Best Practices
1. Title of the Practice – Gender Sensitization
2. The Context
Gender bias is deeply rooted in Indian society. Hence in order to bring out desired changes in people and society, we need to develop a well thought gender sensitization strategy considering the prevailing socio- cultural, economic and psychological environment. Gender bias limit opportunities and hinder social and economic mobility, negatively affect mental health, and reinforce harmful social norms. In the backdrop of present scenario where women are being exploited, dishonored, molested and raped, College has taken responsibility to create gender sensitization to increase sensitivity of people at large towards women and their problems.
3. Objectives
- To create a value system that accords explicit and spontaneous recognition to contributions of women in socio economic development and respect their wisdom.
- To create a system that makes women conscious and bold enough to recognize their own contributions and make them feel proud of it.
- To bring a definite orientation in the thinking, practices and approach of students concerning gender issues so that stereo type mindset of men and women about their unequal entities can be changed.
- To encompass gender values, needs and aspirations so that outdated discriminatory practices can be eliminated.
- To create self confidence, self dignity and self respect among girl students
4. Practice
- This practice is put into operation by educating and encouraging girl students to participate in all activities.
- College arranges many extension and outreach activities through NSS, Human Rights Education Centre and Women’s Studies Centre to create gender sensitization and to inculcate sense of responsibility in students.
- The Institution conducted many seminars and workshops on themes like Domestic Violence, Female Foeticide, Dowry harassment, literacy among women and so on.
- The Institution established linkages with NGO’s and in collaboration conducted outreach programs such as Legal aid camps, legal literacy programs and socio legal awareness programs, street plays, rallies and processions.
- Elocution, Debate and Essay Writing competitions are also conducted to create a definite orientation in the thinking, practices and approach of students concerning gender issues.
- Gender Sensitization is promoted through Dissertation to be submitted in Partial fulfilment of LL.M Program.
- The Library is enriched with valuable reference books related to women issues.
- Teaching training, Research, field Action, Advocacy are the core activities of the Women’s Studies Centre established by the College.
- Internal Complaint committee is constituted in the College for the immediate redressal of women’s grievances.
- The College has Anti-ragging and Discipline committee.
- Gender issues are included in the curriculum across all important subjects to develop an understanding of gender differences and the need of equal treatment and opportunities.
- Institution has strive to create a safe and inclusive environment where students feel comfortable to discuss sensitive issues with the staff.
- Free Consultancy services on gender related issues for all including staff, students and outsiders, are provided.
- Women teachers are promoted to leadership position to ensure equal opportunities.
- Zero tolerance policy has been adopted for any form of gender based violence.
- Safety and security of the girls are assured by taking various measures such as security guards are available 24*7, Bouncers are appointed, residential wardens are available at hostel, whole area is under CCTV Surveillance, medical facility , especially for girl students is provided in the campus, Reading Rooms, Ladies Room, Washroom Facility, Sanitary Napkin Vending Machine are provided for the girls.
- For physical Empowerment health and hygiene oriented programs are conducted.
5. Evidence of Success
- By effective implementation of best practice of “Gender Sensitization” Institution has set up women friendly atmosphere on the campus.
- Girl students are increasingly participating in all activities of the Institution.
- Girl students coming from rural areas are becoming feminist activist promoting the cause of women.
- There is an incremental improvement in academic performance of girl students.
- Girl students have become bold enough to solve social issues at their own.
- Awareness and sensitizations programs have increased the understanding of gender issues leading to more informed and inclusive attitudes and behaviors of the students.
6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required
- It is becoming increasingly difficult to collect data with regard to certain sensitive issues like Dowry, Domestic Violence, female foeticide, child marriages and so on for research projects.
- Girls belonging to rural areas generally do not participate actively in college programs.
- Regional backwardness and conservative family background are withholding girl to actively participate in gender sensitization programs.
- Insufficient funds are another problem in vigorously conducting gender sensitization programs.
7. Notes
Gender sensitization is an essential best practice for any educational Institution because it refers to the process of raising awareness and understanding of gender-related issues and fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment for people for creating just society that is free from discrimination, violence and inequality. Gender sensitizing programmes have brought the change in behaviour and instilling understanding the thoughts and the views that we hold about our own and the other genders. This practice has created self confidence, self dignity and self respect among girl students.
1. Title of the Practice – Free Legal Aid and Outreach Programs
2. Objectives
- With the noble aim to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any person by reason of poverty, illiteracy, ignorance or inaccessibility, College has started providing free legal services to the society.
