Arts, Science and Commerce College, Chikhaldara is located in the tribal and remote region in Melghat mountain ranges in Vidarbha, Maharashtra. Melghat region includes approximately 350 villages having mostly tribal populations. It is the first multi-stream institution providing higher education to the inhabitants in Chikhaldara, which is a famous hill station in the region surrounded by rugged cliffs, deep mountain trenches and a dense forest with rich varieties of flora and fauna, The students admitted to the college mostly come from tribal background deprived of education, employment and standard living. The major issues in Melghat are superstition, illiteracy and malnutrition. The goals and mission of the college aim at overall development of the tribal people at large, aiming at educational and economic development at front. In compliance with our vision and mission, we conduct educational awareness and admission counseling campaigns to encourage the tribal and other backward students to higher education as a part of our contribution towards national education policy and providing them with academic and personal guidance. Efforts are being taken to improve education for tribal as per new NEP-2020 guidelines and are also trying hard to increase Gross Enrollment Ratio of Melghat Region. All eligible students and dropouts in Melghat and nearby areas are approached. Meets are held with students, parents and teachers. We try to tap into their needs so that we may offer suitable programmes. We come to know the various problems pertaining to them like poverty, lack of proper mindset, lack of awareness, their inevitable involvement in earning daily bread and butter. Students are attracted to various skill-based courses to help solve the problem of unemployment.
As most of the students come from poverty-level backgrounds they cannot afford education. Just to make both ends meet their entire family needs to work. Keeping someone in education is keeping someone out from earning bread. To address this problem and enhance employability skills of students and promote the practice of earn while learn we established ‘The Entrepreneurship Development Cell which works to promote the practice of ‘Earn while Learn’ and conducts various skill development training programmes leading to self-wage employment. Other departments of the college try to open up a few avenues as regards employment. We run useful, job-oriented and skill-based courses at UG level in the streams of Arts, Science and Commerce. Institution’s vision is to train and empower students in the pursuit of knowledge, values and social responsibility and help them achieve excellence in various fields of challenges. The Institute has established its distinctive approach towards this comprehensive vision by modeling it by means of organizing events for skills and entrepreneurship development through various certificate courses in “Food processing of Vegetables and Fruits”, “Use of Tally software”, etc. and add on courses on “Bamboo Craft”, “Soft Skill Development”, “Communication Skills”, “Proficiency in Accounting” etc., multidisciplinary project surveys like “Tourism in Melghat: Problems and Challenges” and “ Milk Production and Distribution in Chikhaldara” etc. The positive outcomes are achieved by devising the academic and other related activities to meet the global requirements and through teaching-learning methods with ethical values.
• Workshop on Bamboo Crafts and sale: The ED cell in collaboration with an NGO in Melghat ‘Sampurna Bamboo Kendra’, has been working for the betterment of tribal. 21 days training on Bamboo Crafts was arranged and 40 students participated. During this training they manufactured various crafts worth Rs. 6000.00. We facilitated the sale of goods through the outlets and stalls. All students could improve their earnings. We carry out the training every year. Our parent society donates the required tool kit to every trainee. Students prepare the crafts in their spare time. Training for ‘Rakhi’ Manufacturing from bamboo was also carried out by the cell. Rakhis worth Rs. 4000.00 were made by students.
• Training program on Employability enhancement and youth livelihood: was carried out jointly by Mahindra Pride Classroom project of Nandi Foundation, college IQAC and Career Guidance Cell of college. This was in pursuance of the vision and mission of college. Teamwork, communication skills, time management, proper grooming and hygiene for professional enhancement, interview skills, and use of ICT tools were the topics addressed under the training program. 42 students participated in this 8 day program.
• Add on course on “Soft Skills development: was conducted by college career guidance cell. 50 students participated in the course. Understanding Yourself, Goal Setting and Achieving, Self Talk, Communication Skills (Verbal) Body Language and presentation skills were the topics covered in this seven days course. The course is carried out every year by Career Guidance Cell.
• Training programme on Honey Processing: Melghat region is a rich source of natural honey, we have honey beekeeping centre which creates awareness about Honey beekeeping and popularizes various methods for successful honey beekeeping. We have introduced B.Sc. Apiculture and other short-term training programmes for the students and local people in order to provide them need based training. We have a honey processing plant and we provide honey processing services on minimal rates. The centre also works for the conservation of forests and the environment by cultivating plants necessary for successful honey beekeeping with the help of varied flora richly available in Melghat. 5 days training programme on “Honey Processing” was arranged.
Department of Physical Education conducts many sports activities. It opened up a sports academy at Chikhaldara so that local schools, college-going students could get most of the benefits. Department of Physical Education has many sports achievements to its credit. 28 Players were placed in various police departments in Maharashtra and other states.
All these initiatives could create employability awareness among students. Some students are now in possession of skills that could prove as a regular income source. Some students could earn partially and the thing to note is that they have gained confidence that once their education is over they would be in a position to easily start self employment endeavors.