Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankaramurthy has said that Mangalore University has been selected for Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme (IGNSS) award 2012-13. The award will be conferred by President Pranabh Mukherjee at Darbar Hall of Rashtrapathi Bhavan in, New Delhi on November 19.
Addressing a press meet here on Sunday, he said that the award carries a cash prize of Rs two lakh and a citation. NSS coordinator for 2012-13 Dr Gananatha Shetty Yekkar along with the VC will receive the award. As many as 13 universities were selected for the final round, of which Mangalore University was selected for the award.
The VC said that in the history of higher education in Karnataka, Mangalore University has introduced NSS in undergraduate curriculum. In credit based semester system, undergraduate NSS volunteers are awarded 200 marks and four credits in four semesters. These marks are also considered for declaring ranks and class. There are 160 NSS units in 110 colleges with 16,902 volunteers. The actual allocation was 14,000 volunteers. There are 10 self-financing units.
The VC said that through various activities, the NSS volunteers have created assets worth Rs 42,08,500 during 2012-13. In the last three years, assets worth Rs 1,30,08,000 have been created by the NSS volunteers of Mangalore University. The budget sanctioned by the government for the year 2012-13 is Rs 66,50,000, of which Rs 66,09,000 has been utilised. As many as 4,775 units of blood has been collected through blood donation camps conducted by the NSS during the year. Under afforestation programme, as many as 13,075 saplings have been planted, of which 80 per cent are protected. As many as 100 villages were adopted and 610 programmes on health awareness, malnutrition among children, women empowerment, legal awareness and others were organised in these adopted villages in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu districts. In the last three years, 65 Red Ribbon Clubs were established and 813 Aids awareness programmes and rallies were conducted, he said.
Major projects
Some of the major projects include 10 houses were built for backward Koraga families, with the help of Grama Panchayat Chelaru. College Compound wall for a Govt College worth Rs five lakh was constructed by the NSS volunteers, he said.
NAAC accreditation
The Mangalore University will take a step forward in getting itself accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) by uploading its self study report (SSR) on the university's website during this week. The annual report of the university since 2010 has already been submitted to the NAAC, said the VC.
PG Centre
Prof T C Shivashankaramurthy said that the scheduled programme on the inauguration of Post Graduation Centre at Chikkaluvara has been postponed. The work on arts block and boys hostel at Chikkaluvara is in progress. The master plan for the connecting road to the PG Centre has been ready. The next semester is likely to commence from the new PG Centre.
The ‘Khata’ for 20 acre land earmarked for the setting up of PG Centre at Belapu in Udupi district has been handed over to the Mangalore University. The University has already sought Rs five crore from the government to start the work on the building for the PG Centre at Udupi, he added.