- To provide legal services to the poor and weaker sections of the society through the students and the staff.
- To inculcate spirit of social responsibility among students and commitment to help weaker section.
- To resolve disputes of local people through mediation and conciliation and thereby preventing the disputes from reaching Courts.
- To conduct surveys on contemporary socio legal issues.
3. The Context
Every legal system works with intend to provide justice with equality. Quest for justice has been the passionate demand of mankind since the advent civilization hence it is the core principle of the legal system. Large sections of India’s poor and marginalized have little or no knowledge of their rights Weaker sections have no access to justice having socio- economic, cultural and political barriers. In such situation free legal services provide a holistic support. Hence College has taken responsibility to spread legal awareness and provide necessary assistance to combat their pain and plight. The various stakeholders including Non-Governmental Organizations, Legal Service Authorities etc are partnered for effective outcomes.
4. The Practice
The Legal Aid Clinic is extremely instrumental in sensitizing the students to the cause of the indigent thereby inculcating a spirit of social responsibility within them
- With the very spirit of humanism and commitment to tenets of justice and rule of law, College established the Legal Aid Clinic which is extremely instrumental in sensitizing students to the cause of the indigent
- Clinic functions in collaboration with the District Legal Service Authority. The para legal advocates and volunteers are appointed by the District Legal Service Authority.
- It provides students exposure to settlement of cases, holding Lok Adalats and training them as para Legal volunteers. The service of the faculty are provided as well in arranging training programs, organizing legal aid camps, delivering lectures in the programs, giving consultancy services and so on
- The Clinic is a dynamic tool of learning, through which, students learn techniques of interviewing, interaction, eliciting relevant information from Client and to suggest possible remedies and alternatives.
- It also enables the students to learn drafting notices, complaints, and petitions and in turn it helps the students to be socially responsive and committed.
- Clinic organizes various awareness, sensitization and outreach programs such as seminars, webinars, workshops, legal aid camps, legal literacy programs, Jail Visit, Lok Adalat Visit etc., in Collaboration with District Legal Service Authorities etc
- During covid 19 pandemic the clinic proactively organized awareness webinars through online mode and invited legal luminaries
- Panel Advocates and Para Legal Volunteer are appointed by the District Legal Services Authority to give free consultancy services
- Clinic sits on every Wednesday and Saturday from 10.00am to 12.00 pm
- The Clinic maintains records and documents of various activities conducted by the Clinic including the list of seekers, the type of service rendered, particulars of para Legal Volunteers, the personnel’s from the Bar and all other related information.
- Legal Aid Committee has been constituted which decides and plans to arrange diverse range of activities.
- Students are given opportunities to disseminate legal information by delivering lectures, playing skits, dramas and performing songs to reach to every villager
- Whatsapp group is created to have the connectivity among the staff and students and to maintain active coordination
5. Evidence of Success
- The practice enable institution to provide community services by bridging gap between Authorities and common people.
- Through Clinic we provide solutions to self solvable legal issues.
- Students volunteers coming from different areas become social activists by participating in legal aid activities.
- Many of them have started working with NGOs.
- Clinic is engaged in spreading legal awareness through street plays, lectures, competitions and seminars.
- It is enhancing practical aspect of legal education leading to students to handle practical application of law in real life.
- Good linkage is established between NGOs, Court Authorities and College.
- Students and the staff participate as panel members in Lokadalats organize by District Legal Services Authorities, Latur.
6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required
- It is co-curricular activity. All students won’t participate in affairs of clinic.
- Students won’t get any honorarium or incentive. At least their TA DA must be provided.
- Insufficient Financial fund constraints in providing services.
- Regional backwardness are withholding the people from sharing their legal problems.
- Female from rural areas are conservative, they hesitate in giving required information.
- Collection of Empirical Data is the critical issue in doing the research projects.
- Students and staff cannot devote sufficient time for legal aid clinic due to academic workload. In fact it is additional duty of the teacher coordinator.
- Seekers may not fully trust on advices given by clinic. They are scare to handover their matter to legal aid advocate. So reluctancy of seekers to share the matter with legal aid clinic is observed.
- Lack of awareness of existence of the clinic even after publicity.
7. Notes
Legal Aid services rendered by the college have a significant positive impact on individual students, communities and the reputation of the college. By promoting access to justice and empowering students to become socially responsible citizen, the college has contributed to a more just and equitable society. This practice has also strengthen the ties of students with society by understanding their social problems.