All Assam College Teachers’ Association programme held in North Lakhimpur College in 2022.

·         All the GaonPanchayats under Telahi Block participated in 2022 Yoga Day.

·         Every day the first five minutes of every class is dedicated to the practice of meditation so as to make the students more attentive in the class.

·         This year the NSS Unit and the Department of History in collaboration with the SaptarshiNrityalaya has organized a One Day Workshop on Yoga in Lechaigaon locality on 19 03/23.

·         A workshop on Yoga and Meditation was organized by the Philosophy Department on October 22,2022. Students were taught various Yoga postures by JoylakhiPayeng for backache relief, concentration and other health related problems.

·         Currently, yoga is practiced on a regular basis on the fourth Saturday of every month.

·         There is a Psychological Counseling Cell in the college to address the psychological issues of the students.

·         A two days long stress management program was organized at the college under the collaboration of Psychological Counseling Cell and the Legal Literacy Club under MrsPinjuMaral and Dr. BD Nisha as coordinators respectively. Dedicated workers of Prajapita Brahma KumarisIswariyaViswaVidyalaya, North Lakhimpur Branch BK Nurbi, BK Lily and SwapnaKhataniyar attended the programme as Resource Persons.

·         All three Resource Persons highlighted meditation and its types in details, its history as well as the process of practicing meditation as a means for stress management. Active participation of students made the programme a successful one.

·         Another programme was organised by the IQAC under the title 'Spirituality and Education' on October 1,2022. RukmaGohainBoruah, Chairman of Assam Higher Secondary Education Council mesmerized the audience thorough his speech.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Following problems are being faced in practicing Yoga and Meditation in the college premise.

·          During the COVID period, Yoga Day could not be organized.

·         A permanent Yoga instructor is required for the practice of yoga properly.