'Manthan' a big hit in BCM hostels

Social Welfare Minister appreciates the move

The Personality Development Scheme of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat for backward classes, minority and specially abled children- ‘Manthan’ has received good response from the students as well as from the public during this academic year.

Taking it a step forward, the programme is all set to continue with few changes next year. The special programme was implemented in more than 100 hostels including 29 Social Welfare Department hostels, 60 BCM hostels and ITDP students of six taluks (Mangalore, Bantwala, Belthangady, Moodbidri, Sulya and Puttur) of the district. 

Under this programme resource persons are invited to the hostels twice a month. The resource persons are made to give tips to the students aboutleadership quality, public speaking, human relations, about facing exams etc. For girls the resource person would give solution for their problems and about the role of women in the society. 

Speaking to the Deccan Herald DK Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayaprakash said that, the lack of confidence, lack of orientation, lack of exposure are effecting backward class students. As a result, even if they are educated, they suffer from Inferiority complex, limiting themselves and their interaction. “Backward classes and minority have reservation, hostels and residential schools and even some special courses, but they lack information. To solve this problem we have started this programme from October end of 2011. 

This is gradually having a positive impact on the students. Backward classes Social Welfare Officers and District Officers of Backward classes and Minority have the responsibility of implementing this project. We will be planning to reach interior parts of the district through ‘Manthan’ during next academic year,” CEO explained. 

Under the programme administration is giving special emphasis on SSLC students. This year three day programmes were held for the students. Resource persons were invited and tips were given to the students to face the exams. 

CEO informed that approxomately 200 programmes have been conducted and as many as 172 resource persons were invited. “More than 5000 students got the benifit of this,” he added.Speaking to Deccan Herald Dakshina Kannada District Welfare Officer Arun Furtado said that the programme would help in overall development of the students.

“Here the resource persons would conduct one or two sessions of 2 to 3 hours in a month. The programme is applicable for pre- metric as well as post metric students (from 6th standard to post graduation students). The hostel wardens have the responsibility of inviting resource persons and organising the programme”, he said.  “It is an optional programme. When there are few students two or three hostels can conduct the programme together, “he explained.

“Recently Social Welfare Minister Narayana Swamy visited Ashok Nagar hostel and was happy about the programme and suggested to continue with it. So we are thinking of making it regular. Planning will be done soon for more effective implementation of the same during next academic year,” Arun explained.