St. Joseph Engineering College (SJEC) located in Mangaluru, has always tried to instil in the students the values of being responsible citizens of the society by directing them on the many ways through which they can help the people around them. Through its various activities, they have encouraged their student body to give back to the community.
Being an engineering college, the institution has launched initiatives through which they can use their skills and technology to help the people in need. One of their major projects is the ‘Care Pachanady’, which is being conducted in association with St Aloysius College, Roshni Nilaya and the NGO, Centre for Development Studies and Education (CEDSE). This project, which is a part of the Swachh Mangaluru movement, aims at resolving the Pachanady dumping yard problems. Due to heavy rainfall, garbage at the dumping yard at Pachanady suffered severe landslide, which left the nearby farmland and houses damaged.
“We started with the aim to provide scientific solutions towards the problems suffered by the people in the area,” said Ajithanjaya Kumar, Assistant Professor at SJEC. Two years back when this initiative started, students conducted a survey among shop owners and people in the area and collected information about what concerns the people had, he said. These issues were collected and submitted to the Mangaluru City Corporation. At present, the committee in charge of Care Pachanady is collecting samples of the waste to find out the various progress in this respect that can be made in the situation.
In an attempt to deliver technical and sustainable solutions to the existing local as well as community problems, SJEC hosted GreenTech Hackathon which provided a platform for students to come together in creating and implementing novel ideas for a sustainable future.
SJEC has adopted 5 Gram Panchayats around the locality. They include Mallur in Mangaluru, Hosabettu in Moodbidri, Pelavani in Moodbidri, Navoor and Ammunje in Bantwal. In these Panchayats, the college has carried out social work and provided technical assistance when needed. On Gandhi Jayanthi, the college had organised a Swachhata and awareness programme to promote cleanliness. “During the pandemic times, we have distributed almost 1,50,000 ration kits in Mallur and Neermarga Gram Panchayats,” said Ajithanjaya. They have also conducted various ESR activities like Physics camps, visit to the college and trip to Pilikula, for the students in the schools existing in these adopted villages.
The college was selected for the New Age Innovation Network (NAIN) scheme under the Government of Karnataka which supports the projects by the students. “Under this project, 10 projects of our students have received a total of Rs 27.25 Lakh funding,” said Yathish Kumar, District Innovation Associate and Assistant Professor at SJEC. “We have three start-ups by the students among which one has already been registered,” he said. Yathish added that SJEC makes sure that the students are offered the best of facilities to make their innovation. “Our campus is equipped with a Laser Cutting Machine, 3D Printer and other such electronic and mechanical tools to help develop their ideas,” Yathish said.
Ajithanjaya notes that it is important to give back to the community and help them identify their problems and develop solutions. “Through such programmes, we can give more exposure to these students and build in them a level of confidence,” he added.
SJEC has always been at the forefront in educating its students in an all-round manner. And through such activities promoted by the college, they help the students grow. It inculcates in them the values and morals needed to be good citizens of society.
