CUO organises Master Trainers’ Training programme in under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan

The Central University of Odisha is organising a three-day face to face residential Master Trainers’ Training programme in Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) on 07th, 8th, and 9th June, 2022, under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan of Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The National Education Policy 2020 lays a great emphasis on community learning as part of regular learning and accordingly UGC has come out with the National Curricular Framework and Guidelines for “Fostering Social Responsibility and Community Engagement” of Higher Education Institutions and recommended for teaching of a two-credit course in Community Engagement in all HEIs.
In order to launch the 2-credit course, with quality assured system of teaching UGC has identified seven (07) Universities throughout India including the Central University of Odisha (CUO) as Regional Centres for Capacity Building of Faculty as Master Trainers for Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA). Around 40 Master Trainers from the states of Sikkim, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha in Eastern Region of India.
Prof. Sharat Kumar Palita, Vice Chancellor (I/c) of the University and Prof. Rajnish Jain, Secretary and CVO, University Grants Commission will jointly inaugurate the Programme. The other dignitaries scheduled to be present as subject experts are Prof. Rajesh Tandon, UNESCO Chair on Social Responsibility of Higher Education, Founder President, PRIA, New Delhi; Shri Jagadananda, Founder-Mentor, Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) & former State Information Commissioner, Government of Odisha; Shri Binoy Acharya, Director UNNATI (Ahmedabad), Advisor Government of Gujarat in Panchayati Raj, Dr. Ujjvala Chakradeo, Vice-Chancellor, SNDT Womens’ University, Mumbai and UGC Expert Team Member and Ms. Nikita Rekhyani, PRIA Foundation, New Delhi.
Three Non-Govt organisations of Koraput- PRAGATI, DHAN Foundation and Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) are involved in the Training programme as facilitators for community based participation in Mahadeiput of Koraput Block and Barkutni Village of Semiliguda Block on 7th June 2022 and Kenda Village of Koraput Block and Marli Marla village of Pottangi Block on 8th June 2022. The trainers will be visiting the villages/ community to interact for understanding local realities, especially of the marginalised households in relation to the economy, habitation, culture, history of communities and understanding Local Institutions: panchayats, municipalities, schools, health centres, Anganwadis, Water User Associations, Self-help Groups, Mahila Mandals, MGNREGS sites.
It is a proud moment for the Central University of Odisha, being a regional centre for Eastern Region for the Master Trainers’ Programme, says the Vice Chancellor I/c of the University Prof. Palita. He expressed optimism that the Programme will be very much helpful to the trainees as well as the local people in the area of rural development and will help shape the two credit course for UG and PG students.