Four hundred students, representing various colleges in Kollam, will be now part of the district administration.
Volunteers of a unique students community service project, they have signed up for a mission to empower society and make a difference.
“The district administration wanted to create a platform for college students and put their skills to good use. Based on the requirements of the district, the student community will involve in voluntary activities in various fields,” says Assistant Development Commissioner V. Sudesan. Headed by District Collector S. Karthikeyan, the first-of-its-kind initiative in the State will be officially launched on Thursday.
Since the project will be functioning as an offshoot of the district administration, its services are expected to reach a wide spectrum of beneficiaries. “In every government office, you will find a heap of equipment in need of repair. Engineering students from different streams could fix that, saving a lot of taxpayer’s money. Similarly, students could contribute in several areas allying with government missionary,” says Asif Ayoob, district student coordinator. A male and female student from each participating college will be made the campus ambassadors to lead the peer team.
The students have already made a rough action plan and are currently busy identifying areas that need immediate intervention. “At present, we are doing a survey of ramps to make the district more disabled-friendly. With the onset of summer, a team of medical students will be making home visits spreading awareness about summer diseases.
Beautification
Beautification works of roads and bridges and joining the Suchitwa Mission activities are also part of our plans. Then, students doing all courses could tutor weak schoolchildren from socially and economically backward sections,” says Mr Asif. All the students who participate in the project will be provided with certificates.
Six core peer groups will be formed under the project that includes a technical team, medical team, welfare team, disaster management team, women’s empowerment team, and innovation team. The participants will be given grooming sessions where they will be sensitised to government schemes and missions. The Students Rapid Action Force (SRAF), which is part of disaster management team, will be a group of well-trained students capable of engaging in rescue operations in times of flash flood, landslide, drowning or any other disaster circumstances. They will also receive training in administering first aid and maintaining proper data of victims.
