BBAU Undertakes Initiatives for Rural Development, Healthcare and Environmental Conservation; Various Activities Organised in Oranwa Village
Lucknow: Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, organised a programme in its adopted village, Oranwa, located in the Sarojini Nagar Vidhansabha, on 15 October to mark the occasion of International Day of Rural Women under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. The programme was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal. The key dignitaries present on the occasion included Prof. Naveen Kumar Arora, Coordinator of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan at BBAU;l, Prof. U.V. Kiran, Prof. Shalini Agrawal, Head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Dr. Rupika Chaupra.On this occasion, BBAU organised various educational, social and awareness-oriented activities at the secondary school in Oranwa village. These included a street play (skit), distribution of pesticides and organic fertilisers to promote organic farming, a health camp, a plantation drive, a plastic-free village campaign, an exhibition and various games. The activities aimed to sensitise students and villagers towards health, environmental conservation, cleanliness and sustainable development, while encouraging community participation.
Addressing the students of the secondary school, BBAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal said that children are the future of the nation and will play a significant role in its development and progress in the years to come. He emphasised that the University has a responsibility to continuously work towards the holistic development of its adopted villages and provide rural students with opportunities to progress through education. He assured the gathering that the University would develop a library in the village in the future. He further stated that BBAU faculty members and research scholars would interact with students through smart classrooms, engage them in meaningful discussions and provide career guidance. He also encouraged the students to visit the University so that they could understand the various opportunities available in higher education and make informed decisions about their future.
Prof. Naveen Kumar Arora presented an overview of the programme and shared information about the University’s ongoing efforts towards the holistic development of the village. He informed the gathering that BBAU had previously organised several public welfare activities in rural areas, including soil and water testing and health camps. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about essential facilities, understand the concerns of rural communities and improve their quality of life through scientific and practical solutions. Prof. Arora stated that the University has consistently worked towards the social, educational and economic upliftment of its adopted villages. Its objective is to empower rural communities through education, healthcare, environmental conservation and public participation, while promoting sustainable and inclusive rural development.
Prof. U.V. Kiran and Prof. Shalini Agrawal shared important information on mental health with rural students and other participants. They encouraged students to practise stress management, maintain a positive outlook, and understand and express their emotions. They also emphasised the importance of adopting a sensitive and supportive approach towards mental health concerns and seeking appropriate guidance and assistance whenever required.
As part of the activities, students from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies presented a street play to raise awareness about mental health. Through the performance, they highlighted the need to pay special attention to the mental well-being of children and elderly people. They emphasised that mental healthcare is not merely the responsibility of an individual or a family but a collective responsibility shared by society. To promote organic farming and encourage farmers to adopt environmentally friendly agricultural practices, the University distributed biofertilisers to farmers free of cost. During the programme, farmers were encouraged to minimise the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and adopt organic alternatives. In addition, a health camp was organised by the University Health Centre, where villagers underwent general health check-ups and were provided with basic medicines free of cost, as required. Special attention was given to children and other people in need, who were provided with medicines for the prevention of intestinal worm infections and the treatment of other illnesses.
With the objective of promoting environmental conservation and increasing green cover, fruit-bearing trees were planted on the school premises and at other suitable locations in the village. Under the plastic-free village campaign, villagers were made aware of the harmful effects of single-use plastic. Cloth bags were distributed free of cost to encourage them to replace plastic bags with environmentally friendly alternatives. An exhibition was also organised to raise awareness about mental health and highlight its importance. Information on various aspects of mental health was shared, and pamphlets were distributed to spread awareness among participants. In addition, several games and activities based on mental health were organised to help participants understand the importance of mental and emotional well-being.
Through this programme, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, strongly reaffirmed its commitment to rural development, public health, environmental conservation and education. The initiative strengthened engagement between the University and the rural community and marked an important step towards building healthy, informed, environmentally conscious and self-reliant villages. Faculty members, research scholars, school teachers, students and villagers were also present during the programme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
